In what was his best performance in years, Canelo Alvarez retained the undisputed super middleweight championship by posting a 12-round unanimous decision over Jaime Munguia at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The official scores were 117-110, 116-111 and 115-112.
Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) decked Munguia with a brilliant right uppercut in round four. The challenger had boxed very well up to that point, but he was guilty of leaving gaps, and a sharpshooter like Canelo doesn’t need a second invitation. That moment turned the fight and the champ was largely dominant thereafter.
“[Winning this fight] means a lot,” said Canelo during his post-fight interview with Prime Video. “I’m glad to give Jaime this opportunity. He’s a great guy, a great champion and he’s going to continue doing good. Viva Mexico!
“I took my time [in the fight]. I have a lot of experience. Jaime Munguia is a great fighter; very strong, very smart, but I have 12 rounds to win. I did really good and I feel proud about it. I’m the best fighter right now, for sure.”
Munguia boxed a disciplined fight early, jabbing at Canelo, moving his head and finding distance after each burst. However, the champion was merely taking notes and doing reconnaissance and one sensed that his moment was coming.
Prematurely bolstered by his success, Munguia became too ambitious and suddenly paid the price. With his weight over his front foot, he was nailed by a spectacular right uppercut and went down hard. A lesser man may have stayed down, but Munguia has plenty of fighting guts.
From rounds five through twelve, Canelo won almost every session. Munguia lost his shape and became more and more open to the left hook to head and body. He did well to stay upright and made some gutsy charges late in the fight, but it wasn’t enough.
With one Mexican fighter down, attention quickly turned to Canelo’s plans for the future, which fans hope will include Mexican-American David Benavidez.
“I don’t know right now. I’m going to rest and enjoy my family,” said Canelo as the crowd began to boo. “But if the money is right, I’ll make the call. If the money is right, I don’t give a s___!
“Everybody asks for everything, right? When I fought [Erislandy] Lara, [Miguel] Cotto, [Floyd] Mayweather, [Billy Joe] Saunders, they said I didn’t want to fight them. I fought all of them. Right now, I can do whatever I want.”
That has been the mantra in recent weeks, so fans are advised not to hold their breath.
Munguia loses for the first time in 44 starts. He’s only 27 years old and has plenty of time to come again.
The Sporting News provided live coverage from the full card in Las Vegas and round-by-round scoring for the main event.
Canelo Alvarez vs Jaime Munguia live updates, highlights, and commentary
AND STILL THE UNDISPUTED SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD... CANELO ALVAREZ. MEXICAN WARRIOR CLAIMS 12-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION (117-110, 116-111, 115-112)
Canelo Alvarez vs. Jaime Munguia: SN live scorecard
| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Total |
| Canelo | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 116 |
| Munguia | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 111 |
Round 12: As he's done for most of the night, Canelo is standing with Munguia and threading home the counters. Blood flows from Munguia's mouth as he advances into the storm of leather. Big right from Munguia and Canelo smiles. BIG SHOT from Canelo. Two big shots by Canelo on the bell.
SN Unofficial Scoring: 10-9 Canelo (116-111)
Round 11: Canelo is nice and relaxed, popping out the sharp work from the outside and keeping Munguia at bay. This is probably the Mexican star's best performance since his stoppage of Caleb Plant in 2021. Clash of heads -- no injuries. Munguia is brave beyond the call of duty and is letting his hands go but his work lacks accuracy.
SN Unofficial Scoring: 10-9 Canelo (106-102 Canelo)
Round 10: Munguia has sprung back to life. Scores well with some nice combination punching. The champ lands a withering left hook to the body in response. Left to the body again by Canelo and a pair of rights. One-two by Canelo on the bell.
SN Unofficial Scoring: 10-9 Canelo (96-93 Canelo)
Round 9: Munguia throws a flurry of shots, some of which pierce the guard. Canelo bounces back with a powerful two-piece. This was Munguia's best round in a while but it was close. Canelo still has tactical control.
SN Unofficial Scoring: 10-9 Munguia (86-84)
Round 8: A clinical Canelo outboxing his man in these middle rounds. Munguia lets his hands go but Canelo takes the sting out of the shots with adept head movement. Right hand by Canelo. Left hook by Canelo. A left hook-right uppercut combo by Canelo. The champ's punch-picking eclipsed Munguia's volume.
SN Unofficial Scoring: 10-9 Canelo (77-74)
Round 7: Sharp one-two by Canelo. Munguia is working hard but leaving a lot of gaps. Two big hooks land from Canelo; head and body. HUGE LEFT to the jaw by Canelo. It's becoming a turkey shoot. Munguia looks woozy as he returns to the corner.
SN Unofficial Scoring: 10-9 Canelo (67-65 Canelo)
Round 6: Left hook stuns Munguia and knocks him backwards. The challenger is brave, but Canelo's class and speed are showing now. Munguia boxes well in the final minute. Canelo takes the round on sharper punching.
SN Unofficial Scoring: 10-9 Canelo (57-56 Canelo)
Round 5: Uppercut is looking like Christmas for Canelo. Munguia has lost his shape a little and is becoming impatient. That's very dangerous! Canelo has settled very well now.
SN Unofficial Scoring: 10-9 Canelo (47-47)
Round 4: Munguia is busy again but Canelo lands a big counter right. MUNGUIA NAILED BY A BIG RIGHT UPPERCUT AND GOES DOWN! Huge shot by Canelo!
SN Unofficial Scoring: 10-8 Canelo (38-37 Munguia)
Round 3: Great start to the round by Munguia, but the challenger catches a big right uppercut counter. Huge attack by Munguia at the end of the round takes the session. Tactics similar to what Bivol pulled off.
SN Unofficial Scoring: 10-9 Munguia (30-27 Munguia)
Round 2: Fast fists from both. Munguia with a lead right. Canelo responds with a counter right over the jab. The champion is warming into the fight, but he's being outworked right now. Still a close round, though.
SN Unofficial Scoring: 10-9 Munguia (20-18 Munguia)
Round 1: Munguia on the jab early. Canelo backing off and just having a look. Action heats up in the closing seconds. Canelo releases the counter hook. Munguia responds with a flurry.
SN Unofficial Scoring: 10-9 Munguia
WE NOW SWITCH TO ROUND-BY-ROUND SCORING FOR THE MAIN EVENT. VIVA MEXICO!!!!
11:26 p.m. ET: The green, white and red neon sparkles throughout the T-Mobile Arena in celebration of the Cinco de Mayo holiday. IT IS FIGHT TIME!
11:06 p.m. ET: Speaking freely, the undercard has been a disappointment. However, this main event almost guarantees fireworks. THE ALL-MEXICAN UNDISPUTED SHOWDOWN BETWEEN CANELO ALVAREZ AND JAIME MUNGUIA IS NEXT!!!!!!!!
AND STILL THE WBC INTERIM CHAMPION OF THE WORLD... MARIO BARRIOS. THE MEXICAN FIGHTER WINS A 12-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION (116-111, 116-111, 116-111)
11:06 p.m. ET: The final round of Barrios vs. Maidana is about to begin. This fight has been largely one-paced and devoid of excitement. Barrios is well ahead. The crowd is getting restless and wants to see the main event... NOW!
10:33 p.m. ET: We're through seven rounds and Barrios is in command. While the Mexican boxer-puncher is sporting significant damage to his right eye, he's backing up Maidana with a sharp jab and some well-placed shots to the midsection.
10:33 p.m. ET: BOOM! DOWN GOES MAIDANA from a big right to the chin in round three. It was a heavy knockdown but the Argentinian's eyes were clear when he rose. Barrios closing in.
10:32 p.m. ET: Maidana, younger brother of former two-weight world champ Marcos, shows some ambition early, closing round two with a sharp combination. Barrios being patient and cutting the ring down very well.
10:10 p.m. ET: Our co-main event is about to get started. Texas star Mario Barrios defends his WBC welterweight title against Argentina's Fabian Maidana.
FIGUEROA PREVAILS VIA NINTH-ROUND KO AND RETAINS THE WBC INTERIM FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE. THE OFFICIAL TIME IS 2:59.
10:00 p.m. ET: DOWN GOES MAGDALENO from a huge left hand to the body as the bell ends the ninth. The Las Vegas-based contender can't recover and is counted out. Excellent win for "The Heartbreaker".
09:52 p.m. ET: We're through seven rounds and the tide has turned. Magdaleno appeared to win most of the early sessions, but Figueroa's energy, punch output and switch-hitting are becoming more effective.
09:40 p.m. ET: Four rounds down in this one. Magdaleno is landing the more eye-catching shots, but Figueroa is picking up the work rate. Magdaleno goes down from a heavy low blow and Figueroa is given a hard warning.
09:26 p.m. ET: Immediately after landing a nice right hook lead in round one, Magdaleno clashes heads with Figueroa and suffers a nasty cut over his left eye.
09:16 p.m. ET: Brandon Figueroa versus capable lefty Jessie Magdaleno is next. The former super bantamweight champs collide at featherweight with Figueroa defending the WBC interim title.
AND STILL THE WBA WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD... EIMANTAS STANIONIS!!!! LITHUANIAN STAR RETAINS HIS TITLE VIA 12-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION (119-109, 118-110, 117-111).
09:00 p.m. ET: We're in the final round and both men are exchanging at ring center. Stanionis would appear to have the edge, but this has been an entertaining contest from start to finish.
08:45 p.m. ET: Despite still having his moments, there's evidence that Maestre is slowing down. Stanionis' punches are moving the Venezuelan a bit more now in the eighth round.
08:26 p.m. ET: Good action fight. Stanionis effective on the front foot while Maestre doing very well on the counter. Neither fighter has a decided edge right now.
08:11 p.m. ET: The first fight of the main card is about to get underway. Two unbeaten fighters, Eimantas Stanionis and Gabriel Maestre, collide for the former's WBA "regular" welterweight title.
6:00 p.m. ET: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of Canelo Alvarez's all-Mexican Cinco de Mayo showdown with undefeated challenger Jaime Munguia. All the marbles at 168 pounds are on the line.
Canelo vs Munguia fight card
- Canelo Alvarez (c) def. Jaime Munguia via UD 12 (117-110, 116-111, 115-112) for the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO and Ring Magazine super middleweight titles
- Mario Barrios (c) def. Fabian Maidana via UD 12 (116-111, 116-111, 116-111) for the interim WBC welterweight title
- Brandon Figueroa (c) def. Jessie Magdaleno via KO 9 (2:59) for the interim WBC featherweight title
- Eimantas Stanionis (c) def. Gabriel Maestre via UD 12 (119-109, 118-110, 117-111) for the WBA "regular" welterweight title