Should Jaime Munguia pull off the upset and beat Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on May 4, an immediate rematch will likely follow in September, around Mexican Independence Day weekend, Zanfer Promotions head and Munguia co-promoter Fernando Beltran told Boxing Scene.
Alvarez’s manager, trainer and lifelong confidant Eddy Reynoso told Boxing Scene in a recent interview that Canelo previously had rematch clauses in contracts only for fights against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2013 and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in 2017.
Alvarez is currently a -600 betting favorite, while Munguia is a +425 underdog, according to DraftKings.
Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs), the undisputed super middleweight champion, and Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs) will meet at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The PBC pay-per-view event will be presented on Prime Video, DAZN and PPV.com.
Beltran, Reynoso and PBC-affiliated executive Luis DeCubas Jr. aligned to make the fight happen after Alvarez severed his three-fight deal with PBC – following just a single fight, a unanimous decision win over Jermall Charlo in September.
Not only did Alvarez reunite with PBC, but he’s also facing a fighter promoted by Golden Boy, whose chief executive is Canelo’s former longtime promoter and current rival, Oscar De La Hoya.
“I gave Eddy Reynoso my word and told him that I would not be complicated during negotiations,” Beltran said. “I was a gentleman. We gave each other our word, and here we are. Both Munguia and Golden Boy trusted me during negotiations. As soon as Eddy and I talked, the fight was easy to make – two Mexicans are easy to deal with. [The rematch] is the only clause in the contract, and only in the case if Jaime wins, or if there is a draw.”
The all-Mexico matchup will headline a Cinco De Mayo weekend showdown and mark just the second time since the 2017 Chavez fight that Alvarez has fought against a fellow countryman.
Super middleweight contender David Benavidez has received an outpouring of public support indicating that he is most deserving of an Alvarez fight. But Beltran alluded that the shots Benavidez and his team have taken against Alvarez may be costing him.
“When you’re the face of boxing, like Canelo is, he can pick any opponent he likes,” Beltran said. “We admire him. He’s done a lot for Mexico and a lot for the sport. We’ve been very respectful toward him. To be the best, you need to beat the best, and that’s why we wanted the fight. We always asked for the fight with a lot of respect.
“We were not saying differently, unlike some other people. We were respectful of Canelo. That’s the reason why we are in front of him right now. Jaime has all of the credentials to be in the ring with Canelo.”
Beltran predicted the fight would be a blockbuster success, surpassing 1.2 million pay-per-view buys.
“It’s going to be a sensational fight, and they are going to bring out the best in each other,” Beltran said. “The fight will definitely divide the Mexican fan base, because a lot of people love Canelo. But he has some haters, and the haters probably love us.”
