Are you ready for one of the year’s most thrilling boxing showdowns? On May 4, the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will light up with excitement as Canelo Alvarez defends his undisputed super middleweight title against Jaime Munguia. But beyond the punches and parries, have you ever wondered what the referees and judges earn for such a high-profile event?
This Cinco de Mayo weekend, as these two Mexican powerhouses clash, it’s not just about the fighters. The officials are stepping into the ring with their own stakes. How much do you think they make?
NSAC discloses officials’ pay for the Canelo fight
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Shifting the focus to the officials, before the big fight, the salaries for this event’s referees and judges have been publicly disclosed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, adding another layer of interest. Nolan King, a well-known MMA Junkie, and Tapology reporter, shared the details on his X, noting, “Canelo Alvarez vs. Jaime Munguia will be refereed by Tom Taylor and judged by Tim Cheatham ($10,000), David Sutherland, Steve Weisfeld ($8,000 each), the NSAC approved at its monthly meeting earlier today #CaneloMunguia.” Interestingly, David Sutherland and Steve Weisfeld were also two of the three judges who officiated Canelo Alvarez’s last match against Jermell Charlo in September last year.
Canelo Alvarez vs. Jaime Munguia will be refereed by Tom Taylor and judged by Tim Cheatham ($10,000), David Sutherland, Steve Weisfeld ($8,000 each), the NSAC approved at its monthly meeting earlier today #CaneloMunguia
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) April 30, 2024
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In the heart of the action this May, it’s not just Canelo and Munguia that will capture your attention. Alongside their headline-grabbing clash, the fight card brims with talent and pivotal matches. Notably, Mario Barrios will face Fabian Maidana for the WBC interim welterweight title, and Brandon Figueroa will test his mettle against Jessie Magdaleno for the WBC interim featherweight title. Each bout contributes to an evening that promises to be nothing short of spectacular.
This transparency regarding official pay is a bit unusual in the boxing world, where these figures typically stay behind closed doors. It’ll be interesting to see if this becomes the new normal for major fights.
Speaking of decisions by the NSAC, Munguia is pretty familiar with those. Especially when he was stopped by them in his pursuit to fight Gennady Golovkin.
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Jaime Munguia’s moment of redemption: A second shot in Las Vegas
Back in 2018, Jaime Munguia was almost set to step up on short notice for a massive fight against Gennady Golovkin, replacing Canelo Alvarez, who was sidelined by a suspension. However, the Nevada State Athletic Commission stepped in and blocked the bout, leaving Munguia out in the cold.
Fast forward to now, and he’s getting a massive redo. This weekend, under the bright lights of the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas—where he once fought on the undercard of Canelo-Golovkin 2—Munguia isn’t just fighting Canelo; he’s fighting for redemption. It’s his chance to finally shine in the spotlight and possibly rewrite his career’s biggest “what if.”
So, what do you think? Will Munguia seize this moment to redefine his legacy, or will Canelo continue to dominate the super middleweight class?