Paulie Malignaggi and Tim Bradley both doubt that Jaime Munguia will be picked by Canelo Alvarez in May for his debut on Amazon Prime PPV.
Malignaggi says undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez doesn’t fight Mexicans, and Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs), being that he’s from Mexico, is automatically ruled out of the sweepstakes.
Paulie notes that the only exceptions Canelo has made in the past for fighting Mexican fighters were against Alfredo Angulo and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., neither of which were in the greatest shape career-wise when they fought him.
Munguia, 27, is coming off a big ninth-round TKO win over John Ryder last Saturday night in Phoenix, and he looked impressive in both fights.
Canelo’s Technical Prowess a Challenge
“That punching power, youthfulness and that volume that he brings into the ring, that’s entertaining to the eye. That’s what fans want to see,” said boxing expert Tim Bradley to ProBox TV about Jaime Munguia.
“However, Canelo is a technician, tactical, good defense, and knows how to break you down. That right hand would be there because Ryder couldn’t miss with his right hook,” said Bradley.
If Munguia is as recklessly against Canelo as he did in the Ryder fight, he’ll get picked apart and likely be stopped. Munguia gets hit too easily, and Canelo has the power and counter-punching ability to make him miserable.
“You would think a guy would understand, ‘I better keep my left hand up,’ but Munguia didn’t. He doesn’t care to eat punches in the face,” said Bradley. “It’s entertaining, but if he continues to take that kind of punishment, little by little, he’ll start to break down.
“But the fact that he’s 27-years-old, he’s strong, he’s vibrant, he can bounce back, and can take these shots. He’s going to continue to move forward. I would love to see him fight Canelo, but I doubt it.
“Why not [Christian] Mbilli or put him in the ring with [Edgar] Berlanga or even Benavidez?” said Bradley.
Berlanga is a realistic option for Munguia because his promoter, Eddie Hearn, wants to make that fight.
Deserving but Unlikely
“Munguia put himself in the sweepstakes for Canelo. I still think Benavidez is most deserving,” said boxing expert Paulie Malignaggi. “Unfortunately, Munguia is Mexican, and Canelo says he doesn’t fight Mexicans.
“I don’t think Munguia is the certain type of Mexican that may get a shot against Canelo,” said Malignaggi.
