Las Vegas—The raucous, unexpected backing for Jaime Munguia was swiftly silenced by a trademark Canelo Alvarez combination in the fourth round on Saturday. A left hook followed by a stinging right uppercut sent the Munguia crashing to the canvas, marking the first knockdown of his 44-fight professional career.

Alvarez, the face of boxing, maintained his momentum after that pivotal moment, outclassing Munguia with cleaner, sharper, and more potent strikes to successfully defend his undisputed super middleweight championship in an all-Mexican clash on Cinco de Mayo weekend before a crowd of 17,492 at T-Mobile Arena.

The judges’ scorecards read 115-113, 117-110, and 116-111 in Alvarez’s favor, cementing his fourth successful defense of the four 168-pound titles he holds. ESPN’s unofficial tally was 118-109 for Alvarez.

This marked the third consecutive bout in which the Mexican superstar scored a knockdown, having previously floored Jermell Charlo and John Ryder en route to decision victories in 2022.

“I’m very proud that all the Mexicans are here watching us,” Alvarez, ESPN’s No. 4 pound-for-pound boxer, said. “… He’s a great fighter. He’s strong, he’s smart. … But he’s a little slow. I can see every punch. Sometimes he got me because I get so confident. … I did really good and I feel proud about it. … I’m the best fighter right now for sure.”

For Munguia, the former junior middleweight champion, this bout marked his inaugural foray into the elite echelons of the sport.

The 27-year-old from Tijuana fought admirably, with passion and showcased an improved jab, a testament to his work with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach in their second fight together.

Munguia’s relentless pressure and aggressive approach proved effective in the opening two rounds, but Alvarez eventually managed to figure out his timing, as he so often does.

“I take my time,” Alvarez said. “That’s why I have a lot of experience. … I have 12 rounds to win the fight and I did.”

Munguia (43-1, 34 KOs) unanimously claimed three rounds: the opening frame, along with the third and ninth rounds. He displayed commendable boxing skills, but his punches lacked the potency to truly command Alvarez’s respect.

Even when Munguia pinned Alvarez against the ropes and unleashed a barrage of shots, the champ evaded most of the incoming fire and countered with a single, well-placed blow.

Then came the pivotal fourth-round knockdown, after which Munguia’s legs seemed to never fully recover. The gulf in experience was palpable, with Alvarez, a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer, having shared the ring with practically every elite name in and around his weight class during his illustrious career.

Ultimately Canelo won a lopsided unanimous decision. Alvarez hasn’t stopped a fighter since Caleb Plant in November 2021 to become undisputed.

By Vincent Quezada

Photos Courtesy of Premier Boxing Champions