By Miguel Maravilla
Photos: Sumio Yamada

WBO super welterweight champion Jaime Munguia (30-0, 25 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico defended his title for the first time with a unanimous decision over former world champion Liam “Beefy” Smith (26-2-1, 14 KOs) of England, on Saturday night at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on the HBO Boxing After Dark main event.

It was a fast start as Smith went right at Munguia roughing him up, Munguia followed up with some hay makers. Munguia roughed up Smith on the inside in round two, landing some solid left hooks to the body and following up with big punches upstairs. In round three Munguia landed an uppercut but Smith followed up with a solid right hand, left hook combination that stopped the champ’s momentum. Munguia landed a solid right hand and followed up with a left hook to the body.

The fifth round saw Munguia hurt Smith with a body shot backing him to the ropes. A thudding right to the body by Munguia to start the sixth got it started for the Mexican as he continued to stay inside as a left hook to the head sent Smith to the canvas. Munguia followed up in the seventh out punching Smith on the inside landing uppercuts. Munguia staggered Smith in the eighth with a combination backing him to the ropes.

The following round Munguia attacked Smith, the champ continued to press landing a solid left uppercut as the Englishman grinned at him. The championship rounds were all non-stop as Munguia and Smith traded away. In the twelfth and final round Munguia closed strong staying close on top of Smith in route to a unanimous decision as the judges scored the bout 119-108, 118-110, and 116-112