Jaime Munguia Wins by Split Lip at Fantasy Springs

A savage Jaime Munguia uppercut led to a knockout victory over Tureano Johnson but it was nip and tuck for several rounds in the Mexican fighter’s second foray in the middleweight division on Friday.

Munguia (36-0,29 KOs) busted open the lip of Johnson (21-3-1, 15 KOs) and that fighter’s hopes of an upset victory in front of zero fans at Fantasy Spring Casino in Indio, CA. But for a short while, each took their pound of flesh.

Johnson jumped on Munguia from the opening bell with a bruising attack. Using his legs and shoulder to keep the Tijuana fighter frozen and short chopping right hands that seemed to confuse the taller Mexican fighter, he pinned the former super welterweight world titlist along the ropes.

“He is a fighter with an annoying style, so I tried to adjust because he really surprised us in the first round,” said Munguia, 24. “They told me to adjust and get my distance. Little by little we did. He was very strong.”

After minor adjustments were made Munguia began finding a home for vicious right and left uppercuts. They proved to be the perfect antidote for the Johnson rushes and snapped the Bahamian native’s head back repeatedly.

Back and forth the fight went, Johnson boring forward and scoring with repeated rights and Munguia unleashing combinations from long range and uppercuts on the inside.

Finally, in the sixth round, a left uppercut snapped back Johnson’s head and referee Raul Caiz stopped the fight. He led Johnson to the ringside physician who examined the split lip and allowed 20 more seconds. The fight resumed and Munguia unleashed another merciless combination.

The ringside physician advised referee Caiz to stop the fight and it was ruled a knockout win for Munguia at the end of the sixth round.

“I was very anxious for this fight and I learned a lot from this fight,” said Munguia.

Welterweights

A battle between undefeated welterweights saw Rashidi Ellis (23-0, 14 KOs) use his speedy combinations to keep distance against pressure fighting Alexis Rocha (16-1) and win by unanimous decision after 12 rounds.

No knockdowns were scored but judges saw Ellis winning 116-112 twice and 115-113.

“It was a great fight I came out victorious against an undefeated fighter,” said Ellis. “It was my hand speed and footwork.”

WBO Light Flyweight World Title

Elwin Soto (18-1, 12 KOs) successfully defended the WBO light flyweight world title by unanimous decision after 12 rounds versus Nicaragua’s Carlos Buitrago (32-6-1, 18 KOs). No knockdowns were scored the in fight that seemed closer than the judges scores 119-109, 117-111, 115-113 all for Soto.

Soto pressured Buitrago throughout the fight but seemed to be out-punched by the counter-puncher. Still, neither fighter was ever in danger of being floored.

Flyweights

Marlen Esparza (8-1) used speedy combinations and perfectly-timed counters to hand Sulem Urbina (12-1) her first loss as a professional in a flyweight fight that went eight rounds.

A 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, Esparza, 31, fights out of Houston.

Urbina, 30, formerly fought for the Mexican National Team and lives in Phoenix.

Photo credit: Tom Hogan / Golden Boy Promotions

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