A look back at some of the most memorable all-Mexico showdowns as Canelo Alvarez and Jaime Munguia seek to join that list when they throw down Saturday, May 4, in an epic Cinco De Mayo weekend event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in a PBC Pay-Per-View on Prime Video.
When Undisputed Super Middleweight World Champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) defends his crown against unbeaten former world champion Jaime Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs), there will be more than just belts on the line.
Canelo-Munguia is set for Saturday, May 4, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, in a PBC Pay-Per-View live on Prime Video (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).
Mexico vs. Mexico. Guadelajara vs. Tijuana. Cinco De Mayo weekend.
Something much greater will be at stake when Canelo and Munguia square off: Backyard bragging rights.
Alvarez, 33, will bring a deep reservoir of experience to offset the younger, taller, volume punching 27-year old Munguia. It’s the highest weight for a world championship contest between two Mexicans ever and, given the styles, the two can be expected to light up Las Vegas.
But will their battle join some of the legendary showdowns between Mexican nationals that have added so much to the history of the sport? The bar for that will be high. While we wait to find out, here’s a look at the five greatest All-Mexican clashes of all time.
Summary: For Chucho Castillo, the third time was the charm. He’d come close to defeating Lionel Rose for the bantamweight crown in 1968, dropping the champion en route to losing a controversial split decision. In April 1970, Castillo dropped Olivares in the third but couldn’t keep “El Puas” at bay and lost a decision. Six months later, fortune smiled. Olivares was opened up in the first round and a bloody battle ensued. After thirteen rounds, two judges and referee Dick Young had it near deadlocked. Unable to stem the blood in the Olivares corner, Castillo forced the hand of the ringside doctor by targeting the wound, handing Olivares his first professional defeat. Olivares would win the rubber match in April 1971, but not before Castillo scored one more knockdown in their series.
