Industry Picks: Canelo Alvarez vs. Jaime Munguia

CANELO ALVAREZ wouldn't fight another Mexican, but Jaime Munguia's superiority has earned the 27-year-old the No. 1 super-middleweight ranking with the WBC and WBO.

When Munguia takes on the undisputed champion this Saturday (May 4) in Las Vegas on the Cinco de Mayo weekend he does so undefeated in 43 fights. Ironically, however, the man from Tijuana has never faced an opponent as high as the 33-year-old Canelo, who has been tried and tested in the most successful marquee fights and has lost two to Floyd Mayweather and Dmitry Bivol.

Mexican fights rarely disappoint but who will win? Debate News they consulted a number of figures in the industry for their predictions.

1. Andy Lee (Coach) – I think Munguia is young, fresh and a very competitive gamer. He will have to try to set a fast pace. Canelo does everything Munguia does but with better defensive skills. I think Canelo will win but I expect it to be a very good and exciting fight.
2. Joe McNally (Coach) – Canelo by KO/TKO between the eighth and 11th rounds. I think Alvarez's experience and aggressive counter striking will be too much for Munguia later on. Munguia can be wild and predictable which Canelo deserves, but his youth and youth can work for him.
3. Duke McKenzie (Former threeweight world champion) – How much money does Canelo have left? Will Munguia make him look old overnight? He has a real chance because he is a game, he is carrying a lot of weight and he is not defeated but I see a Canelo victory by unanimous decision.
4. Kevin Mitchell (Former lightweight contender) – I think it will be an explosive fight, a shootout and it will depend on how much Canelo has left. If he has exceeded his strength Munguia you will win by points.
5. Kal Yafai (Former WBA super-flyweight champion) – Canelo points, but if he is aggressive late, I want him to stop by force.
6. Billy Nelson (Trainer) – I think Canelo is slowing down. He is starting to look older now. Munguia outwork Canelo and win on points.
7. Chantelle Cameron (Former undisputed women's super-lightweight champion) – I'm going with her Canelo in points.
8. Gamal Yafai (Former European super-bantamweight champion) – Canelo in points.
9. Arnie Farnell (Coach) – I'm leaving Munguia. I think he's too big, too young, and too young. He was strong on fight night when he beat Jimmy Kelly [in 2022]. He put on 31lbs.
10. Johnny Nelson (Pundit) – Canelo with points that agree to win.
11. Jack Martin (Super-welterweight contender) – I think it will be a great fight. I will say Canelo in points.
12. Hannah Rankin (Former WBA Female super-welterweight champion) – I'm very conflicted on this one because Munguia has been flying lately. However, I will go with him Canelo in points. I think his experience and the competitiveness of Mexico will drive him even more to win.
13. Jordan Flynn (Lightweight opponent) – I think it will be a very good fight. I see a Canelo points won in a good back-and-forth battle.
14. Dave Coldwell (Trainer) – Munguia delivered heavy enough to make Canelo think but leaves a lot of counters for Canelo to grab and counter and rip into those body shots. I think Canelo grind him to the ground after Munguia gives everything and empty his tank.
15. Mark Neilson (Promoter) – I expect Munguia to start fast and ramp up in the first few rounds, but Canelo will eventually start to get to him and wear him down. I go to a Canelo to stop in the later rounds.
16. Gavin Gwynne (Former EBU lightweight champion) – This is a fair 50-50 fight. A young, hungry fighter against one of the greats. It will be back and forth, but I understand Canelo to score points to win a hard-fought battle.
17. Jamie Conlan (Promoter) – Canelo is now in the ninth round of his career. He doesn't pull the trigger like he used to. Munguia is a live dog but he is careless with his shot selection and will leave gaps. A big Mexican shootout would be great for boxing, but I think we're going to get a Canelo win points.
18. Callum Smith (Former WBA super-middleweight champion) – I think Munguia's youth and work rate could cause Canelo problems. But I also think he makes a lot of mistakes and Canelo will make him pay. Canelo in points.
19. Wayne Alexander (Former EBU super-welterweight champion) – Canelo is the future but I think he might be on the slide. Munguia has been looking good lately. He's young, he's still young and he can beat Canelo but I think Canelo's he has earned enough points to win the much-anticipated tournament.
20. Nina Hughes (WBA Female bantamweight champion) – I think so Canelo wins by points. He will be too smart for Munguia and he is in a very good box.
21. Richard Farnan (Trainer/Cutman) – Never write Canelo off another Mexican. Munguia looked much improved under Freddie Roach. I think it will be a slow start Canelo but in the later rounds he will start to break down Munguia and may stop him.
22. Tony Jeffries (2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist) – On paper this is one of the most exciting fights out there, but I don't see Munguia beating Canelo. I think Canelo is the best fighter in the world.
23. Matthew Hatton (Coach) – A brilliant fight. What I'm looking forward to. Is it a passing of the torch or does Canelo still have money left? He will want to show that he is still a big man. I think Canelo it will still be great.
24. Tony Sims (Coach) – Munguia has youth on his side. He is bigger in weight and smarter in his ring generalship than he looks and has a very heavy hand. Canelo is a master at reading your next move and forcing you to counter, but he also has a heavy hand. I see a really tough fight but I'm leaning towards it Canelo although I wouldn't be surprised if Munguia wins a split decision.
25. Junaid Bostan (super-welterweight contender) – It's a good fight. Youth versus experience. I'll have to go with a Canelo victory but a great battle to watch.
26. Caoimhin Agyarko (super-welterweight contender) – I think so Canelo wins by decision. His experience and explosiveness will be too much for Munguia.
27. Leigh Wood (former WBA featherweight champion) – Canelo victory in the ninth round.
28. Sam Noakes (British and European champion) – Canelo wins by stoppage.
29. Mark Jeffers (English super-middleweight champion) – Munguia by knockout between the eighth and 10th rounds.
30. Maisey Rose Courtney (Female flyweight prospect) – If you continue their match with John Ryder, you can pick Munguia. It's hard to fight calling. Canelo is behind in his career, but he could knock him out or Munguia's youth could propel him to a decision victory.
31. Harry Scarff (British welterweight champion) – Interesting fight, good one too. I've never been overly impressed with Munguia, but he does everything well. It's hard to argue Canelo so I pick him to win the points unanimously.
32. Jay Harris (British and European flyweight champion) – Canelo but it will be a tough, tough fight.
33. Stephen Smith (Trainer) – I think Munguia will bring a lot of power but feel Canelo will take him to shots and maybe look good doing so. Canelo win between the ninth and 12th rounds.
34. James Beech Jr (Featherweight opponent) – Canelo with points after close combat.
35. Robbie Davies Jr (Super-lightweight opponent) – With Canelo being better defensively, I think he will come out of the second half of the fight and win on points.
36. Charlie Edwards (Bantamweight contender) – I'll go with Canelo to win by points. I think Munguia will cause trouble early, but Canelo will ride the wave and experience will pay off.
37. Mark Dunlop (Promoter/Manager) – I think so Canelo will be too strong and busy on Munguia and get to him in the later rounds and force a stoppage in the 10th or 11th round.
38. Eddie Lam (Coach) – I think so Canelo he may know a little too much about Munguia's high-powered, relentless style and be resilient enough to stop him in the later rounds or win a unanimous points decision.
39. Darren Barker (Pundit) – I feel the torch is not yet ready to be passed to Munguia. I think Canelo he will raise his last arm in a 12-round fight.
40. Chris Billam-Smith (WBO cruiserweight champion) Canelo with late suspension.
41. Maxi Hughes (Lightweight opponent) – I choose Canelo because of his experience. He took part in great battles against better opponents and came through.
42. Liam Davies (Former European super-bantamweight champion) – Munguia is likely to win when he is young, hungry, and undefeated at 43 fights. Munguia to win by points.
43. Mason Cartwright (super-welterweight) – I think it will be a tough fight with Munguia pressing but Canelo's speed/timing and skill will take over and you'll win wide points for victory.
44. Paul Butler (Former IBF bantamweight champion) – Munguia will not shy away from a challenge, but I think the class and shot selection of Canelo will be very good for him. If it's not a broad points decision I think Canelo he can stop him too late.
45. Sean Noakes (Welterweight prospect) – This one is really tough. I have to say Canelo in points but it is close.
46. Jordan Gill (Super-featherweight contender) – I can see Canelo making Munguia work hard early, landing a few accurate shots, then taking over in the second round. Canelo stopping between 9-12 rounds.
47. Joe Hughes (Former EBU super-lightweight champion) – I think so Canelo close wins on points in a hard fought battle. He's not what he used to be, and I think Munguia is on the way up but he's not there yet.
48. Jon Pegg (Coach/Promoter) – I think so Canelo will take a controversial victory.
49. Paddy Donovan (Welterweight contender) – I believe Canelo he stops him within five rounds.
50. Conor Quinn (Flyweight prospect) – I'll go Canelo in points. Munguia is a great fighter, but I think Canelo is just a step too far at this point and time.
51. Shakan Pitters (Light-heavyweight) – That's a good fight. I'll stick around Canelo in that one.
52. Chris Bourke (Bantamweight opponent) – Canelo late stoppage win.
53. Jack Flatley (super-welterweight contender) – I love myself Munguia victory in his youth and I believe that Canelo is slowing down a bit.
54. Raven Chapman (Female featherweight) – She has to go with him Canelo. They are both strong Mexicans so I say it will come down to points. It would be interesting to see if Munguia can get on the front foot against Canelo, though.

Result: Canelo 47 votes, Munguia six votes, one vote undecided.

And for more industry forecasts collected by BN click the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QkINYYimj6Q