CANELO Alvarez returns to Las Vegas for his annual Cinco de Mayo weekend fight night on Saturday, defending his unified status as the planet’s leading 12-stone champion.

Unbeaten countryman Jaime Munguia will be in the opposing corner at the T-Mobile Arena, adding extra spice to the Mexican holiday match-up.

But the reality is Munguia was nobody but Canelo’s first choice and criticism aimed at the champion regarding his hand-picking of opponents of late is warranted.

David Benavidez is the genuine #1 super-middleweight contender, but Canelo admits that test is too high risk with not enough reward. Hardly the mentality of a Mexican fighting icon.

CASHING OUT?

It would be bold to accuse Canelo, a veteran of 64 pro fights including dozens of world titles across four weight classes, as ducking anybody. But the facts don’t lie.

Since losing to Dmitry Bivol, in a valiant shot at light-heavyweight gold two years ago, Alvarez has beaten up three opponents of his choosing.

A trilogy fight with over the hill Gennady Golovkin; a homecoming against London’s John Ryder and last year’s mismatch vs light-middleweight Jermell Charlo all went the way of routine points wins for the champion.

Compared to previous exploits, those victories did nothing to enhance his Hall of Fame status.

Since beating Matthew Hatton to become a world champion for the first time in March 2011, Canelo has faced just three Mexican challengers, the last of which was Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in 2017.

It’s safe to say Alvarez, 33, usually goes out of his way not to face his countrymen inside the ring. Yet, on this occasion, he’s gone out of his way to face one.

And that’s got nothing to do with the marketability of unbeaten Munguia, either. More to do with the very real threat Benavidez brings to the ring.

TIME WAITS FOR NO MAN

After campaigns as light-middle and middleweight world champion, Alvarez elevated his legacy by unifying the 168lb division inside 12 months.

He was the biggest draw in the sport, the pound-for-pound number one, pulling in huge pay-per-view audiences. He solidified his position as a modern-day boxing great.

But time waits for no man and today Canelo doesn’t feature as prominently on those lists due to the level of competition.

On paper, Munguia, 27, is very impressive. His 43-0 record includes 34 KO’s and he’s a former world champion down at light-middleweight.

But his record is grossly padded out and he’s chosen to remain outside of world title fights for the last five years. It’s as if he’s been setting himself up for this Canelo pay day.

VIVA MEXICO

Alvarez, entering incredibly his 65th professional fight, naturally remains a huge draw. But his last TKO was three years ago the predatory edge that took him to boxing’s summit appears to have rounded off.

Munguia has the opportunity to defeat one of the greatest Mexican’s ever to lace up the gloves and really light the blue touchpaper on his career.

But, in reality, he’s still far too raw and clumsy to be able to outmanoeuvre the grand master.

TIP: Canelo on Points (7/10)