Canelo and Munguia Meet

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Jaime Munguia  Meet in Beverly Hills

(Photo by Esther Lin) 

By Lauren Rodriguez

BEVERLY HILLS, Ca.- Mexican warriors, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KO’s) and Jaime Munguia (42-0, 34 KO’s) took the stage on Tuesday afternoon at the  Beverly Hills Hotel to announce their upcoming Cinco De Mayo fight. The 12-round bout will take place at Las Vegas’s T-Mobile arena and live-streamed on Amazon Prime and DAZN.

As mariachis played in the background, PBC and Golden Boy promotions officials came together to showcase their fighters in one of the biggest fights of the decade. The two super middleweight fighters expressed nothing but gratitude and respect for each other, the sport of boxing and their home country of Mexico.

“I have always been proud of any Mexican. Be it sports, music, I'm very proud. He [Munguia] has always had my support and he will always have it. Today, we will have to face each other. Which makes me very proud because on such an important date for Mexico, two Mexicans are monopolizing worldwide, that makes me proud…I know that I have a strong rival who wants a lot of hits, with a lot of hunger to succeed and that doesn't stop me from being happy because it means that it is special…it means that the only one who is going to win is the people. The fight for Mexico, for the history books of Mexico,” said Alvarez.

Alvarez will be defending his four division belts for the fourth time in his career. The 33-year old has held all four belts in unification since 2021 while Munguia has only moved up to 168 one year ago.

Alvarez is known worldwide for his heavy hitting punches that have laid his opponents flat on their backs. Munguia holds power in his punches as well, with a 79% knockout rate and four inches of a height advantage; The dynamics in the ring will be explosive. The fighter is known to throw a flurry of combinations and is no doubt hungry for a victory against the legendary Canelo.

“What an achievement, it is a great achievement to be facing the greatest and fighting he who is the biggest of all cash cows. The truth is I am happy, I am very motivated to fight right now,” said Munguia.

The fight comes after demand for a fight between Alvarez and David Benavidez (29-0, 24 KO’s), one many hoped to see but Canelo insists is not important or beneficial to him in any way.

“We can name many fights between Mexicans for championships that have been very good. I think this is one of the most special, the first time that Mexicans compete in the four world championships,” said Canelos trainer, Eddy Reynoso.