While Jaime Munguia has youth on his side and holds a 43-fight unbeaten streak, many believe that the Mexican star is completely out of his depth against former pound-for-pound No. 1 Canelo Alvarez.
The key questions: Can Munguia prove the critics wrong? What is the young challenger's best chance of pulling off an upset against one of the best fighters of this generation?
When it comes to elite-level boxing, fans will see some carefully edited shoulder content and the fight itself. However, very few individuals are privy to game plans and preparation.
WATCH: Canelo Alvarez vs. Jaime Munguia, live on DAZN
The tactics a fighter adopts can be the difference between winning and losing. For the most part, strategy is kept top secret, simply because the respective teams want to keep the opposition guessing until punches start flying.
You fight to your strengths and, simultaneously, exploit an opponent's weaknesses. It's easy to say but very difficult to execute.
The Sporting News takes a look at a potential game plan Jaime Munguia may adopt against undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez.
What are Jaime Munguia's advantages against Canelo Alvarez?
Munguia, 27, is six years younger than the champ. He also has considerably less wear and he's a much busier fighter.
Over the years, Canelo has maintained his punch accuracy, but his volume has dropped. According to CompuBox, he landed a withering 202 of 622 punches on Gennadiy Golovkin in their 2018 rematch. However, in his two most recent bouts, against John Ryder and Jermell Charlo, the Mexican fighter landed 179/459 and 134/ 385, respectively.
Munguia is a much busier fighter than Canelo. Against Sergiy Derevyanchenko, the Tijuana native scored 189/800 punches through 12 rounds. And he trumped those numbers against Gabriel Rosado in 2021, landing an astonishing 328/821.
If he can keep up a hot pace and avoid significant damage — that’s the hard part — then Munguia can outwork Canelo over the distance.
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Can Jaime Munguia beat Canelo Alvarez?
Munguia is going to have to go through hell to get the win.
While he's been busy against a certain caliber of opponent, this is Canelo Alvarez he's going in with. The more punches you fire at an elite-level player like Canelo, the more open you become, and the more damage you sustain.
Munguia has bundles of fighting heart and he's showcased that more than once. He'll display it again on May 4, but his courage and will to win will prove to be his undoing this time around.
While Canelo is not known for his punching power at 168 pounds, he still hits hard enough to keep an opponent honest. He also lands the kind of super-swift punches that are felt and not seen.
A Munguia win wouldn't be the biggest upset of all time, but Canelo on points is the likely outcome.