Jaime Munguia (heart) celebrates after beating John Ryder on the Footprint Middle in Phoenix, AZ. Photograph by Ed Mulholland/Matchroom
Most observers don’t envision a aggressive outing from the Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez-Edgar Berlanga RING championship.
Among the many few who consider in any other case can be the one latest Canelo-conquered opponent to not pull a disappearing act.
Make no mistake, Jaime Munguia (43-1, 34 knockouts) agrees with the overwhelming majority who consider Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) will prevail. Nonetheless, the previous WBO junior middleweight titlist sees a pathway to victory for Brooklyn’s Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs).
“I feel it’s a great battle,” Munguia instructed The Ring. “I do know lots of people are selecting towards Berlanga. He’s a great fighter with a gradual jab.
“If he can correctly use it and handle the space proper, he might win.”
Alvarez-Berlanga headlines a Premier Boxing Champions on Prime Video Pay-Per-View occasion from T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas (Saturday, $89.99).
The battle marks the eighth tried protection of THE RING championship for Guadalajara’s Alvarez. His most up-to-date got here in a twelve-round win over Munguia on Could 4, atop a PBC on Prime PPV from T-Cellular Area. Alvarez prevailed by way of unanimous resolution as Tijuana’s Munguia was dealt his first defeat.
An odd historical past with Alvarez opponents has been for the shedding opponent to take a seat out for an prolonged time frame.
Jermell Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) has not fought since his lopsided defeat final Sept. 30. Gennadiy Golovkin (42-2-1, 37 KOs) has been out since their Sept. 2022 trilogy conflict.
Caleb Plant (22-2, 12 KOs) sat out for practically a yr after his Nov. 2021 knockout defeat of their undisputed championship. John Ryder (32-7, 18 KOs) fought simply as soon as extra after his Could 2023 loss to Alvarez. Fittingly, that battle was a ninth-round knockout defeat to Munguia, after which the Brit introduced his retirement.
Munguia has chosen to maintain issues transferring in his profession. Lengthy one among boxing’s most energetic fighters, he wound up with only one battle in 2023. He’ll now battle for the third time this yr when he faces Erik Bazinyan (32-0-1, 23 KOs). Their Sept. 20 tremendous middleweight conflict headlines an ESPN telecast from Desert Diamond Area in Glendale, Arizona.
The thought is to indicate the world that he’s nonetheless among the many world’s finest tremendous middleweights and a hopeful two-division titlist. Munguia loved a number of rounds of success versus Alvarez, however was in the end outmatched by his countryman.
“No person likes to lose,” famous Munguia. “I can’t cover from it so why not transfer ahead. I took it as motivation to continue to grow as a fighter, to maintain bettering.
“That’s why I took this battle. It retains me energetic and permits me to work on all of the issues that may make me a greater fighter.”
The lopsided odds counsel Berlanga might be resigned to the identical destiny. The unbeaten Nuyorican is available in with a paper-thin résumé, particularly in comparison with Munguia and different latest Alvarez foes.
Nonetheless, Berlanga enjoys bodily benefits at 6’1″ and a profession 160-168 pound fighter. He must overcome his lack of expertise on the high stage to have a shot versus Alvarez.
Thoughts over matter would be the key.
“It’s boxing. Something can occur,” famous Munguia. “Clearly, I count on Canelo to win. Berlanga has an opportunity if he can put his finest attributes to make use of and never must battle Canelo’s battle.
“Canelo is a really clever fighter, although. He is excellent about determining his opponents.”
