Premier Boxing Champions - Canelo vs Munguia Tickets

It's an all-Mexico showdown on Cinco De Mayo Weekend as boxing legend Canelo Alvarez defends his Undisputed Super Middleweight Championship against undefeated former world champion Jaime Munguia Saturday, May 4, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, in a PBC pay-per-view available on Prime Video.

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez will fight on Cinco de Mayo weekend for the eighth time since 2015 when he headlines a pay-per-view event May 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The 33-year-old superstar’s showdown with countryman Jaime Munguia will mark just his second Cinco de Mayo matchup with a fellow Mexican, though. Alvarez hasn’t faced a Mexican opponent early in May since he dominated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in their 2017 bout at T-Mobile Arena.

Guadalajara’s Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) will defend his Undisputed IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO Super Middleweight World Titles against Tijuana’s Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs) in the 12-round main event of a PBC Pay-Per-View show available on Prime Video (8p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).

“I’m very proud and excited to be able to make this fight,” Alvarez said of a championship clash that was officially announced Tuesday afternoon. “A Mexican versus another Mexican is always a huge fight and it’s been a while since there’s been one like this. It’s great to give an opportunity like this to a fighter that’s earned it like Jaime has. It gives me a lot of joy that two Mexicans will be facing each other in such a big fight for the sport.”

Munguia, 27, is the number one-ranked contender by both the WBC and WBO for two of Alvarez’s four titles. Munguia, a former WBO junior middleweight champ who is 3-0 (2 KOs) in super middleweight matches, is also rated eighth by the IBF.

Fans and pundits have long mentioned Munguia as a potential opponent for Alvarez, who is 8-0 (4 KOs) in fights contested at the super middleweight limit of 168 pounds.

“I’m very, very happy and filled with enthusiasm for this great opportunity,” Munguia said. “I’m incredibly grateful to everyone involved who were able to make this fight a reality. We are ready to give fans a great night of boxing on Saturday, May 4. I can’t wait to demonstrate to the world that I am capable of doing great things. Viva Tijuana and Viva Mexico!”

The taller, younger Munguia made a strong case to challenge Alvarez on May 4, when he battered British southpaw John Ryder on his way to a ninth-round, technical-knockout victory January 27 at Footprint Center in Phoenix.

A sharp, strong Munguia dropped Ryder once apiece in the second and fourth rounds and twice during the ninth round before referee Wes Melton halted their scheduled 12-round bout. Ryder (32-7, 18 KOs) got up from a fifth-round knockdown and took Alvarez the 12-round distance in his previous appearance, a fight the London native lost by unanimous decision last May 6 at Akron Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico, just outside of Guadalajara.

The 35-year-old Ryder retired after suffering just the second knockout defeat of his 13-year professional career to Munguia. Facing a hungry challenger who overwhelmed one of their two common opponents figures to motivate Alvarez in what will be the pound-for-pound great’s third fight with PBC.

Host or Publisher Renee Wagner