“I know I said I wouldn’t fight another Mexican fighter…” – Canelo Alvarez explains why he has chosen to face compatriot Jaime Munguia

HAVING vowed to by no means fight another one in all his countrymen Canelo Alvarez had some explaining to do at present on the launch press convention for his subsequent fight.

On Saturday, May 4, throughout Cinco De Mayo weekend, the 33-12 months-previous will defend his undisputed tremendous-middleweight crown in opposition to fellow Mexican Jaime Munguia on the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas. Over the years Canelo has confronted opponents resembling Amir Khan, Daniel Jacobs, Billy Joe Saunders and Dmitry Bivol on the identical weekend.

On May 6, 2017 throughout Mexico’s celebration Canelo embarrassed Julio Cesar Chavez Jr successful a 12-spherical shutout on all three scorecards. Since then, there has been a agency refusal to face every other challengers from his homeland.

After beating Gennadiy Golovkin in September 2022 to conclude their trilogy a barely agitated Canelo informed media he wouldn’t fight another Mexican as a result of he represents his nation and that was the explanation why.

So, why, 18 months later, has he chosen to defend his 4 titles in opposition to the 27-12 months-previous unbeaten Mexican Munguia?

“I know I said I wouldn’t fight another Mexican fighter,” Canelo said replying to host Jimmy Lennon who posed the query. “But someone respectful like Munguia, who earned this chance fight after fight giving his all, it’s something I’m glad we were able to make happen. And I hope everyone can see it’ll be great for everyone involved for Mexico in particular.”

The elephant within the room was David Benavidez, who like Canelo presently fights underneath the PBC banner, however has determined to transfer to mild-heavyweight and fight Oleksandr Gvozdyk fairly than wait any longer for his shot on the champion.

“Munguia is a disciplined guy. He really hits hard. He can be a power puncher and I like the challenges,” Canelo said. “I want to go after fighters that are like me and hungry like Munguia is and want to give their all inside the ring and give the fans the show they deserve.”

The challenger was filled with respect for Canelo and gratitude for the chance. In January Munguia stopped Britain’s John Ryder within the ninth spherical of their contest. Eight months earlier Canelo was taken the space by the gutsy Brit. Munguia dismissed the comparability predictably explaining that they had been “two completely different fights” to Lennon. Munguia knew his position on the presser and performed it completely.

“He’s always been a source of pride and motivation for me,” he said of Canelo.

“When I was coming up and I used to see him fight I said, ‘That’s a good guy and I want to be like him.’ And today we have a chance to face him and hopefully we get to be like him one day.”

That day is lower than seven weeks away and Munguia, like Canelo, will let their fists do the speaking in an all-Mexican affair which appears to be like like being Canelo’s hardest check since Cinco De Mayo two years in the past when he misplaced to Dmitry Bivol at mild-heavyweight.