Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Jaime Munguia are in talks about a fight in the future.
That's according to ProBox TV sources in Mexico who say Alvarez's camp is quietly negotiating with Jaime Munguia to be Canelo's next opponent, even before the Benavidez-Andrade fight takes place Saturday at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas on Showtime pay-per-view.
Canelo last fought September 30 when he rolled back the years to breeze past Jermell Charlo, to retain his WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF world super middleweight championship belts.
That bout was the first of his three-fight deal with Al Haymon's Premier Boxing Champions.
Previous sentiment from sources at that firm indicated that the the second and third fights could be against Charlo's brother Jermall, who fights Jose Benavidez Jr. this weekend, and Benavidez, who headlines on Saturday, providing those boxers continue their winning ways.
However, Golden Boy Promotions boxer Munguia may well be jumping the line.
"First of all, let's revisit 'Canelo doesn't want to fight a Mexican' — I guess that's out the window," said ProBox TV analyst and commentator Paul Malignaggi, a former world champion. "When it's the right Mexican, I guess he'll fight him.
"I think this kind of confirms the suspicions that everyone has had that he doesn't want to fight the [Benavidez-Andrade] winner.
"I know it's very difficult [for Canelo fans] to get off his nuts, but if he doesn't fight the winner of this fight, especially when you consider the excuses in the past of not fighting Mexcian fighters and now choosing Munguia," it's hard to excuse this one, Malignaggi said.
Chris Algieri, another ProBox TV talent who — like Malignaggi — is a former world champion, said he is not surprised that Canelo vs. the winner of Benavidez-Andrade may not be happening next.
"But it is surprising that he's fighting another Mexican [considering what he's previously said]," said Algieri. "It's not surprising from a commercial sense as the fight will sell."
Algieri added that Munguia is an exciting fighter, and with Canelo "declining," it represents an "interesting fight."
The Mexican fanbase "is always there," he said, particularly if it lands on the Saturday date closest to Cinco de Mayo.
