Canelo Alvarez, who had previously made a commitment to never engage in a bout against a fellow countryman, found himself in a position of having to clarify his stance at today’s launch press conference for his upcoming fight.
During the Cinco De Mayo weekend on Saturday, May 4, the 33-year-old champion will be defending his undisputed super-middleweight title against fellow Mexican Jaime Munguia at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Throughout his career, Canelo has encountered notable opponents like Amir Khan, Daniel Jacobs, Billy Joe Saunders, and Dmitry Bivol on this particular weekend.
Since his victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr on May 6, 2017, during Mexico’s celebration, Canelo has adamantly declined to compete against any other opponents from his own country. This decision followed his impressive 12-round shutout win, which left Chavez Jr embarrassed and defeated on all three scorecards.
In September 2022, following his victory over Gennadiy Golovkin to complete their trilogy, a somewhat perturbed Canelo expressed to the media that he would not engage in another bout against a fellow Mexican. He explained that his decision stemmed from his deep sense of national pride and loyalty towards representing his country.
After 18 months, what is the reason behind his decision to defend his four titles against the undefeated 27-year-old Mexican, Munguia?
Canelo responded to host Jimmy Lennon’s question, acknowledging his previous statement about not fighting another Mexican fighter. However, he expressed his appreciation for Munguia’s respectful attitude and consistent efforts in the ring, which led to this opportunity. Canelo expressed satisfaction in making this fight happen, emphasizing that it will be beneficial for all parties involved, especially for Mexico.
David Benavidez, a prominent figure in the room, grabbed everyone’s attention. Similar to Canelo, he is currently associated with the PBC, but he has made the bold choice to switch weight divisions to light-heavyweight and face Oleksandr Gvozdyk instead. Benavidez opted not to wait any longer for his opportunity to fight for the championship.
According to Canelo, Munguia is a highly disciplined individual who possesses strong punching abilities. Canelo appreciates the challenges presented by fighters like Munguia, who share his hunger and determination to give their best performance in the ring. Canelo aims to engage with such fighters and provide the fans with the exciting spectacle they deserve.
The challenger held great admiration for Canelo and was thankful for the chance to compete. Back in January, Munguia managed to defeat John Ryder of Britain in the ninth round of their match. It had been eight months prior that Canelo had gone through the entire fight against the determined Brit. When Lennon brought up this comparison, Munguia easily disregarded it, stating that these were “two entirely distinct fights.” Munguia was well aware of his role at the press conference and flawlessly executed it.
He spoke of Canelo, saying, “Canelo has consistently been a cause of pride and inspiration for me.”
During my earlier years, I would witness his fights and think, “He’s a great person, and I aspire to be just like him.” Today, we have the opportunity to go against him, hoping that one day we can emulate his greatness.
The day, which is less than seven weeks from now, will witness Munguia and Canelo engage in an all-Mexican fight. Similar to Canelo, Munguia will rely on their boxing skills to make a statement. This highly anticipated match is expected to be Canelo’s most challenging since his defeat to Dmitry Bivol in the light-heavyweight division on Cinco De Mayo two years ago.
