At some point in a young boy’s life, there arises a moment where an older male figure, commonly a father, uncle, or brother, places the palm of their hand on the boy’s forehead and challenges them, saying, “Go ahead, give it your all. Hit me.”
As the bigger man with the longer arms, it is customary for the command to be given to keep the boy at a considerable distance. Within this range, they engage in battle, with the older man taking solace in his complete control. Meanwhile, the boy, fueled by frustration and youthful naivety, swings away, believing he can overcome the odds despite the pressure on his head and his smaller arms.
In Las Vegas tonight (May 4), Jaime Munguia experienced a familiar feeling as he attempted unsuccessfully to make an impact against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, resulting in a defeat by unanimous decision after 12 rounds (with scores of 117-110, 116-111, and 115-112). Despite facing adversity and not achieving success, Munguia’s determination was evident from the beginning. It was clear that Munguia, with a record of 43-1 (27), possesses the spirit of a fighter who would persistently fight against his dad, uncle, or brother, refusing to give up even when the odds are stacked against him.
There is no doubt that the odds were stacked against him tonight as well. From the very beginning, Munguia was seen as an inexperienced fighter who could easily fall into traps and be fooled by old tricks. He was chosen not to elevate Canelo’s legacy or pose a threat to it, but rather because he fit the criteria of being Mexican and having a straightforward fighting style, which makes him easily predictable.
However, it is important to note that he did contribute something. Munguia deserves credit for his performance against Alvarez, as he was able to make the most of his style. Due to his effort, it is likely that he will be considered for other significant opportunities in the future. Despite his limitations, he began the fight tonight in a strong manner by pressuring Canelo and remained committed to his belief that hard work and aggression would lead to success, even though the actual course of the fight suggested otherwise.
Notably, he courageously attempted it without any regard for his fellow countryman. This is not a characteristic that can be attributed to all of Alvarez’s opponents. It’s worth mentioning that Munguia, who likely held admiration and followed Canelo’s career closely, fought tonight with the sole focus of inflicting pain and defeating his highly respected and accomplished opponent.
It was not due to a lack of effort that he couldn’t achieve it, that’s for certain. The reason Munguia fell short against Alvarez is simply that he is still at the stage of evolution where Alvarez was 10 years ago. Munguia is still raw, overly enthusiastic, and has noticeable weaknesses. He can overpower and defeat less skilled opponents who are unable to handle his strength, but when facing elite fighters like Alvarez, it takes more than just aggression and determination. Alvarez himself understands this, as he went through a similar experience in 2013 when Floyd Mayweather kept him at a distance and challenged him to land his best shot.
Christian Petersen/Getty Images captures the moment when Alvarez successfully executes a left hook.
Suffice it to say, Alvarez learned from that experience and soon made huge improvements. With humility knocked into him by defeat, he became immediately wiser, more composed, and able to separate hype from reality. He also learned the tricks of the trade – when to punch, when not to punch – and learned that there is more to boxing than just coming forward and throwing punches as hard as you can.
This was evident tonight as well, as he witnessed Munguia falling into the same traps and calmly waited to teach him a lesson. In the fourth round, for instance, Alvarez carefully observed every mistake Munguia made, intending to demonstrate that even Munguia’s success was a gift from Alvarez. While the occasional right hand managed to land, it was only because Alvarez had plans of his own. This became unmistakably clear when, in the fourth round, Alvarez delivered a stunning right uppercut to Munguia during an exchange, causing Munguia to fall for the first time in his professional career. If there were any doubts before, it was now undeniable: Munguia’s success was not genuine, but rather a result of Alvarez’s calculation, control, and preparation.
Being the best comes with its perks, and one of them is the ability to control situations, which often starts at an early stage. Take Canelo, for example. His control began when he made the decision to fight Jaime Munguia instead of David Benavidez, another Mexican boxer he was associated with. By making this choice, Canelo, with a record of 61-2-2 (39), showcased his power and also indicated the role Munguia would play in the fight – that of the chosen one, the second fiddle.
From that point on, Canelo employed his power and reputation to control Munguia, who, in defiance, stuck to his game plan and held onto the belief that he could humble Canelo. Unfortunately, Munguia’s refusal to conform like previous opponents forced Canelo to revert to the fundamentals. He utilized his physical advantages, wisdom, and experience, placing his hand on Munguia’s forehead, inviting him to take his best shot.
Much to his astonishment, Munguia continued to make relentless efforts.
