When Will Jaime Munguia Step Up and Fight the Elite at 160?
At the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas, former WBO World Junior Middleweight champion Jaime Munguia (37-0, 30 KOs) stopped overmatched former world middleweight title challenger Kamil Szeremeta (21-2, 5 KOs), who retired in his corner after the sixth round.
Ranked number one by the WBC and WBO at 160 pounds, Munguia is in a position to fight for a world title at middleweight. Fans are particularly intrigued by a fight between him and the current IBF world belt holder, Gennady Golovkin. After the win over Szeremeta, the 24-year-old from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico was asked about his plans.
“I would like to perhaps, by the end of the year, fight for a world title. If not, then a Mexico versus Puerto Rico battle against Gabriel Rosado would be really good.”
On the undercard of Munguia v Szeremeta, Rosado scored a come-from-behind one-punch, third-round KO over previously unbeaten super middleweight Bektemir “Bek Bully” Melikuziev. Following his win, who did Rosado say he wanted to fight next? You guessed it, Jaime Munguia.
RELATED: Gabriel Rosado: “We Want Munguia!”
IS HE BEING PROTECTED?
There is an interesting dichotomy regarding Munguia. It is his third fight as a middleweight. Calls are growing louder and louder for him to step up and fight the elite at 160. However, he is one of the prized fighters on the roster of Golden Boy Promotions. They view him as an investment, in and out of the ring.
Munguia is a former world champion backed by a promotional power player, and highly ranked by all the major sanctioning organizations. Therefore, a world title shot is virtually guaranteed. Golden Boy can afford to, and will, protect him. When they feel the time is right, then and only then will you see Munguia face the big dogs at middleweight.
What does that mean for the fans? Those urging to see him fight the likes of Golovkin will have to wait a while longer.
It is not a coincidence Munguia and Rosado called each other out following their wins. Look for them to fight each other next. In the cutthroat world of the boxing business, this was probably Golden Boy’s plan all along.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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