Canelo may be older and slower – but the King shows why he is not finished yet

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There are still some exciting and unforgettable fights that Saul "Canelo" Alvarez can participate in. Recently, he emerged victorious in his 61st boxing match by defeating Jaime Munguia and successfully defending his four world super-middleweight titles. The trophies, the large audience packed into the T-Mobile arena, and the financial gains are only a part of Canelo's impressive legacy.

It's not just a matter of a few basic details. Canelo, whom boxing fans usually refer to by his nickname, boasts an impressive track record. In his fight against Munguia, who was younger, taller, and had never lost a single match out of 43, Canelo gradually took charge. He fought strategically, taking care with his every move. In the fourth round, a chance presented itself, and Canelo grabbed it, dropping Munguia. This was no ordinary feat, as Munguia had never before been knocked down in his entire career. The perfect combo of a right uppercut and left hook made it a sight to behold - it would have even taken down a massive mule.

Munguia was always present and participating in the fight, however, he never took the lead after the third round. He had enough size and strength to push Canelo back, connecting with powerful jabs and sneakily slipping in his right hand during the initial rounds. Nevertheless, the issue with all of Canelo's adversaries is that Canelo himself has a remarkable ability to withstand hits and accurately calculate all of his opponent's moves. The knockdown in the fourth round was a product of waiting for the right moment, thorough timing, and precise calculation. The crowd was thrilled and lauded the impressive move.

Munguia realized that he had to be more aggressive towards the end of the fight, and in the ninth round, all three judges gave him the win. In the 10th round, Canelo stepped up his game, although he may not be as quick as before, he is now more intelligent than ever. Many will continue to look for signs of him declining, but this search will probably last a bit longer.

Munguia, who is six years younger than Canelo, appeared to be in a higher weight division during their match. Despite having fought 43 times, Munguia still struggled against Canelo's exceptional skills and talent. Though not defeated, Munguia looked perplexed at times throughout the match. Similarly to when Canelo was defeated by Floyd Mayweather in 2013, Mayweather's superior knowledge of the sport, resulted in Canelo's loss on the night of the match. Canelo reflects on how much he learned from Mayweather and how this match with Munguia was similar. The official scores of the match against Munguia were 117-110, 116-111, and 115-112.

Oscar De La Hoya, who is Munguia’s promoter and a former promoter and friend of Canelo, mentioned that Canelo would return. During the final press conference held in Las Vegas last week, there was a heated exchange between Canelo and De La Hoya, and they had to be separated. De La Hoya later took legal action to prevent Canelo from repeating some of the financial accusations he had made about their association. This created a lot of added stress in the days and moments leading up to the start of the fight. Canelo spoke highly of Munguia after the bout, but his dispute with De La Hoya showed no signs of abating.

Canelo now has to assess his opportunities thoroughly. At 33, he has competed in 65 fights and began his professional boxing career in 2005. He must acknowledge that all boxers meet a point where their defenses weaken, their blows lose their force, and their feet become weighed down. He has showcased his boxing abilities and accomplishments, leaving him as the targeted opponent for aspiring young fighters.

There's a potential threat on the horizon as David Benavidez has been actively pursuing a fight with Canelo for a significant amount of time. This fighter has an unblemished record of 28 wins under his belt and has a formidable stature, making him a dangerous contender. Canelo expressed willingness to take on Benavidez in the ring, but it goes without saying that it's going to come with a hefty price tag - potentially as much as $200m. The possibility of the fight taking place in Saudi Arabia has also been floated. Canelo is not ready to hang up his gloves just yet.