Freddie Roach Heaps Praise On Jaime Munguia

Freddie Roach has nothing but praise for Jaime Munguia as he faces Canelo Alvarez on Saturday night.

Munguia is 43-0 and will get the big fight against Alvarez next time out. It’s a big-time spot for Munguia and legendary trainer Freddie Roach worked with him for his fight against John Ryder. The two are back working together ahead of this fight, and Roach has nothing but praise for him.

“I’ve had two training camps with [Munguia]. The first, he was the best student in the world – he listens very well, and I was working with him on his defense and his offense, and he became more of a complete fighter. I hate when people say, ‘He has no defense at all.’ They’re full of s***,” Roach said (via BoxingScene). “If he didn’t have a defense, he wouldn’t have an offense at all, either. He’s a good fighter, he listens very well. I train him in the gym and I train him hard, and it’s worked out well.

“Mostly his head movement [has improved]. He’s slipping punches, making guys miss. He counters on top of that – countering’s the important part, ‘cause that’s where the points can be scored. He’s gonna slip and make him miss and counter with the right hand over the top, or with the left jab. I’ve got him really prepared for this. We’ve done this over and over and over again. If he f**** up and makes a mistake and doesn’t make a move, I’ll be disappointed, yes. But I don’t see that happening,” Roach continued.

Entering the bout, Freddie Roach believes Jaime Munguia needs to work on his jab and is confident his fighter will be able to avoid the left hook of Alvarez.

“[Alvarez] has very common combinations,” Roach said. “He’ll throw a left hook to the body, a left hook to the head. Every time. Every time you get one, you get two. If he lands the one to the head, I’m gonna kill my guy. [Munguia’s] got to keep working behind the jab and keep snapping at the jab and keep stepping in with the jab. You can’t reach with two jabs, but if he steps in with two or three jabs and puts this guy on the ropes, and then powers right hands into the body and the head … this guy’s gonna eat [punches] all night.”

Despite the praise, Jaime Munguia is a sizeable betting underdog against Canelo Alvarez on Saturday.