This Weekend’s Boxing Tips:
Saturday 11am Emmanuel Rodriguez v Ryosuke Nishida
Ryosuke Nishida to Win via Points Or Decision
Sunday, 4am Saul Alvarez v Jaime Munguia
Saul Alvarez To Win The Fight In Round 10 – 12
Draw
Monday, 12pm Naoya Inoue v Luis Nery
Naoya Inoue To Win The Fight In Round 9 – 10
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Boxing’s biggest name, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, is back in action with a meaty all-Mexican contest against Jaime Munguia this weekend, and that massive fight is sandwiched between two world title bouts in Japan, Emmanuel Rodriguez takes on Ryosuke Nishida at lunchtime on Saturday, while the ‘Monster’ Naoya Inoue faces Luis Nery on Monday. Let’s tuck in.
Emmanuel Rodriguez v Ryosuke Nishida – Nishida Points Or Decision
TV: DAZN, Saturday, 11am
Bantamweight titleholder Emmanuel Rodriguez goes on the road to Japan this Saturday to defend his strap against local unbeaten prospect Ryosuke Nishida. There’s no doubt the experienced Puerto Rican is being well remunerated for his trip, but the Japanese promoters know that the champ can blow hot or cold, and a first visit to the land of the rising sun after an inactive period may be unsettling.
While Rodriguez is a two-time world champion with good wins, a KO loss to Inoue, and an impressive amateur career, a lot less is known about the challenger. Nishida has only had eight pro contests, but in just his fourth fight he beat former champ Diago Higa. Rodriguez is quick and slick, but Nishida seems cool under pressure – I am picking the imposing Japanese southpaw to win on points, possibly aided with a little bit of home-cooking on the cards.
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez v Jaime Munguia – Alvarez To Win The Fight In Round 10 – 12
TV: DAZN, Sunday, 4am
Fights shouldn’t come much bigger than a scrap for all four super middleweight belts between two Mexicans on Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas, but most people can’t help feeling that David Benavidez, rather than Jaime Munguia, is the rightful contender to Canelo’s undisputed crown. Still, it’s a good bout, and we’ll find out if Saul Alvarez is ageing or if Munguia has a padded record.
Canelo, 33, has fought four times since 2021, he lost to Dmitry Bivol on points up at light heavyweight and then won against an over-the-hill Gennady Golovkin, fringe world-level contender John Ryder, and an undersized Jermell Charlo. After 18 years as a pro, ridiculous wealth, and an obsession with golf, many were wondering if Alvarez is still at his best.
There are just as many question marks around Munguia, the challenger is undefeated in 43 contests but he’s yet to fight elite opposition. He won a world title at 154-pounds in 2018, defended it against the likes of Liam Smith, moved up to middleweight, and didn’t face any champions, and now he’s at 168-pounds.
The timing might be right for Jaime, 27, who’s coming into his prime, and his link-up with legendary trainer Freddie Roach seems like a good fit. In his most recent bout, he dispatched Britain’s Ryder in nine rounds – a far more impressive performance than Canelo.
I think this will be a close fight. Alvarez has found a style in recent years that involves a low output of heavy single shots combined with incredible defence based on upper body movement. Munguia will have a higher output of punches but he doesn’t have the speed to catch Canelo too often.
When Munguia lands, his natural instinct will be to press forward but that is where I see him getting countered by the champ. Canelo has looked after himself as an athlete and I think he has enough left to get a definitive stoppage win late into the contest.
Draw
If the flame-haired star can’t land the big shot I think this fight will be nip-and-tuck.
Either doubts or a lack of desire seems to have crept into Canelo’s mindset, he pretty much ruled out a fight with Benavidez for no apparent reason, he hasn’t bothered trying to rematch Bivol, and he seems open to fighting Terence Crawford, a pound-for-pound star but who most recently fought at 147-pounds.
If those decisions reflect weakness then it could be a long night at the T-Mobile against a man coming into his prime. The trouble for Munguia is that in Vegas you have to absolutely school Canelo to stand a chance of winning. Alvarez was gifted a draw against Golovkin in their first fight and he even was given a draw by one judge against Mayweather. If it’s close and goes the distance the best Munguia can hope for is a draw, but at least it’s good odds.
Naoya Inoue v Luis Nery – Inoue To Win The Fight In Round 9 – 10
TV: Sky Sports, Monday, 12pm
If you’re one of the lucky people to have a Bank Holiday on Monday, then time your morning and lunchtime activities around this fight, it is going to be explosive. Four-weight world champion, and current undisputed super bantam boss, Naoya Inoue is a king in Japan, while Mexico’s former champ Luis Nery is the villain who misses weight, takes PEDs, and talks a lot of smack.
Nery can fight as well, and in 36 bouts he’s won 35, 27 inside the distance. The one loss on Nery’s record was a seventh-round KO, and if you have any weaknesses, Inoue will find them. The Japanese ‘Monster’ has stopped 23 of his 26 opponents and I expect him to take out a game and competitive Nery towards the end of the fight.
This Weekend’s Boxing Tips:
Saturday 11am Emmanuel Rodriguez v Ryosuke Nishida
Ryosuke Nishida to Win via Points Or Decision
Sunday, 4am Saul Alvarez v Jaime Munguia
Saul Alvarez To Win The Fight In Round 10 – 12
Draw
Monday, 12pm Naoya Inoue v Luis Nery
Naoya Inoue To Win The Fight In Round 9 – 10
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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