Canelo Alvarez’s win over Jaime Munguia tonight was pretty much as many imagined it would be, a clear decision over 12 rounds where Canelo was obviously the better fighter.
And while he’s getting his general respect, some fellow boxing pros believed Canelo may have held back out of respect for his fellow Mexican fighter.
“Look(ed) like Canelo carried him the whole fight!” said former undisputed welterweight champ Terence “Bud” Crawford, and he wasn’t the only fighter who saw it that way.
“Canelo don’t want to hurt this boy! (For real),” said Alycia Baumgardner, and Andre Berto added, “Canelo had respect for the young boy. Looked more like a good sparring match than Canelo really trying to apply pressure and go and take the kid out.”
Berto added that he felt Alvarez is making the right call by steering clear of David Benavidez: “Love Canelo but I think he’s doing right by staying away from Benavidez at this point.”
Canelo said in his post-fight interview that he will fight Benavidez “if the money is right.”
Look like Canelo carried him the whole fight!
— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) May 5, 2024
Canelo had respect for the young boy. Looked more like a good sparring match, then Canelo really trying to apply pressure and go and take the kid out.
— Andre Berto (@AndreBerto) May 5, 2024
Canelo don’t want to hurt this boy! Fr.
— Alycia Baumgardner (@alyciambaum) May 5, 2024
Man Mungia fought harder than most of Canelos opponents! Good scrap! But the King still reigns!
— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) May 5, 2024
Hellavu fighter Canelo is Still think Bud beats him
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) May 5, 2024