Jaime Munguia Overpowers Jimmy Kelly In Five Rounds After Slow Start!
At the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, former WBO junior middleweight champion and top ranked middleweight contender Jaime Munguia (40-0, 32KOs) took on Jimmy Kelly (26-3, 10KOs) in a super middleweight bout.
In a lackluster run at middleweight thus far for the former champion, Munguia was involved in deep negotiations with WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo. However, the deal fell apart after the insistence of Oscar De La Hoya to have DAZN and Showtime work jointly on the fight broadcast, which would’ve been on Showtime Pay Per View as a single broadcast.
He is currently ranked eighth in the IBF, second in the WBA and WBC, and first in the WBO at middleweight. The hard-hitting former champion turned his attention to Jimmy Kelly.
Kelly, who is ranked 8 in the WBO standings, came into this bout off a big win against Kanat Islam back in February by majority decision. He looked to continue his upset-winning ways against the unbeaten Munguia.
A FAST START FROM KELLY
A massive underdog going into this fight, Kelly started the fight off as if he was the favorite. He used his quick hands and elusive feet to gain the early advantage. In round two, the fighter from the U.K landed a nice left hook-right hand combination that pushed the former champion back.
Over the course of the next two rounds, the confidence of Kelly grew as he not only continued to box but also stood and traded with the Mexican slugger. Sensing that his fighter was down on the cards early, trainer Erik Morales told Munguia that he was letting the rounds slip away!
POWER IS THE GREAT EQUALIZER
The great start by Kelly came to a screeching halt in round five as he was decked with a vicious left hook as he retreated with his hands down and chin exposed. To his credit, Kelly rose to his feet, but the damage was already done. As he attempted to fight back, two hard right uppercuts from Munguia sent Kelly down for a second time in the round.
After rising to his feet once more, Munguia pounced on his hurt opponent, pummeling him with punches until a knee was taken. Although Kelly managed to make it to his feet again, the referee had seen enough and waved off the bout.
With that, the former champion picked up his 40th career win. In the aftermath, he called out Charlo in hopes to restart negotiations for that bout. Hopefully, the two sides can get a deal done this time around.
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By: Jerrell Fletcher
