Done and dusted in eight – Freddie Roach gunning for the KO

EIGHT is the magic number in this weekโ€™s Las Vegas fight predictions. First, Canelo predicted that he would finish Jaime Munguia before that round. Now, Munguiaโ€™s trainer Freddie Roach has countered with an eighth-round KO prophecy of his own.

Snapping the legendary beard of Canelo, who has proven to be a difficult man to hurt during his time at the top, will not be easy. But a young, hungry, offensive specimen like Munguia might just be brave enough to step forward and take the fight to the veteran champion.

โ€œMy guy has a great jab and he uses it well. Just keep [Canelo] on the end of the jab and throw that power right hand and the fight will be over,โ€ Roach told Boxing News.

While triangle theories in boxing are often downplayed or dismissed, Roach feels that their respective performances against a teak-tough common foe will hold the key to Saturday nightโ€™s T-Mobile Arena headliner.ย 

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Jaime Munguia lands a right hand against John Ryder (Getty Images)

Canelo went the full 12 against a bloodied yet unbowed John Ryder in the Mexicanโ€™s 2023 homecoming. Munguia dominated Ryder earlier this year en route to a ninth-round stoppage, forcing the bruised Brit to later hang up his gloves.

โ€œThey have common opponents. And the one I watched mostly [Ryder], when my guy fought him, he knocked him down [multiple] times, and then when Canelo fought him, he won the decision. I just don’t believe he’s that big of a puncher,โ€ suggested Roach.

Even during the embryonic stages of their trainer-fighter partnership, Roach, who for so long trained eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, among a host of other world-class boxers, has been suitably impressed by what heโ€™s already seen from 27-year-old Munguia.

โ€œEvery day he works. Whatever I say, he does. I had three sparring partners a day, 12 rounds every day. Monday, Wednesday, Friday [all] sparring days.

โ€œHe’s 100 per cent ready for this guy. I think he has the power to knock him out and the height and the reach. I really think he’s too much.โ€

Sampling huge fight weeks is nothing new for the grizzled Hall-Of-Fame trainer, but this Cinco de Mayo event build-up has even raised the hairs on the back of his neck.ย 

โ€œIt doesn’t get any bigger than this,โ€ agreed Roach. โ€œTwo really good fighters, both from Mexico. A lot of Mexican crowds are gonna come in there. There might be some street fights, but you know what? It’s gonna be a great night.โ€

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