Mexico versus Puerto Rico gets hyped, but pretty sure the Canelo vs Munguia Mexico versus Mexico clash will provide solid bang for the buck for combat sports fans.
Canelo Promotions is lead dog promoter of the Cinco de Mayo weekend super middleweight world title tango pitting unbeaten the 33 year old red-head against the 27 year old Jaime Munguía stop a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video on Saturday, May 4 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Who thinks the kid def has a punchers’ chance in this faceoff?
The Canelo (repping Guadalajara) Vs Munguia (repping Tijuana) PPV will be available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, plus fans will also be able to purchase the PPV via DAZN.com.
On top of those options, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets, according to organizers.
Munguía is 27 years old, you maybe think he’s older because he debuted as a pro in 2013. It’s been a long ride to get here and he must be given props for having the patience to stay focused with this “end goal” in mind.
Time will tell if Canelo Vs Munguia will prompt comparisons to lauded and oft recalled Mexico vs. Mexico matchups of the past, like Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera, Carlos Zárate vs. Alfonso Zamora and Jesús Castillo vs. Rubén Olivares, et al. OK, maybe there’d be more justified hype for Canelo vs David Benavidez, but this preferential plan B is a decent alternative.
Pre-sale tickets for Canelo Vs Munguia are available Thursday, March 14 from 10 a.m. PT until 10 p.m. PT through AXS.com by using the code: PBC
Public on-sale begins Friday, March 15 at 10 a.m. PT with tickets available through AXS.com.
The Canelo Vs Munguia event is promoted by Canelo Promotions, TGB Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Zanfer Boxing Promotions. Yeah, there’s been history between Canelo and Golden Boy.
This here is an example of letting bygones be byegones in the name of smart business, over ego, for Canelo.
He and GBP head Oscar De La Hoya parted on unfriendly terms.
Reynoso Speaks on Canelo vs Munguia
“We are very excited to return on May 4, especially with a Mexican opponent,” said Eddy Reynoso, Canelo’s trainer/manager. “This will be a 100% Mexican celebration! There has been a long time since two Mexicans have faced each other in an event like this. It’s going to be a grand fight.
“Jamie Munguia is an ex-champion who’s been winning fights and demonstrating great things. That tells me it’s going to be an exciting fight. I am very happy and grateful to Jamie that he agreed to make Canelo vs Munguia happen.”
Jaime Munguia beat Ryder more conclusively than Canelo did. (Photo: Cris Esqueda, Golde Boy Boxing)
“Cinco de Mayo weekend is a crown jewel in the boxing calendar, and this year will be one of the most anticipated in recent memory with this all-Mexico showdown between undisputed champion and future Hall of Famer Canelo Álvarez taking on the undefeated power-puncher Jaime Munguía headlining a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Saturday, May 4 at T-Mobile Arena will be the highlight of what is always one of the city’s biggest weekends. Fans know that when an all-time great like Canelo faces a hungry action fighter like Munguía, the chances for drama and fireworks are through the roof.”
Golden Boy Promotions founder Oscar De La Hoya has played it pretty smart with Munguia. (Photo: Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy Promotions)
“An all-Mexican championship showdown on Cinco de Mayo weekend between two guys with immense pride for their country and at the top of their games — it doesn’t get any better for the sport of boxing,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Given Jaime’s incredible offensive attack, Canelo’s unmatched counterpunching and both guys’ tremendous power, fans are in for an absolute barn burner. We at Golden Boy are proud to have been able to work with our partners at DAZN to help make this massive battle and potential instant classic in Las Vegas that you don’t want to miss!”
“Jaime Munguía continues to make history as he paves his way in the sport,” said Fernando Beltrán, CEO of Zanfer Boxing Promotions of Canelo Vs Munguia.“There will be an overflow of Mexican pride in Las Vegas. Canelo Vs Munguia was accomplished for the people of México between two of the top Mexican fighters in boxing.”
*CANELO ÁLVAREZ VS. JAIME MUNGUÍA*
Canelo is current WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO Super Middleweight World Champion.
According to a GBP release, Álvarez will look to extend his own record of successful undisputed title defenses in the four-belt era as he defends his belts for the fourth time in a 12-round matchup against the unbeaten former 154-pound world champion Jaime Munguía, who will compete at the full 168-pound limit for the third straight fight.
Canelo has a tougher test in the Tijuana man than he had against the smaller Charlo. (Photo: Ryan Hafey, Premier Boxing Champions)
More release: The fighting pride of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Canelo became undisputed at super middleweight in November 2021 by taking the IBF belt from then unbeaten Caleb Plant via an 11th-round TKO.
After dropping a light heavyweight title fight against Dmitriy Bivol in May 2022, Canelo rebounded to defeat Gennadiy Golovkin in their September 2022 trilogy fight before besting John Ryder in May 2023.
Under the guidance of his renowned manager and trainer Eddy Reynoso, Canelo has triumphed over a long list of elite fighters since turning pro at just 15-years-old in 2005, including Golovkin, plus Shane Mosley, Erislandy Lara, Miguel Cotto and Sergey Kovalev to name a few.
Outside of the Bivol fight, Canelo’s only other defeat came against undefeated legend Floyd Mayweather in September 2013.
“I’m very proud and excited to be able to make this fight,” said Canelo, counting down to Canelo vs Munguia.
“A Mexican versus another Mexican is always a huge fight and it’s been a while since there’s been one like this. It’s great to give an opportunity like this to a fighter that’s earned it like Jaime has. It gives me a lot of joy that two Mexicans will be facing each other in such a big fight for the sport.”
The 27-year-old Munguía (43-0, 34 KOs) first burst onto the scene in 2018, shocking Sadam Ali via a fourth-round TKO to claim a 154-pound world championship, which he would go on to defend successfully five times.
A native of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, Munguía continued his dominance after moving up to 160-pounds, going 6-0 at the weight class from 2020 through 2022, including triumphs over D’Mitrius Ballard, Gabriel Rosado and Tureano Johnson, all while garnering a reputation as one of the most fan-friendly fighters in the sport.
Munguía made his debut campaigning at super middleweight in June 2023, facing longtime top contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko. Munguía emerged victorious with a unanimous decision in the back-and-forth affair that garnered Fight of the Year honors from the BWAA.
In his most recent fight, Munguia joined forces with legendary trainer Freddie Roach, who helped guide him to a dominant ninth-round stoppage of veteran contender John Ryder in January.
Munguia Pumped Ahead of Canelo Vs Munguia Clash
“I’m very, very happy and filled with enthusiasm for this great opportunity,” said Munguía, ahead of Canelo vs Munguia.
“I’m incredibly grateful to everyone involved who were able to make this fight a reality. We are ready to give fans a great night of boxing on Saturday, May 4. I can’t wait to demonstrate to the world that I am capable of doing great things. Viva Tijuana and Viva México!”
Founder/editor Michael Woods got addicted to boxing in 1990, when Buster Douglas shocked the world with his demolition of the then-impregnable Mike Tyson.
The Brooklyn-based journalist has covered the sport since for ESPN The Magazine, ESPN.com, Bad Left Hook and RING. His journalism career started with NY Newsday in 1999.
Michael Woods is also an accomplished blow by blow and color man, having done work for Top Rank, DiBella Entertainment, EPIX, and for Facebook Fightnight Live, since 2017.