Canelo Alvarez Finally Explains Why He Broke 7-Year-Old Rule to Face Jaime Munguia

Published 04/12/2024, 2:27 PM EDT

Seven years ago, Canelo Alvarez faced Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in a clash of Mexican titans. Now, in 2024, another Mexican boxer stands across the ring – Jaime Munguia. This highly anticipated fight is set for the biggest Mexican celebration of the year – Cinco de Mayo.

Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena will be electric as Canelo puts his undisputed super middleweight championship on the line. But why the change of heart for Canelo? Why fight a fellow countryman after years of avoiding such matchups?

Canelo Alvarez did it for Mexico

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The upcoming Cinco de Mayo weekend fight pits Canelo Alvarez in a unique situation. In an interview with Fight Hub TV, the interviewer acknowledged the significance of the fight, stating, “This is another big fight… and this is a different kind of fight for you because you’re fighting a fellow Mexican.”

Canelo has been vocal about his preference for non-Mexican opponents throughout his career. The interviewer directly addressed this, asking, “Which you haven’t done since Julio Cesar Chavez in 2017. After you’ve indicated throughout the years that you really didn’t want to fight a fellow countryman, but here we are with Jaime. What made Jaime the perfect opponent for you?”

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Canelo’s response highlighted a shift in perspective. He acknowledged his past stance, replying, “I say that yeah, but sometimes you need to do it.” However, the emphasis quickly pivoted to the broader significance of the fight. Canelo went on to explain, “I think this fight with Jaime is gonna be very important for Mexico. Two Mexicans in the Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas, everybody watching us. I think is big for Mexico, it’s big and I love being involved in this kind of fights and I’m proud to give this opportunity to Jaime Munguia.”

But many people would still ask, why Munguia and not David Benavidez? Canelo in the same interview explained why it’s a lose-lose fight.

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Why Canelo feels damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t

Canelo Alvarez seems to be in a no-win situation regarding a potential fight with David Benavidez. The boxing superstar expressed his frustration, stating, “When I beat him [Benavidez], they’re gonna say, ‘Oh, they put that clause in.'” This implies his victory might be overshadowed by critics pointing to a possible rehydration clause as an advantage for Canelo.

Canelo Alvarez further emphasized the dilemma, saying, “It’s a lose-lose situation. Because after the fight, they are gonna talk, ‘Because of this.'” He felt regardless of the outcome, there would be excuses made. This is likely due to the obvious size difference. Benavidez has a significant height and reach advantage. Additionally, Canelo highlighted his financial security, suggesting he doesn’t need to fight Benavidez for money. “I can fight with any fighter and win good money,” he declared.

So, will he prioritize silencing doubters or focus on commercially lucrative, yet less challenging opponents? Only time will tell.

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Written by:

Mrinal Mishra is a senior writer for Boxing at EssentiallySports. With over 1300+ articles to his name, Mrinal’s articles often find congratulatory mentions from boxing greats like Mia St. John.

Edited by:

Gokul Pillai

Canelo Alvarez Finally Explains Why He Broke 7-Year-Old Rule to Face Jaime Munguia

Canelo Alvarez did it for Mexico

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Why Canelo feels damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t