Canelo Álvarez vs. Jaime Munguía: Keys to victory, prediction, what to anticipate in Mexican showdown

It’s an all-Mexican showdown of formative years vs. abilities on Cinco De Mayo weekend for the total marbles.

Canelo Álvarez will look to defend his undisputed plentiful middleweight title for a fourth straight time Saturday (8 p.m. ET, DAZN PPV) at T-Cellular Arena in Las Vegas towards fellow Mexican and former plentiful welterweight world champion Jaime Munguía, who seeks to grab the torch from the legendary future Hall of Famer.

At exact 27 years passe, Jaime Munguía has already proven his mettle within the ring with 43 educated fights below his belt. Whereas he is confronted some stressful opponents, none can match Álvarez, the undisputed face of boxing and four-division world champion.

As the stage is determined, the query remains: Will Álvarez continue his reign, or will the youthful Mexican use his say?

Here are the keys to victory for Álvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) and Munguía (43-0, 34 KOs), adopted by a final prediction sooner than their high-stakes conflict in Las Vegas.

Munguía’s keys to victory

Don’t gain complacent

Munguía is a beast. He’s swift and explosive nonetheless has obvious flaws. Nonetheless, he has yet to face a fighter who can compare him for his mistakes. Munguía destroyed John Ryder in January, nonetheless even when the Englishman was concern, he repeatedly landed counter correct hooks on Munguía. Why? Munguía likes to admire his work. And when that happens, he throws caution to the wind, drops his hands and doesn’t pass his head. If Ryder had energy, Munguía may maybe presumably were on the mat. He can not accomplish these mistakes towards Canelo, who shall be out of his top nonetheless remains indubitably one of basically the most efficient counterpunchers within the sport. Munguía desires to be aggressive, nonetheless neat. He wants to guide clear of ending up admire James Kirkland.

Use the jab and land combos

The 33-three hundred and sixty five days-passe Álvarez has struggled towards slick boxers with realizing jabs, equivalent to Floyd Mayweather Jr., Gennadiy Golovkin and Dmitry Bivol. Munguía shouldn’t be precisely a “slick” fighter, nonetheless he has a realizing jab and follows up with high-volume combos.

Munguía’s offense is his strength. He’s a indispensable man, and his 6-foot size may maybe presumably well pose an field for the 5-9 Álvarez, in particular early within the fight. Munguía ought to steer clear of staying within the pocket for too long or throwing too many punches in an trade. There were moments where Munguía has been too wearisome to gain out of the pocket and has taken some photos on the means out. He mustn’t strive and reinvent the wheel, as a change focusing on throwing a few photos and getting out of the strategy of these counters. Obtain Álvarez on the backfoot with the jab, and inspire his hands up.

Canelo’s keys to victory

Obtain Munguía pay for his mistakes

Let’s gain it accessible: Munguía is going to function mistakes in this fight. It’s as a lot as Álvarez to function him pay. Each and each opponents are inclined to feel their opponent out within the outlet round.

That is Munguía’s first valuable fight on a fundamental platform, and his nerves may maybe presumably well work towards him. That is an opportunity for Álvarez to present him a impolite awakening to his level of educated prizefighting. Strain him early, feint to the head and rip the physique early.

Will Munguía respond aggressively or will he be realizing? That is a realizing query. We don’t know. What we attain know is that Álvarez customarily has spicy defense. If Munguía will get concern and overzealous consequently, that will presumably well fall correct into Álvarez’s hands.

Don’t extinguish vitality

Álvarez shouldn’t be the identical fighter he was when he dominated at middleweight or when he went on a negative rampage to clutch the undisputed 168-pound world championship in 2021.

He may maybe presumably well not be in a blueprint to examine Munguia’s velocity. He’s the older fighter in this matchup, and he is been in more wars. Álvarez has had stamina disorders within the previous, so he can not necessarily gain too overaggressive, either, consequently of Munguía may maybe presumably strive and maul him on the interior with right energy photos.

Canelo Álvarez vs. Jaime Munguía prediction

Munguía is youthful, fresher and the physically stronger fighter of the two.

As he has gotten older, Álvarez has become more savvy within the ring. It’s the dinky things that will accomplish a distinction in this fight. Álvarez’s head movement is more elusive, and he’ll attack the physique. He’ll even be the more correct puncher.

Munguía is a terribly realizing fighter. He’s thrilling consequently of he hits and will get hit, nonetheless that will more than seemingly be an field. He takes masses of pointless punishment, and Álvarez doesn’t.

I query Munguía to attain up a truly realizing fight except Álvarez’s physique of labor catches as a lot as him. Álvarez catches him slack and will get a 10th-round TKO to continue his undisputed reign at 168.