Jaime Munguia It’s important to stay active

By: Sean Crose

Let’s face it, fighters just don’t fight as much as they used to. There are benefits, of course, as less time fighting means less chance of suffering serious brain injuries, among other things. Fighters, however, should fight. And fighting once every year or two seems a little questionable (admittedly, some fighters get caught in promotional or contractual traps that they simply can’t get out of). After all, workers have to go to work, even those whose job it is to squeeze between the ropes and the box, sometimes for large sums of money.

One person who simply cannot be accused of inactivity is Jaime Munguia, the always entertaining super middleweight who has only lost on one occasion – and that was to the great Canelo Alvarez earlier this year. In fact, Munguia is about to fight for the fourth time this year when he faces the undefeated Bruno Surace in his native Mexico this Saturday. Surace may not be a household name, but it’s important to note that the 28-year-old Munguia is actually keeping himself active, a rarity for more popular fighters. By the end of 2024, Munguia will have faced Canelo, Surace, John Ryder and Erik Bazinyan. Ryder and Bazinyan were stopped remotely.

Most will expect Munguia to win this weekend. The 26-year-old Frenchman Surace may be undefeated (his record is 25-0-2), but only four of his victories have come by knockout. Against Munguia’s heavy hands, he may not last long. No doubt many expect Munguia to win within 10 rounds. In the ring, however, anything can happen. Maybe Surace could get agitated or outwit his man. Or perhaps it will even prove harder than many expect. Once again, this is boxing, a sport where what seems impossible can become possible with just one well-placed blow.

And well-placed shots are something Munguia can excel at. He’s simply one of the most fun fighters to watch right now. He may not possess blinding speed, but he hits hard enough to knock opponents down with both hands. He also fights in a disciplined manner, confident that his power and skill will ultimately bring him victory. Finally, Munguia has the heart of a lion, something of which his 2023 war with Sergiy Derevyanchenko is direct proof. Munguia emerged victorious from that thriller, just as he intends to emerge victorious this weekend.

Win, lose or draw, however, Munguia is likely to return to the ring before many others.