“The truth is that I would like to fight Canelo and [David] Benavidez,” said unbeaten super-middleweight contender Jaime Munguia. “We will see what's next for my career but we want to fight the best.”
Munguia is coming off an emphatic victory over John Ryder, who he dropped four times and stopped in nine rounds in Phoenix last month.
Speaking exclusively to ProBox TV, Munguia added: “I would like to face Canelo or Benavidez but if it’s not possible, against [Jermall] Charlo would be a good fight, and we are here to face the best.”
Canelo said he would fight an American on May 4 in Las Vegas, which rules Munguia out, even though the young contender remains hopeful the contest can happen.
Ryder was supposed to be a gauge, about whether Munguia was ready for Canelo, who had fought a 12-round battle with the Englishman last year.
“I said if the [Canelo] fight is for me, it would be an honour to share the ring with him [Canelo] and if not, nothing happens, we will continue working, we will continue fighting,” Munguia continued. “Obviously we are always trying to improve, the truth is I felt very good in the last fight, and I think we are ready for any challenge at 168 pounds.”
Plenty now think Munguia is a suitable contender for Canelo. He is 43-0 with 34 stoppages and still just 27-years-old.
“Yes, that's right, I think that little by little since the last fight we have been gaining the respect of the people and obviously I think that with this fight we did it a little more, so the truth is that we have to keep working, keep moving forward and keep proving that we are ready,” Munguia continued. “It was one of the best preparations I’ve had, I felt very good, I felt very good in that fight, so I think it was a great performance.”
Munguia also praised his coach, Freddie Roach, and the work they did at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood in Los Angeles.
“I went back to what is my thing,” Munguia explained, about his strategy and camp for Ryder. “I learned a lot of things with the other trainers, but the truth is that I have learned to do my style. With Freddie, he makes me be more aggressive, and obviously more careful, I mean more offensive but at the same time more defensive.”
Many are speculating that Canelo will face Jermall Charlo on May 4, but that is not a contest that excites Munguia.
“I don't know, since one of Charlos [Jermell] fought him [in September], I think it might not be such an attractive fight for the public, because they are both twins, people are going to confuse him, they are not going to know who he is, the truth is that the fight [with Jermell] with all due respect was not a good fight, I think maybe it wouldn't sell, that fight, and it didn’t have the result that Canelo wanted to have.”
Reportedly, Canelo has said he does not want to face Mexicans, but Munguia reckons that if he is a top contender, it should not matter where he comes from.
“Well, the truth is that I respectfully believe that you have to fight the best in the division, whether they are Mexican, American or from wherever,” Munguia went on. “That’s what the sanctioning bodies are for, that’s why we are here to show that we are the best.”
Regardless of who comes next, Munguia is prepared, ready and happy to dance with Canelo. Mutual opponent Ryder speculated Canelo-Munguia could fill the Azteca Stadium in Mexico with 100,000 fans.
"Well, the truth is I don't know what's coming for Canelo’s career, but if it’s Charlo, it’s Charlo, if it’s me, we’re going to be here,” Munguia concluded. “I feel ready and prepared.”
