Canelo talk dominates as Munguia-Hogan is officially announced

Canelo Alvarez quickly became the main talking point when Golden Boy bosses Oscar De La Hoya and Eric Gomez officially discussed Jaime Munguia’s WBO light middleweight title defence against Dennis Hogan for the first time.

The Australian-based Kildare puncher hopes to fulfill his world title dream when he fights the giant Mexican in his home country on Saturday April 13th, with the fight now officially announced.

However, it seems Munguía’s promoters are confident of victory next month as they used a good chance their first chance to promote the fight to plant seeds they hope will grow into a massive all-Mexican middleweight showdown in 2020 or beyond.

Rather than wax lyrical about the world title fight their man is next signed to compete in they elected to look further down the line and discuss a potential match-up with the pound-for-pound star who is also on their books.

De La Hoya points out it’s a ‘natural’ fit but, in fairness, did stress it’s a fight for further down the line.

“That fight is very possible, the fact that Munguía is young, he is growing, learning, he is a champion at 154 pounds, he is loved by many, he has millions of fans in Mexico, he has a great style, a warrior, a fighter, that’s a natural fight,” De La Hoya said to ESPN Deportes.

“In time. Canelo is on another level. Munguía has to reach that level and it is a fight that can be done.”

While Hogan fans may be upset their favourite didn’t get credit or top billing from Golden Boy, the team may find solace by reading into De La Hoya’s words.

It does suggest that they are overlooking the Kilcullen fighter, who earned the fight by securing mandatory status with consecutive eliminator wins over Yuki Nonaka and Jimmy Kelly.

It may also indicate that Munguía, a notably big for the weight fighter, is very close to a move up to 160lbs and that may play into a belief among team Hogan and DDP Sports in particular that the 22-year-old is struggling to make the 154lbs limit.

However, conversely, others will note the contradictions here of linking Munguia and Canelo together when the Mexican city of Monterrey was opted for as the location of the Hogan fight rather than a far higher profile slot on the Canelo-Jacobs undercard in Vegas on May 4th. With this in mind there are those that suggest that the chosen location of the fight indicates a respect of Hogan’s talents and a desire to further stack the deck in favour of Munguia.

What is for sure is that fight is confirmed, meaning four world title fights for Irish boxers in five weeks. Jono Carroll challenges IBF super feather champ Tevin Farmer on March 16th in Philly, with WBA-IBF lightweight champion Katie Taylor unifying versus WBO queen Rose Volante on the same bill before Hogan’s shot and IBF super bantam champion TJ Doheny’s unification with WBA holder Danny Roman in LA on April 26th.

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