Jaime Munguia (middle) celebrates after beating John Ryder on the Footprint Heart 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 believe it’s an excellent battle,” Munguia informed The Ring. “I do know lots of people are choosing in opposition to Berlanga. He’s an excellent fighter with a gentle jab.
“If he can correctly use it and handle the space proper, he may win.”
Alvarez-Berlanga headlines a Premier Boxing Champions on Prime Video Pay-Per-View occasion from T-Cell Enviornment 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-Cell Enviornment. 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 sit down out for an prolonged time period.
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 almost a 12 months 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 considered one of boxing’s most lively fighters, he wound up with only one battle in 2023. He’ll now battle for the third time this 12 months when he faces Erik Bazinyan (32-0-1, 23 KOs). Their Sept. 20 tremendous middleweight conflict headlines an ESPN telecast from Desert Diamond Enviornment 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 couple of rounds of success versus Alvarez, however was finally outmatched by his countryman.
“No one likes to lose,” famous Munguia. “I can’t disguise from it so why not transfer ahead. I took it as motivation to continue to grow as a fighter, to maintain enhancing.
“That’s why I took this battle. It retains me lively and permits me to work on all of the issues that can make me a greater fighter.”
The lopsided odds recommend Berlanga will likely 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 anticipate Canelo to win. Berlanga has an opportunity if he can put his finest attributes to make use of and never should battle Canelo’s battle.
“Canelo is a really clever fighter, although. He is superb about determining his opponents.”
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