Boxing
Canelo Alvarez takes Jaime Munguia decision in title defense
Published
6 months agoon
By
J. HumzaLAS VEGAS — A raucous, surprise support for Jaime Munguia was quickly snuffed out Saturday with Canelo Alvarez’s patented combination, a left hook and then a right uppercut, that knocked the challenger to the canvas for the first time in his 44 career fights.
Alvarez, boxing’s top star, continued to gain momentum after the fourth-round knockout and won the fight with his cleaner, sharper and more powerful shots, retaining the undisputed super middleweight championship in an all-Mexican battle on Cinco de Mayo over the weekend in front of 17,492 at the T-Mobile Arena.
Alvarez’s fourth successful defense of his four 168-pound titles was made official with scores of 115-113, 117-110 and 116-111. ESPN scored 118-109. It was the third fight in a row in which Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KO) suffered a knockdown. He also knocked out Jermell Charlo and John Ryder in decision victories last year.
“I’m very proud that all the Mexicans are here watching us,” said Alvarez, the No. 4 boxer in ESPN’s rankings. “…He’s a great fighter. He is powerful, he is astute. … But it’s a bit ponderous. I see every blow. Sometimes it hits me because I’m gaining confidence. … I did really well and I feel proud of it… I’m definitely the best fighter now.
Munguia, a former junior middleweight champion, was competing at an elite level for the first time. And he undoubtedly performed well. The 27-year-old from Tijuana fought with passion and showed a better jab in his second fight with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.
Munguia’s pressure and aggression were effective for the first two rounds, but Alvarez finally, as usual, felt his opponent at the right time. “I’m in no rush,” Alvarez said. “That’s why I have a lot of experience. … I had 12 rounds to win the fight and I did it.”
Munguia (43-1, 34 KO) won three rounds unanimously: the first frame and rounds 3 and 9. He boxed well, but his punches never seemed to have enough power to earn Alvarez’s respect.
Even as Munguia pinned Alvarez to the ropes and unloaded his gun, Alvarez was able to avoid most of these punches and then land a single shot that supported the challenger. Then came the round 4 knockdown and it seemed Munguia’s legs never recovered. The difference in experience was also clear, as Alvarez was a first-ballot Hall of Famer who shared the ring with virtually every top name at his weight during his career.
“I came out powerful and won the first rounds,” Munguia said through a translator. “I let go, but he is a player with a lot of experience. This loss hurts because it’s my first loss and I felt powerful. There is no doubt that I would have beaten anyone else tonight. … He is a player who creates an atmosphere of many problems.”
Down the stretch, Alvarez was able to stun Munguia several times, turning his aggression against him. Alvarez’s elite counter-attacking ability, more powerful punches and evasive ability were too much for Munguia to overcome. But all is not lost.
Alvarez, 33, credits the first loss of his career – a defeat to Floyd Mayweather in 2013 as a 20-year-old – as a performance that helped shape him into an all-time great fighter.
Munguia, ESPN’s fourth super middleweight, entered the ring coming off his career-best win, a ninth-round TKO of Ryder in January. Munguia’s previous performance was named the 2023 Fight of the Year by ESPN, a fight against Sergiy Derevyanchenko in which a last-round knockdown earned Munguia the decision.
Alvarez hasn’t finished a fight at the distance since he defeated Caleb Plant in November 2021 to become the undisputed super middleweight champion.
“I’m glad I gave him this opportunity,” said Guadalajara’s Alvarez, who closed out the match as a minus-550 favorite on ESPN BET. “Munguia is a great guy and a great champion. He has a great career ahead of him.”
The promotion was overshadowed by a renewed feud between Alvarez and his former longtime promoter, Hall of Fame boxer Oscar De La Hoya. For the first time since November 2019, Alvarez and De La Hoya, Munguia’s co-promoter, shared the stage during fight week, and Wednesday’s press conference erupted as time did little to heal elderly wounds.
De La Hoya took aim at Alvarez and mentioned his failed drug test before his 2018 rematch with Gennady Golovkin. Alvarez responded that De La Hoya was stealing from fighters and referred to GGG, who sued Oscar’s Golden Boy Promotions in 2022, demanding more than $3 million that he believed was owed from that rematch.
De La Hoya told ESPN that GGG had been paid every dollar owed to him, and the next day he sent Alvarez a cease-and-desist letter demanding that he withdraw his “defamatory allegations.”
Alvarez’s attorney, Gregory M. Smith, told ESPN that Alvarez “said what he said.”
Alvarez admitted that he was more determined to win after the proceedings were over, and although he didn’t finish Munguia in the distance, he did win once again in dominant fashion.
“I always said [Canelo is] he’s a good fighter in the ring, but this experience for Jaime will just take him to another level,” De La Hoya said. “It’s just like Mayweather and Canelo. … Canelo won the school and then became the face of boxing.
Now, calls for Alvarez to fight David Benavidez will return once again as Alvarez prepares for his expected return on Mexican Independence Day weekend in September.
“If the money is right… I can fight [Benavidez] right now,” Alvarez said. “I do not care. At this point it’s just a matter of money. Everyone asks for everything.
“When I was fighting [Erislandy] Lara, Austin Trout, Miguel Angel Cotto, [Floyd] Mayweather, Billy Joe Saunders, GGG, they all said I didn’t want to fight them, and I fought them all. So now… I can do whatever I want.
It was Alvarez’s first fight against another Mexican since defeating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in May 2017 and his seventh main event fight on Cinco de Mayo weekend. Canelo has won four straight fights since moving up to 175 pounds in May 2022 following a decision loss to Dmitry Bivol.
You may like
Boxing
“Mike Tyson knocking out Jake Paul is an ‘all-time backfire’
Published
1 day agoon
November 14, 2024Mike Tyson may not win at all even if he knocks out Jake Paul on Friday.
Tyson is approaching a comeback fight that many believe will not end with anyone winning.
Tyson was told that winning at the age of 58 in boxing was an empty joke. Tyson can’t really win either way if he crushes Paul or gets knocked out himself.
The former UFC star turned analyst weighed in on the Tyson debate as Daniel Cormier offered his views on the controversial fight.
Tyson will wear his professional gloves on November 15, nineteen years and more since his last appearance. Despite “Iron” Mike losing his previous two contests by knockout, YouTuber Paul sees Tyson as a cash opportunity to gain some recognition.
However, Cormier joins many voices who believe that both men have no chance of winning this fight. The only advantage of the entire Netflix event is money, which is no reason to create such an antagonist, since both men are already millionaires.
On his “Funky and the Champ” show, Cormier discussed Tyson’s smokescreen training videos, saying, “I understand that [he looks good at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels great].
“I agree when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro. It looks like there’s still something left there. But then I see Jake Paul fighting Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.
“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t operate the backup tank to stay and compete with this juvenile kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.
“What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over,” Cormier added. “Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like this has ever happened in the history of sports.”
Paul has eight two-minute rounds to get the job done, while the consensus is that Tyson only has 30 seconds before he’s blowing tough and having difficulty keeping up.
The only comparison fight fans have made to the Paul vs. Tyson fight is when Evander Holyfield returned to action at the same age as Tyson in 2021. Facing Vitor Belfort, who was twenty years older than Paul at the time, Holyfield lasted only 109 seconds.
Mike is in deep crisis and must get out of the fight or destroy his opponent to gain any recognition. Senior Tyson would have beaten that opponent in a matter of seconds. Therefore, he must prove that money is not the only thing that counts.
In a recent workout, Tyson’s muscle mass remains off the charts for a man his age. The only problems will be its resistance to attacks and movement. If Mike can’t move around the ring, he’ll be chosen at his discretion by a guy three decades younger, with a much more significant engine.
Paul clearly doesn’t have skills comparable to Tyson. However, Mike has shown on numerous occasions, even in his thirties, that he is prone to impoverished performances and falling out of the game.
An audience of millions will watch to decide his ultimate legacy.
If Paul knocks Tyson out, it will be a disaster.
Boxing
Ardreal Holmes Jr. is the leader of Large Time Boxing on December 12 in Flint, Michigan
Published
2 days agoon
November 13, 2024Salita Promotions returns to Flint, Michigan on Thursday, December 12 with another edition of BIG TIME BOXING USA, the leading talent development series in the sport, featuring a fight card packed with some of boxing’s top prospects, including Michigan Jr.’s Ardreal “Bossman” Holmes. , Joey Spencer, Da’Velle “Hitman 2.0” Smith and Leon Lawson III.
This will be the sixth BIG TIME BOXING USA card since the series premiered in February, and it is without a doubt the series’ strongest lineup yet, from top to bottom. All the action takes place at the Dort Financial Center in Flint, and the top four fights are broadcast live on DAZN, the undisputed home of boxing worldwide. Tickets for the event go on sale Wednesday at 11 a.m. EST and can be purchased online HERE or in person at the Dort Financial Center box office.
After successfully defending his USBA junior middleweight title in September, Flint native Holmes (16-0, 6 KO) returns to his hometown to once again put his title on the line in the main event against an experienced challenger, French veteran Ahmed El Mousaoui ( 35-6-1, 9 KOs).
Fan favorite Spencer (18-1, 11 KO), from nearby Fenton, Michigan, will fight in a 10-round 160-pound fight. Spencer has bounced back with two wins since his lone loss to undefeated, highly-rated Jesus Ramos in March 2023.
Spencer will fight as a professional for the second time in his home state of Michigan. “Fighting in front of fans and friends from all over the state was the best experience,” Spencer said. “I grew up fighting alongside Ardreal Holmes and Leon Lawson – training and traveling to tournaments together and even sparring with each other as we grew into the same weight class.
“Large Time Boxing is a very cold series and Dmitriy Salita does a lot for boxing in Michigan. I can’t wait for December 12th and I’ll be ready to put on a show.
“My team and I are proud to announce the strongest BIG TIME BOXING USA fight card to date,” Salita said. “Since the series launched in February, we have been building and evolving it to become the premier talent development platform for newborn fighters, and this fight card is the best yet. Thank you to DAZN for providing a global platform for these fighters to shine and earn a shot at a world title. We would also like to thank Flint fans for supporting their hometown heroes and the entire sport of boxing. We had a great performance at the Dort Financial Center in September and this fight card is even more packed with incredible talent.”
Smith, touted as Detroit’s best undefeated middleweight prospect since Tommy Hearns, scored an impressive victory over Gilberto Pereira dos Santos last month in Puerto Rico. Smith has a record of 10-0 and 8 knockouts, and his momentum will be even greater when he returns to the ring against William Townsel (8-1, 6 KO) from Virginia Beach. This matchup represents the first major test for Smith, who is considered the second coming of the legendary Hearns due to his combination of speed, power and physique. Townsel previously upset Nadim Salloum, who had a 12-1 record heading into the fight, during the March edition of BIG TIME BOXING USA.
Flint native Lawson (16-1, 9 KO), cousin of Anthony and Andre Dirrell, returns after an impressive performance in September when he dominated Argentine Luis Alberto Veron and scored his second straight TKO. Lawson’s super welterweight opponent will not be announced. Additionally, former world title contender Byron Rojas (28-4-3, 11 KO) will fight on the fight card.
Rising star Samantha Worthington (9-0, 7 KO) of Lexington, Kentucky, will compete for the third time in 2024, defending her undefeated record in women’s super lightweight fighting. Worthington is ranked No. 2 by the IBF, No. 4 by the WBO and No. 6 by the WBC and WBA at 140 pounds. Worthington is promoted by “GWOAT,” unified women’s world champion and Flint native Claressa Shields and T-Rex Promotions. Shields and Worthington were members of the 2016 U.S. Olympic team.
Shields added that Worthington is a player that Flint fans won’t want to miss. “Samantha will showcase the relentless work ethic and tremendous skill that first caught my eye and has seen her rise through the ranks,” Shields said. “Samantha is well on her way to challenging the top competitors in the sport, with future world title fights against the likes of Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano well within her reach. Michigan fans, get ready to watch a rising women’s boxing star in your own backyard.
Boxing
Deontay Wilder returns, inspired by the work of Sylvester Stallone
Published
3 days agoon
November 13, 2024Deontay Wilder revealed his intentions to fight again in an address to his supporters, inspired by a quote from Rocky star Sylvester Stallone.
The “Brown Bomber” tries to leave behind two devastating defeats and the decline of personal relationships, starting a comeback with a novel attitude. Wilder has sought professional support for his mentality and intends to return to the ring to give himself one last chance.
In a video post on Instagram, Wilder said: “Listen, everyone is going to have an opinion about you, but those opinions don’t matter. Life will hit you and knock you down. It’s a mindset to keep moving forward.
“I experienced failures long before boxing. I faced challenges long before I stepped into the ring. I was punched and knocked down long before I even put on boxing gloves. I’m still here because my attitude is to get up and keep going…
“So over the last few months I have been building the protocol with mentality [strength]. I always say that we all have greatness within us, but greatness is only defined in service, so I wake up every day trying to serve. To teach other men how to move forward and support other men improve their mindset because mental health is my primary mission.
“The next critical mission is to get in the ring and do what I was supposed to do,” Wilder added.
Deontay Wilder is not finished yet.
🎥 @BronzeBomber #Bombzquad pic.twitter.com/OLiOB8RcsE
— Boxing News (@WorldBoxingNews) November 13, 2024
Responding to those who believe his career is over, Wilder stated: “If any of you have negative opinions, look at your mindset and step back from that negative bull****. How about this?
“To all my fans and supporters and those who have never left me, I love you all very much and thank you very much. Because no matter how many losses and how many challenges, no matter how many times life hits you and knocks you down, you better get up and keep going. That is the power of thinking.”
Wilder was inspired by Rocky’s original quote from the movie “Rocky Balboa.”
Stallone’s quote reads: “Let me tell you something you already know. The world is not all sunshine and rainbows. This is a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are. It will bring you to your knees and keep you there forever if you let it.
“You, me or no one will hit as tough as life. But it’s not about how tough you hit. It’s about how tough you can get hit and keep going.
“As much as you can take and keep going. That’s how you win!”
Whether Deontay Wilder can win again will depend on his choice of opponent.
“I’m one of only five fighters to beat Mike Tyson – he wasn’t even my toughest opponent.”
Deontay Wilder – FULL POST FIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE vs. Luis Ortiz II
Peter Fury Breaks Down Parker-Zhang & Joshua-Ngannou
Trending
-
MMA6 months ago
Max Holloway is on a mission at UFC 212
-
Interviews1 month ago
Carl Froch predicts that Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol
-
Interviews1 month ago
Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol
-
MMA6 months ago
Cris Cyborg ready to add a UFC title to her collection
-
Boxing4 months ago
Lucas Bahdi ready to test his skills against Ashton Sylve
-
MMA6 months ago
The Irish showed up in droves at the Mayweather-McGregor weigh-in
-
Interviews6 months ago
I fell in love with boxing again
-
Opinions & Features1 month ago
Dmitry Bivol: The story so far