Jaime Munguia Nickname: Why is He Called ‘Tatanka’?

Jaime Munguia, the Mexican powerhouse who has dared to challenge Canelo Alvarez gets his prime fight tomorrow. At the iconic T-Mobile Arena of Las Vegas, Nevada, the two fighters of the same origin will battle it off as one strives to continue his reign (Canelo), and the other (Munguia) looks to begin his rule in the super middleweight division. While Canelo enjoys his massive share of a fan base given his stature in the sport, today, another name echoes. ‘Tatanka’, Jaime Munguia.

A pertinent question about the fighter is what his nickname means and where it roots itself. The Tijuana-native is popularly known as ‘Tatanka.’ It is a reference to the pop culture from the iconic, 1990 movie, “Dances with Wolves.” In it, members of the Sioux tribe communicate using that word. It translates to “buffalo” or is addressed as the bison in Lakota.

The mastermind behind the moniker and who holds primary rights to address Mungia as Tatanka is Fernando Beltran. He is the boxer’s friend and head of Zanfar Boxing. The idea behind the nickname rests in the way the 27-year-old fights. He fights relentlessly, undeterred, and brings his ultimate power to the ring. Pretty much like how a mighty bison attacks.

Kevin Coster, the director of the movie Dance with Wolves, described the significance of the term Tatanka. In an interview from years ago, he noted that Tatanka “stands as a centerpiece for two cultures, one whose very lives depended on the buffalo and one who saw it as a means to an end. It recognizes and accepts that this is our mutual history. It can also represent the chance to move forward.” 

Today, Tatanka enters the ring as the underdog to Alvarez, one of the most famous boxers of this age. However, despite that, Munguia is no less of a formidable opponent to the Jalisco-based undisputed champion. Here is what Mungia enters the ring as, and the details of the early fight predictions.

Jaime Munguia- The Strongest Underdog?

In 2013, Munguia’s ascent in boxing began. He faced Manuel Mora and secured a knockout victory in just two rounds. Since then, his trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric. It consistently rose to new heights. Tatanka’s career boasts two world titles and one Silver. His first major triumph came in February 2018. He clinched the WBC Latino super welterweight title in a bout against Argentinian Jose Carlos Paz.

However, a bigger milestone soon followed in May 2018, when he grabbed the WBO World Super Welterweight championship by defeating the American Sadam Ali. With an unblemished record of 43 fights, Munguia sets his sights on the super middleweight undisputed titles. In 2023, he triumphed over Ukraine’s Sergiy Derevyanchenko to claim the vacant WBC Silver super middleweight title. Now, he prepares to face his compatriot, Canelo Alvarez.

As the much-anticipated clash with Alvarez looms, the latter boasts odds of -525 on DraftKings Sportsbook. Munguia is listed at +380. Do you think Munguia has any winning chances against the experienced Canelo Álvarez? Let us know your predictions in the comments section below.