Boxing expert Paulie Malignaggi feels that Canelo Alvarez has lost some of his hunger and ferocity at this stage of his career
Malignaggi questions whether Canelo (60-2-2, 39 KOs) can handle Jaime Munguia’s combination punching and high volume in their fight on May 4th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
If Canelo no longer can punch in between the shots that Munguia, he’s going to have problems, and he might lose. That would be a bitter pill for him to get beaten by a fighter like this, who isn’t on the level of David Benavidez, Caleb Plant, Diego Pacheco, or David Morrell.
Canelo, 33, will defend his undisputed super middleweight championship against the hungry unbeaten Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs) in their headliner on Cinco de Mayo on Amazon Prime Video and DAZN PPV.
Savvy but less ferocious
“I see a fighter that is satisfied with his career, and satisfied with the money he’s made and the success that he’s had,” said boxing expert Paulie Malignaggi to the Probox TV YouTube channel about Canelo Alvarez.
“I see a fighter that is not as hungry as he was before and not showing the ferocity that he was showing at one time in his career. You can see some of those things dissipating and the desire to go for it. But he’s still a savvy veteran.”
Canelo will have to be at his best in this fight because Munguia will be super motivated and fighting harder than he ever has. He knows this is his big chance, and his only hope of getting a big-money rematch is by winning on May 4th.
“He knows how to get through fights and win them at a high level. A guy like Munguia, who is active, hungry, and defensively flawed, can make this a fun fight because he brings activity to the ring. He throws combinations in bunches,” said Malignaggi.
“Those are the kinds of things that Canelo doesn’t always like to see and to deal with. Does Canelo have the ability to punch in between Munguia like he’s shown so many times in his career?”
Canelo looked good in his last fight against Jermell Charlo, and he made him hesitant to throw his punches due to the big shots he was hitting him with. Munguia might be more confident to let his hands go because he’s bigger and accostimed to getting hit.
“Can he do it in between the punches of Munguia, who can throw a little wide when he throws those big salvos? Is the power of Canelo going to take away the confidence to throw those salvos, or is Munguia going to try and run right through him?” said Malignaggi.