By Norm Frauenheim –
PHOENIX – Oscar De La Hoya wants Jaime Munguia to fight Canelo Alvarez in September instead of May.
Before Munguia fought his way into the Canelo lottery Saturday night with a four-knockdown TKO of John Ryder, it was believed that Munguia was a possibility for Canelo’s projected return on May 4.
“Munguia-Canelo in September is the fight to make,’’ De La Hoya said about an hour after Ryder’s corner threw in the towel at 1:25 of the ninth round in front of roaring crowd of more than 10,000 at Footprint Center.
Canelo, the undisputed super-middleweight champion, might already have other plans for May, according to De La Hoya.
“I think Canelo could fight Jermall Charlo in May,’’ the Golden Boy promoter said.
It’s not clear where that leaves David Benavidez, who the World Boxing Council designated as its mandatory challenger to the WBC piece of Canelo’s title at its convention in Uzbekistan in November.
Benavidez, a former two-time WBC champion, has been calling out Canelo for a couple years. De La Hoya again said that Benavidez deserved a shot Saturday night.
But Munguia has joined the Canelo hunt. He’s another option. It’s not clear whether Benavidez’ mandatory status puts him at the front of the line.
“Networks make the mandatories,’’ Benavidez promoter/manager Sampson Lewkowicz said Saturday after his flyweight, Gabriela Fundora, retained the International Boxing Federation women’s title with TKO of Christina Cruz on the DAZN-streamed show.
Canelo is one of boxing’s few network stars. Follow the money, the only mandatory.
Benavidez, who grew up in Phoenix and began boxing at a gym – Central – just a few blocks from Footprint, got an invite to Saturday’s fight from De La Hoya De La Hoya he texted him Thursday.
But Benavidez wasn’t there for Munguia’s beatdown of the tough, smart Ryder. Munguia made a statement. So did Benavidez, who De La Hoya said was in Guadalajara, Canelo’s hometown. Benavidez showed up only on Instagram.
Above a photo of Munguia, he posted, after the fight: This a easy knock out. That’s why they ducked me. The message included three laughing emojis.
Meanwhile, social media was full of talk that Munguia might fight Edgar Berlanga next. But Munguia wasn’t sure when he’ll fight. Who he’ll fight.
“It would be an honor,’’ he said, to fight Canelo.
First, however, he said he would have to heal from a cut above his left eye.
Then, he’d go back to work at Wild Card with
his new trainer, Hall-of-Famer Freddie Roach.
“I keep hearing all of this talk about who’s next. Whatever,’’ said Roach, who predicted Munguia would win by TKO in the eighth. “We’ll head back to the gym and work hard.
“Whoever is next, he’s in trouble.’’
