After Having Done What Canelo Alvarez Couldn’t, Is Jaime Munguia the Man Who Can Dethrone Fellow-Mexican?

Jaime Munguia did it better than Canelo Alvarez. After dropping John Ryder to his knees four times, he forced the Brit’s corner to stop the fight on Saturday night at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mexican fighter’s juggernaut marches in with complete force and continues to crush opponents, especially veterans. Will a day come when he makes his fellow compatriot and undisputed champion, Canelo Alvarez, another victim of his force?

The 27-year-old improved his record to 43-0 when he handed a beating to Ryder. When Canelo Alvarez met the 35-year-old Ryder last year, he only mustered a decision win over him. Therefore, to prove his title credentials and make a strong statement, Munguia had to come out with all guns blazing. And he did. He has now put the division on alert and thrown his name in the ring to set up big fights. With Freddie Roach in his corner, is Munguia shaping up to be the fighter who will slay champions next?

Jaime Munguia: Oscar De La Hoya’s golden boy

Oscar De La Hoya is buzzing with his prodigy’s latest win. The promoter can brag about how his fighter achieved something that Alvarez failed to do. This was made possible with an offense-offense partnership, ever since Munguia joined hands with Freddie Roach.

What separates Munguia from others? He has already been a champion at 154 pounds, has heavy hands, and goes all out. But the Tijuana native never boasted a great defense. Many boxers have lit him up before. He is an offense-minded fighter with very limited defense. In addition, he struggles with movements and leaves himself open to counter shots. While Roach has done a brilliant job of adding to Munguia’s offensive power, he might not be the man to bolster his defense.

However, the Ryder fight was their first fight, and we can only form a complete picture after a couple of fights. Having a coach like Roach is a big plus, as he has molded the likes of Amir Khan into champions. Nevertheless, Munguia deserves credit for putting aside Ryder the way he did. He exhibited better movement and a better ring IQ. Also, he is willing to take punches on his chin while exchanging blows. Munguia might have done enough to be considered, along with David Benavidez, for a fight with Canelo Alvarez.

Canelo Alvarez’s reign at the top and the shoddy defenses

While the Golden Boy Promotions are already smelling a fight with Canelo Alvarez, it is difficult to leapfrog Jermall Charlo and David Benavidez. Moreover, if Alvarez’s recent defenses suggest anything, it’s his unwillingness to fight someone who might endanger his throne.

Alvarez has defended his undisputed title against past-his-prime Gennady Golovkin, aged John Ryder, and an outsider in Jermell Charlo. Now he is rumored to fight Jermall Charlo, and that doesn’t evoke confidence in the fans. At 33, he is slowly moving into the twilight years of his career, and any hard-hitting and technical boxer might rip him apart. Dmitry Bivol did the same and handed him a sound defeat in 2022.

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But can Munguia emulate what Bivol did? You can dispute that, as Munguia is still nowhere close to Bivol’s level. But he is already entering his prime, and if he brushes aside David Benavidez or Edgar Berlanga next, he might be at the forefront of facing Alvarez in 2025.

2025: The year that will shake up the super middleweight division

Despite showing signs of improvement, Jaime Munguia needs tweaking. It would be too early to label him the next undisputed champion at 168 pounds. He needs to add more big fights under his belt before he challenges Alvarez for all four marbles, and that might happen in 2025. Notably, Munguia is the WBO’s #1, and the sanctioning body may order Canelo to fight him as mandatory.

But can Munguia dislodge Alvarez as the champion? It might be a stretch. Munguia leaves himself open to being hit, has a leaky defense, and is prone to counterpunches. In a clash of heavy punches, Alvarez edges him. Additionally, Alvarez is more technically gifted and has a better boxing IQ. However, Munguia is young, fresh, and has a burning desire to prove his worth. Munguia’s heart might make his fight with Alvarez more entertaining and competitive and even put him in trouble. But it might not be enough to remove Alvarez from his throne.

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What do you make of Jaime Munguia’s latest win against John Ryder? Do you think he might snatch away the super middleweight crown from Canelo Alvarez? Let us know in the comments below.