Jaime Munguía Wins and Waits: Charlo? … Golovkin?

So that there are no doubts about his objectives and claims, Mexican Jaime Munguía, former world champion of the super welterweight division, anesthetized Argentina’s Gonzalo Coria in the third round on November 19th in Guadalajara, Jalisco, in a middleweight contested.

It was not the fight that highlighted his career, nor was it the one Munguía, who is located at the top of the WBC and WBO rankings, as well as ranked third in the WBA and the IBF in the middleweight division, longed for. However, the top-ranked fighters in his division have been elusive.

Confident in his superiority over Coria (21-6, 8 KOs), in the opening round Munguía limited himself to focusing on the defensive gaps, as well as Coria’s tactical plan, so few effective blows were landed.

But halfway through the second round, Munguía, after increasing the pace of the action, dropped him with a straight right and Coria took the count on his knee. Next, Munguía launched himself at Coria with the intention of finishing him off and ending the fight, but the Argentine avoided the exchange of blows, constantly clinging to Munguía.

In the third round, Munguía increased the attack with both hands to the body. Lacking an effective defense, Coria backpedaled through the ring.  Munguía landed a strong left hand, knocking Coria down again. Coria took a knee and shook off the referee with 18 seconds left in the round, as he did not wish to continue.

The victory was the third of the year for Munguía, all inside the distance. He previously applied chloroform to Brit Jimmy “Kilrain” Kelly (26-3, 10 KOs) last June in Anaheim, California. Four months earlier, on February 19, he also put American D’Mitrus Ballard (21-1-1, 13 KOs) to sleep in the Plaza Monumental in Tijuana, Mexico where the local fighter made his third defense of the WBO Intercontinental belt.

After the match ended, Munguía, a 26-year-old native of Tijuana, reiterated his desire to face WBC champion Jermall Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs), with whom he has held talks for a possible duel that was scheduled for June 18^th in Houston, Texas. “I was happy to be in the ring,” said Munguía. This year we couldn’t do Charlo, but hopefully we can do it next year. We know that Gennadiy Golovkin is not signed with (a rival promoter). I would love to meet him in May.”

Negotiations with Brit John Ryder (31-5, 17 KOs) did not come to a happy ending either, as on November 26 Ryder will face his compatriot Zach Parker at the 02 Arena in London where Ryder will defend the WBO Interim 168-pound title for the fourth time.

Munguía’s possible fight against Golovkin (42-2-1, 37 KOs) looms far on the horizon since GGG has two “mandatory” fights; the first against Brazilian Esquiva Falcao (30-0, 20 KOs), located at the top of the WBA rankings. And if he is victorious, he will then face Cuban southpaw Erislandy Lara (29-3-3, 17 KOs), WBA “regular” champion at 160 pounds.

Initially, the WBA had ordered the fight between Golovkin and Lara to define the sole champion of 160 pounds, but later the WBA made an agreement with the IBF in which it was agreed that the Golovkin-Falcao matchup would go first and then Lara would face the winner.

Munguía conquered the WBO super welterweight crown by knocking out American Sadam Ali in May 2018 in Verona, New York.  Munguía then made five successful defenses before jumping to 160 pounds in January 2020.

Munguía and his team firmly believe that fighting GGG is a distinct possibility, even with the concern that the forty-year-old Golovkin may be close to retiring. Only time will tell.

Photo credit: Zanfer Boxing

Article submitted by Jorge Juan Alvarez in Spanish.

Please note any adjustments made were for clarification purposes and any errors in translation were unintentional.

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