MEXICAN duo Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Jaime Munguia arrived in style ahead of their main event on Saturday, May 4 at the T-Mobile Arena. Officially opening the big fight week, Canelo is looking to repel Father Time and maintain his status as one of the sport’s premier operators, even teasing a knockout prediction before the eighth round.
“You’re going to get to witness everything on Saturday. I don’t care if Munguia is younger, older, I don’t care because Canelo in the end is different,” stated the undisputed 168-pound king.
Fighting another Mexican in Las Vegas for the first time since shutting out Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in 2017, Canelo (60-2-2, 39 KOs) described the significance of his latest challenge.
“It’s going to be an historic one, two Mexicans fighting for all four belts for the first time. That’s why I’m looking as always to leave my mark and pull my country up high.”
Canelo also had a word for the man who has been following him around like a ghost recently: David Benavidez.
“Why don’t we just enjoy this fight? Jaime Munguia deserves the respect that he is entitled to, and it’s going to be a great fight. The fan who had the sign out there with Benavidez, he’s been resentful since the Golovkin fight clearly!”
Unbeaten in 43 bouts with 34 knockouts, Jaime Munguia has gratefully grasped the place that many thought was reserved for Benavidez or Edgar Berlanga. Impressively dismissing common opponent John Ryder and dethroning the face of boxing are two different missions for Munguia, who is well aware of the size of Saturday evening’s clash.
“I trust my preparation. Me and my team did amazing things together. You are going to see that reflected on Saturday night,” said the 27-year-old, flanked by trainer Freddie Roach and promoter Oscar De La Hoya on stage.
“I’m looking for the knockout and Jaime is also,” added Hall-Of-Famer Roach.
All of the supporting cast is in place, including Mario Barrios (28-2, 18 KOs), who features in the co-main event against Argentina’s aggressive Fabian Maidana (22-2, 16 KOs). Holding the WBC Interim welterweight strap, Barrios feels that the experience gained from back-to-back losses to Gervonta Davis and Keith Thurman will be invaluable to his progress.
Arriving on a four-fight winning streak, Marcos Maidana’s younger brother is eager to make his own name in the sport and vowed to live up to his ‘TNT’ nickname by bringing the action to Barrios.
WBC Interim featherweight champion Brandon Figueroa (24-1-1, 18 KOs) puts his title on the line against former WBO super-bantamweight ruler Jessie Magdaleno (29-2, 18 KOs).
Inactive for 14 months, ‘The Heartbreaker’ has his sights set on full WBC champ Rey Vargas or a rematch with Stephen Fulton, the only man to defeat him. Fulton returns on the Gervonta Davis-Frank Martin June 15 undercard.
In a battle of unbeaten professionals who fought as amateurs, Lithuania’s 2016 Olympic representative Eimantas Stanionis (14-0, 9 KOs), faces off against two-time Venezuelan Olympian Gabriel Maestre (6-0-1, 5 KOs). They clash for Stanionis’ WBA welterweight title in the pay-per-view opener.
By Steve Wellings