By Miguel Maravilla
Undefeated middleweight and former junior middleweight world champion Jaime Munguía (38-0, 30 KOs) of is in the final phases of his preparation as he takes on undefeated D’Mitrius Ballard (21-0-1, 13 KO’s) next Saturday night at the Playas Plaza Monumental in Tijuana, Mexico live on DAZN. It will be a homecoming fight for Tijuana-native Munguia.
“The truth is, I am very excited to be back home in Tijuana after 6-7 years. It’s great and I always wanted to come back here to fight,” Munguia told Fightnews.com®.
The last time Munguia fought at home was over four years ago in 2017, as he scored a third-round knockout over Jose Miguel Lopez.
“I feel very proud to be fighting here in this city and thank the fans that have supported me throughout my career,” Munguia said.
Coming off an exciting unanimous decision over Gabriel Rosado this past November in Anaheim as Munguia fought a very tough Rosado giving the fans their money’s worth. Prior to that fight, he fought a very tough Kamil Szremeta in scoring a sixth-round stoppage as he fought twice in 2021.
“It was a very tough fight. Rosado always comes to fight. Now I am ready to take on the next challenge in D’Mitrius Ballard.”
Ballard fought the same night on the Munguia-Rosado undercard in Anaheim, California as he won a unanimous decision over Paul Valenzuela. His only blemish came prior to his win over Valenzuela, a draw to Brazilian Yamaguchi Falcao back in December of 2019.
“I have seen him fight. He is complicated, he fights the typical American style, flashy, elusive, strong. He is undefeated,” Munguia said. “His style is complicated because he slips and dips his shoulder. A good counter puncher but we should be able to defeat him.”
To prepare for Ballard, Munguia once again held his camp at the Otomi Ceremonial Center in the Temoaya mountains in the state of Mexico, working with his trainer fellow Tijuana fighter and great, former 4 division world champion and Hall of Famer Erik Morales.
“This is the sixth time I train here in Otomi. I have had great work, Erik and I are coming with the perfect strategy,” Munguia said. “It’s great training here, I am very focused here, it’s secluded and there are no distractions. Now it’s just putting in the work.”
For his trainer Morales, this was the best way to cope the recent loss of his son Jose Fernando Morales as he sadly passed away in December. Munguia is dedicating this fight to Morales’s late son.
“Erik is a strong person. He is focused on having me ready for this fight. Without a doubt, in this camp we have been very united,” Munguia commented. “The truth Erik needed his space. I just told him that he can count on me for anything, and I love him. I really appreciate him. I will always be here for Erik,”
This fight is reminiscent to the same event his trainer, Erik Morales had in his reign as champion when he fought Junior Jones at the very same venue back in 1998. That night Morales scored a fourth-round knockout over the former world champion Jones as Munguia plans to give his fans a spectacular victory.
“Without a doubt, these are some good times for Tijuana and Mexican boxing. Tijuana has a great fan base and boxing tradition. The most boxing fights take place here, it’s a boxing hotbed. Now I return to fight in Tijuana,” Munguia said.
2022 promises to be a great year for Munguia as the best is yet to come for the 25-year-old. Prior to winning his first world title, Munguia’s name was mentioned as a possible replacement for Gennady “GGG” Golovkin after his original opponent Saul “Canelo” Alvarez withdrew from there originally planned rematch taking place 5 de Mayo weekend back in 2018.
Instead, Munguia and his team passed on the fight with Golovkin. A few weeks later, Munguia answered the call to take on Sadam Ali as a replacement for Liam Smith. Munguia took the fight and would go on to win, scoring a devastating knockout over Ali, winning the WBO junior middleweight title.
“I defended my title multiple times and have had the opportunity to fight in many great places. I am ready for all the challenges that are out there,” Munguia said.
There is no question that Munguia has since become one of the best in campaigning at 154 and now 160. Ranked number one by the WBC, rated second by the WBA, first by the WBO, and twelfth by the IBF. Munguia lurks in the division for a world title as champions Jermall Charlo (WBC), Ryota Murata (WBA), Gennady Golovkin (IBF), and Demetrius Andrade (WBO) stand at the top of the middleweight division.
“I am ready to fight the best,” Munguia declared.
If all goes well next Saturday night against Ballard, Munguia looks to land a big fight in his 2022 campaign.
“God willing everything goes well in this fight and the best is yet to come. This will be a great year for me,” Munguia concluded.
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Munguia is putting the work in to improve on his game. In the beginning, I was very skeptical of him ever making it to the top due to his management team protecting him on his progress and cherry picking his fights. In addition, his style of come-in-straight-ahead style of fighting was very predictable in the beginning and lacked creativity. However, he did a great job fighting Rosado and proved to be durable, full of perseverance, and pushed himself to the limits. I will be watching his progress.
Dude is going to be another 50-0 Gilberto Ramirez fighting cab drivers
Well unlike Ramirez. Mungia really needed to work on some things if he wants to be at championship level at a higher weight. I’m sure they will get him in with a rusty Murata or get him in the mandatory position for whoever wins the belt Andrade gives up. Mungia is an exciting fighter but wasn’t going to last long with his horrific defense
Munguia leads with his chin, but so far it has worked for him. He is pretty protected, however.
Enjoy watching Jaime Munguía fight. Have to admit that I was rooting for Rosado (home town Philly fighter) in Jaime’s last fight. Go Munguía, go …..
He’s in a really good position actually. He just turned 25 in October, he’s not even in his prime yet most likely and he can take good fights like this one and work on some of the things (DEFENSE) that needs to be improved on. The youngest of the champions is Charlo who’ll be 32 in May. Munguia can wait them out and fight guys like Ballard and Adames and then just be entering his prime. If it’s a couple of years from now, he’s 27 and like 44-0 and has one or maybe even two belts at middleweight, Munguia is going to be making a ton of money.
Make money yes! A Ton IDK about as he’s not really a household name outside of boxing and hasn’t proven himself (as of yet) to be a tremendous box office draw! Would have LOVED to see him in against GGG, Charlo, Jacobs and Andrade! Now that’s how you build a box office following!
I agree with you, my point was that if he ended up in that situation, he’d be a lot more well known than he is now. Hypothetically, if a fighter, particuarly a Mexican fighter, if 44-0 and the clear best middleweight in the world, he’s going to be pretty popular. It would surely help if he could get a big name along the way, but I don’t think he absolutely needs it.
Lucie i asked this in a previous post just wondering if you remember some of these fighters I was friendly with back in the day. Joey Ruiz jr, Alvin Hayes, Ricky Womack, Jimmy Paul, David Bey, Ruben Castillo, Alex Montiel, Mike Quarry
I do, I live in Michigan. Womack, Paul and Alvin Hayes are all familiar names to me. I know who David Bey and Mike Quarry are as well and, if it’s the same guy, I also know of Alex Montiel because his brother, Fernando, was a terrific fighter.
You might be right but I thought Fernando was a cousin. They had a nephew that fought under the name of Jose Felix the past few years.
If you ever get a chance check out the fight between Joey Ruiz vs Harold Brazier on YouTube.
There were a few Montiels, Fernando and Alejandro were the best and Fernando was the only world champion. And looking it up, Boxrec says Fernando, Alejandro, Manuel Jr., Pedro and Eduardo were brothers and their father was Manuel Sr. (obviously) who also fought. I’d never heard of Jose Felix, but looking at his record now, he fought Barrera and Tapia and Cecilio Espino.
I watched Ruiz – Brazier. Excellent fight, but I think I was more on the side of Al Bernstein, it was definitely competitive, but not close. I had Brazier winning most of the rounds. Great fight though. Love Harold Brazier and I’d never heard of Ruiz and was shocked to see Angelo Dundee in his corner. Great recommendation Johnny.
Thats Jose Felix the father and actually he told me after he lost to Tapia that he sat down and cried because he knew after a lifetime of hard work he wasn’t good enough to make the top. Jose Jr was thought to be something special but after building a big record fizzled out.
One day check out Ruben Castillo vs Salvador Sanchezwe all thought Ruben got robbed
munguia could make good money fighting ggg other than that he will have a hard time filling seats against class b opponents
Pretty hard to believe a fighter can have 38 fights & the only name is a fighter 5 years out of his prime !!
Jaime needs to step up.