The Mexican champion couldn’t knock out his opponent, and several users noticed a strange movement in the last minute of the fight.
Saúl Canelo Álvarez expanded his win record to 61 (39 KOs) after defeating fellow Mexican Jaime Munguía by unanimous decision (117-110, 116-111, 115-112) over 12 rounds. His performance improved as the fight progressed, particularly after the fourth round.
It was in this round that the 33-year-old seasoned boxer landed a heavy blow on his opponent’s face, knocking him down. From that point, Canelo significantly stepped up his game, delivering a variety of combinations against a younger opponent who slowed down and reduced the power of his attacks.
In the final round, the Guadalajara native seemed determined to knock out the Tijuana boxer but did not succeed. However, an action during that round sparked numerous comments on social media, as many believed it could have ended the fight before the final bell, according to Infobae.
“Last round. Canelo could have knocked Munguia out but held him to give him a breather. He really didn’t want to tarnish the career of a young Mexican boxer by knocking him out. Maximum respect for Saúl,” wrote a user on X along with a video showing the scene.
The footage showed both fighters in the last minute of the twelfth round. After sizing each other up, Álvarez hit Munguía with two powerful punches to the face that Munguía couldn’t dodge. At that moment, the champion grabbed him by the waist and even seemed to whisper something in his ear. The referee had to intervene to separate them.
“In round 12, something noteworthy happened. Canelo hits Munguía with a right, doesn’t let him fall, turns him, holds him, and whispers something in his ear, avoiding the second fall,” a fan commented, according to Infobae.
“Canelo doesn’t let Munguía fall; he holds him out of respect,” another asserted. A third added, “I thought the same, he had him but didn’t want to be harsh, he has a good heart,” while a fourth said, “I think he gave him respect, thinking he could be the next big promise in Mexican boxing.”
It should be noted that before the fight, Álvarez praised his opponent and even admitted that he had the capability to take his super middleweight titles from the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO.
“He has power, he’s a great fighter, but I believe I am a strong fighter and can defeat him. I feel better than ever and ready for this fight. I don’t know how many rounds it will last, but it will be historic for Mexican boxing,” he predicted.
After his victory, the Mexican achieved 61 wins, 39 by knockout, with two draws and two losses, while Munguía lost his undefeated record after 43 wins, 34 by knockout.
