Weekend Review: Jaime Munguia has earned place among top 168-pounders

A vital take a look at the previous week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNERJaime Munguia

Let’s be clear: David Benavidez – not Jaime Munguia – deserves the primary crack at undisputed 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez. Some consider Benavidez, a dominating all-around fighter, has surpassed the Mexican famous person as the highest tremendous middleweight. That being stated, Munguia is constructing a case that he’s No. 2 and likewise deserving of a major alternative. Alvarez’s 27-year-old countryman delivered the strongest efficiency of his profession on Saturday in Phoenix, dropping rugged veteran John Ryder 4 instances earlier than stopping him within the ninth spherical. The accomplishment was notably spectacular on condition that Ryder went the gap with Alvarez in his earlier battle. Might Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs) beat the champion? In all probability not. It’s one factor to defeat Sergey Derevyanchenko (in his earlier battle) and Ryder, good, however restricted fighters. It could be one other to take down Alvarez, who stays close to the highest of many pound-for-pound lists (No. 6 on Boxing Junkie’s). Munguia has improved as a boxer and evidently has carried his punching energy to 168 however he’s no Dmitry Bivol, whose chic ability and pure dimension benefit proved to be an excessive amount of for Alvarez. I don’t assume Munguia has technical capability to win that battle. He has earned the chance to show me incorrect, although.

RABBIT PUNCHES

Solely Alvarez and people near him know what course he’s leaning for his subsequent battle, presumably in Might. Many consider the champion will defend his titles towards unbeaten 160-pound titleholder and fellow PBC fighter Jermall Charlo in Might. Meaning Munguia must wait till September on the earliest to obtain his golden alternative. He might wait till the autumn to battle once more – hoping he will get the Alvarez battle – or attempt to keep his momentum by preventing once more this spring. Potential opponents? Munguia vs. Benavidez could be particular however a very harmful possibility for Munguia. Caleb Plant could be an fascinating check for him. And brawler Christian Mbilli has emerged as a participant at 168. A victory over any of the above would make Munguia an much more engaging opponent for Alvarez. Keep tuned. …

Ryder may very well be completed. The Londoner made a splash by pushing Callum Smith to his limits in a disputed loss after which outpointing Daniel Jacobs. Nonetheless, he has now suffered back-to-back one-sided losses, to Alvarez and Munguia. And he’s 35 years previous. If he retires, Ryder can be remembered as a tricky, brave warrior who left every thing he had within the ring. That’s a stable legacy. … Strawweight champion Oscar Collazo may very well be the following Puerto Rican star. The resident of New Jersey gave a panoramic efficiency on the Munguia-Ryder card, beating up Reyneris Gutierrez (10-2, 2 KOs) earlier than knocking him out in three rounds. Collazo (9-0, 7 KOs) seems to have an uncommon mixture of ability and punching energy. I can’t wait to see him towards next-level opposition.