Canelo Alvarez has faced some of the finest boxers from across the globe! But ever wondered who inflicted the most damage? Well, if you have, let’s see if you got it right because the former undisputed super middleweight champion just revealed who that is. And no! It’s not the legendary Gennady Golovkin, who went undefeated for 38 consecutive bouts and had 37 knockout wins. 

It’s not even Shane Mosley, who ended his career with an unbelievable 41 knockout wins. Neither is it Miguel Cotto, who was known for his powerful punches and bottomless endurance. So, the question is who is it? While appearing in the Sway’s Universe podcast, the Mexican superstar shocked everyone with his answer! 

Canelo Alvarez reveals how hard Jaime Munguia hits

Speaking about his upcoming bout against Edgar Berlanga, Canelo Alvarez revealed he likes boxers who come forward, which is often entertaining for the public, claiming Jaime Munguia was one of those boxers. This led the host of the show to probe Canelo about how hard his fellow Mexican’s punches were.

To this, Canelo casually responded, “Not that hard”. The duo went toe-to-toe in May this year in front of the roaring crowd of Los Angeles. While Munguia put up a good fight, Canelo’s experience was evident as he dropped Munguia in the fourth round before winning it via a unanimous decision. Regardless, having heard Munguia’s punches didn’t have the power, the host questioned who did.

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It didn’t take that long for Canelo to answer this question, as if he remembers this fight a little too well. Brace for impact because here it is! “I think the most I feel was Kirkland”, Canelo revealed as the host of the show was left shocked by the answer. He further added that after absorbing one blow from James Kirkland on his arm, “[I was like] if he hit me on the head, he is gonna f***king…”

While the ‘Mandingo Warrior’ managed to scare Canelo with his power, as Canelo revealed today, the way the fight ended doesn’t bode well for the Austin native. 

A look back at Canelo Alvarez vs. James Kirkland

It was May 2015, and Canelo was 25 years old, going up against the then 31-year-old Kirkland at Minute Maid Park in Houston, making it a night to remember for boxing fans. With 31,588 people in the stands, Alvarez totally dominated the fight with a knockout in the third round. Kirkland, who’s known for his aggressive style, came out swinging, but Alvarez’s precision and power quickly turned the fight in his favor. 

After three knockdowns, Alvarez landed a killer right uppercut, and the ref called it. This win was a huge deal for Alvarez, landing him a shot at the middleweight title against Miguel Cotto later that year. The fight was a major highlight in Alvarez’s career, showing off his growth and confirming him as one of boxing’s top talents, especially after the Mayweather-Pacquiao bout earlier that year.

As unbelievable as it sounds, the fight Canelo ended in just the third round had the hardest puncher opposite him. This just goes to show how Canelo Alvarez thinks, and how he forms a strategy on the move. He knew if Kirkland lands one of his hard shots to his head, the fight might end there, so he opted to take action himself. Was your guess correct? Or was Canelo’s revelation a complete surprise?