LAS VEGAS (AP) — The query of whether or not Canelo Alvarez can any longer knock out anybody possible received’t go away his victory by unanimous determination Saturday evening, however he stays the undisputed tremendous middleweight champion as a result of he was the stronger and more practical boxer.

Alvarez (61-2-2), who closed as a minus-380 favourite at BetMGM, overcame a considerably gradual begin to dominate and hand Jaime Munguia (43-1) his first loss.

The champ took full management after pulling down Munguia within the fourth spherical earlier than the introduced crowd of 17,492, which was pretty evenly cut up between the 2 opponents.

Tim Cheatham scored the struggle 117-110, David Sutherland had it 116-111 and Steve Weisfeld 115-112.

“After I retire, my numbers will say what place I’m in,” Alvarez stated. “I do know there’s quite a lot of nice Mexican fighters previously, however I’m the most effective preventing proper now.”

That is the second straight time that Alvarez left little question who was the higher fighter and displaying why, even at 33, he stays one of many sport’s all-time greats. Alvarez additionally had his method with Jermell Charlo in September to win by even wider margins.

These two fights adopted two victories and a loss that have been something however spectacular. Whereas Alvarez confirmed he nonetheless is the category of his division, he nonetheless hasn’t delivered a knockout since defeating Caleb Plant in 2021 — a span of 5 matches.

Alvarez was circumspect relating to what he may do subsequent, saying he’ll return to the ring “if the cash is true.”

“I’ve fought everybody and I can do what I need,” he stated.

The lead-up to the bout was unusually civil, with each fighters saying they have been proud to signify Mexico on Cinco de Mayo weekend.

“This win means loads,” Alvarez stated. “I’m glad that I gave him this chance. Munguia is a superb man and a terrific champion. He’s going to have a terrific profession. I’m very proud that every one the Mexicans are right here watching us.”

Alvarez saved his harshest criticism throughout week not for his opponent, however for Munguia’s promoter. Oscar De La Hoya was once in Alvarez’s nook, however they clearly are on reverse sides now and practically even got here to blows Wednesday on the information convention after buying and selling allegations.

The 27-year-old Munguia the extra aggressive boxer the primary three rounds, even getting Alvarez into the ropes within the third. Alvarez, although, confirmed within the fourth he wasn’t going wherever, utilizing a left after which a proper to the face to ship Munguia to the canvass with 38 seconds left to vary the tenor of the struggle.

Alvarez then proceeded to sting Munguia over the subsequent 4 rounds with pictures to the face. Munguia put collectively his personal units of flurries, however they did little noticeable harm to Alvarez.

That’s till the ninth spherical when Munguia landed some blows to the face that despatched Alvarez backward, even into the nook at one level. However Alvarez responded together with his personal combos, together with popping out of the nook, within the struggle’s most action-packed spherical.

The tenth and eleventh rounds have been shut, however largely the identical traits adopted of Alvarez delivering the tougher pictures.

Munguia got here out within the ultimate spherical as if he knew he was trailing on the judges’ playing cards, however did little to vary the result. It was Alvarez who once more got here by means of with the most effective blows, utilizing a mixture with a few minute left to Munguia’s head and following with a number of extra pictures to finish the struggle.

“I got here out robust and was profitable the early rounds,” Munguia stated. “I let my fingers go, however he’s a fighter with quite a lot of expertise. The loss hurts as a result of it’s my first loss and I felt robust.”

Within the different main-card fights:

— San Antonio’s Mario Barrios (29-2) efficiently defended his WBC interim world welterweight title by defeating Argentinian Fabian Maidana (22-3) by unanimous determination within the co-main occasion. Every choose scored the bout 116-111.

Barrios prevailed regardless of preventing together with his proper eye practically utterly closed.

“Maidana fought onerous for 12 rounds like I anticipated,” Barrios stated. “As soon as my eye began swelling up, it was onerous to search out my vary. However we caught to the basics, tried to search out openings and got here out with the victory.”

— WBC interim world featherweight champion Brandon Figueroa (25-1-1, 19 KOs) of Welasco, Texas, knocked out Jessie Magdaleno (29-3) of Las Vegas with a left uppercut to his kidney with one second left within the ninth spherical ended.

— Lithuania’s Eimantas Stanionis (15-0) simply retained his WBA welterweight title by claiming a unanimous determination over Venezuelan Gabriel Maestre (6-1-1) with scores of 117-111, 118-10 and 119-109.

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