Canelo Alvarez Favored to Win, Berlanga Still a Contender
Jaime Munguia (center) celebrates after beating John Ryder at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ. Photo by Ed Mulholland/Matchroom
Most observers do not envision a competitive outing from the Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez-Edgar Berlanga RING championship. Among the few who believe otherwise is also the only recent Canelo-conquered opponent to not pull a disappearing act. Make no mistake, Jaime Munguia (43-1, 34 knockouts) agrees with the overwhelming majority who believe Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) will prevail. However, the former WBO junior middleweight titlist sees a pathway to victory for Brooklyn’s Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs).
“I think it’s a good fight,” Munguia told The Ring. “I know a lot of people are picking against Berlanga. He’s a good fighter with a steady jab. If he can properly use it and manage the distance right, he could win.”
Alvarez-Berlanga headlines a Premier Boxing Champions on Prime Video Pay-Per-View event from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (Saturday, $89.99). The fight marks the eighth attempted defense of THE RING championship for Guadalajara’s Alvarez. His most recent came in a twelve-round win over Munguia on May 4, atop a PBC on Prime PPV from T-Mobile Arena. Alvarez prevailed via unanimous decision as Tijuana’s Munguia was dealt his first defeat.
An odd history with Alvarez opponents has been for the losing opponent to sit out for an extended period of time. Jermell Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) has not fought since his lopsided defeat last Sept. 30. Gennadiy Golovkin (42-2-1, 37 KOs) has been out since their Sept. 2022 trilogy clash. Caleb Plant (22-2, 12 KOs) sat out for nearly a year after his Nov. 2021 knockout defeat in their undisputed championship. John Ryder (32-7, 18 KOs) fought just once more after his May 2023 loss to Alvarez. Fittingly, that fight was a ninth-round knockout defeat to Munguia, after which the Brit announced his retirement.
Munguia has chosen to keep things moving in his career. Long one of boxing’s most active fighters, he wound up with just one fight in 2023. He will now fight for the third time this year when he faces Erik Bazinyan (32-0-1, 23 KOs). Their Sept. 20 super middleweight clash headlines an ESPN telecast from Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
The idea is to show the world that he is still among the world’s best super middleweights and a hopeful two-division titlist. Munguia enjoyed a few rounds of success versus Alvarez, but was ultimately outmatched by his countryman.
“Nobody likes to lose,” noted Munguia. “I can’t hide from it so why not move forward. I took it as motivation to keep growing as a fighter, to keep improving. That’s why I took this fight. It keeps me active and allows me to work on all the things that will make me a better fighter.”
The lopsided odds suggest Berlanga will be resigned to the same fate. The unbeaten Nuyorican comes in with a paper-thin résumé, especially compared to Munguia and other recent Alvarez foes. Still, Berlanga enjoys physical advantages at 6’1″ and a career 160-168 pound fighter. He will have to overcome his lack of experience at the top level to have a shot versus Alvarez. Mind over matter will be the key.
“It’s boxing. Anything can happen,” noted Munguia. “Obviously, I expect Canelo to win. Berlanga has a chance if he can put his best attributes to use and not have to fight Canelo’s fight. Canelo is a very intelligent fighter, though. He is very good about figuring out his opponents.”
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