PHOENIX – Jaime Munguia repeated his objection to Canelo Alvarez’s assertion that he carried him – this time without any ambiguity.
Asked Tuesday during an appearance at a Phoenix gym just days before his super-middleweight fight Friday against Canadian Erik Bazinyan at Desert Diamond Arena in nearby Glendale, Munguia told Boxing Scene through an interpreter, “Truth is, I found it disrespectful.”
Munguia repeatedly dealt with the question late last week during media appearances, including one at the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas before Alvarez scored a one-sided decision over Edgar Berlanga at T-Mobile Arena.
Days later, Munguia spoke like an attorney presenting a key piece of evidence to a jury.
“He didn’t knock out Berlanga,’’ Munguia noted Tuesday.
The “carried” question was raised last week when Alvarez, who had promised to stop Berlanga within eight rounds, told reporters that he backed off and settled for a unanimous decision over Munguia (43-1, 34 KOs) on May 4 because he didn’t want to embarrass his fellow Mexican.
A sequence in the 12th round when Alvarez rocked Munguia prompted the discussion.
Munguia wasn’t asking for any favors, and said he’s certain Alvarez would have achieved the stoppage if the opportunity had truly been there.
“It was a good fight,’’ he said then. “It was a close fight. That’s what I think.’’
Then he watched the Canelo-Berlanga fight, which was similar to his May 4 bout against Canelo in a couple of ways. Canelo won both by decision. He knocked down each challenger: Munguia in the fourth round and Berlanga in the third. On the scorecards, however, Munguia was closer than Berlanga.
Against Berlanga, Canelo won in a runaway — 118-109, 117-110, 118-109. Against Munguia, not so much — 117-110, 116-111, 115-112.
“It was a good one for the fans,’’ Munguia said.
Munguia emphasized that he performed better than Berlanga.
“I had a better performance in several ways,’’ Munguia said. “I threw more punches.’’
Erik Morales, who is back as Munguia’s trainer, is also skeptical about the Canelo claim that he carried Munguia, who had Freddie Roach in his corner in May.
“I just don’t believe it,’’ said Morales, a Mexican legend and four-division champion from Tijuana who has gone back to work with Munguia after winning a seat in Mexico’s federal government as a representative for the State of Baja.
Meanwhile, it looks as if Munguia is already on Berlanga’s radar.
At a press conference following Canelo’s victory, Munguia was the first name mentioned as a future foe by Berlanga promoter Eddie Hearn.
“Of course, I am ready to fight anybody,’’ said the 27-year-Munguia, who is fighting for the second time within a year in the Phoenix area – he stopped John Ryder in January at Footprint Center, the Phoenix Suns’ home arena.
“I’m just entering my prime.’’