By Sean Jones: Promoter Eddie Hearn was at his wit’s end last Saturday watching Jermall Charlo and Jaime Munguia both ducking a fight against WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade when asked questions after their respective victories.
Munguia defeated Kamil Szeremeta by a sixth-round knockout at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas. Interestingly, after the fight, Munguia said he wanted to fight fringe contender Gabe Rosado next. Rosado is a good fighter, but he’s NOT a champion.
First off, Hearn says he was surprised Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) had such a hard time beating the unheralded Juan Macias Montiel (22-5-2, 22 KOs) by a 12 round decision at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Hearn, frustrated by Charlo and Munguia ducking Andrade
What came as a disappointment for Hearn was Charlo choosing to talk about wanting to fight Canelo Alvarez or Gennadiy Golovkin next when neither of them is available to fight him.
The guy that IS available to fight Charlo, WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade (30-0, 18 KOs), showed no interest in fighting. Indeed, Charlo called Andrade a “horrible fighter” during the post-fight press conference and said he should fight Montiel next.
WBA/WBC/WBO super middleweight champion Canelo will likely fight IBF champion Caleb Plant in September. In contrast, IBF 160-lb champion Golovkin faces WBA champ Ryota Murata, in December in Japan.
As such, Canelo and GGG are not going to be available to fight Jermall next. The champion available to fight Jermall or Munguia next is Demetrius, but surprisingly neither wants to fight him.
Hearn surprised Jermall didn’t call out Andrade
“I was surprised that it was as competitive as it was,” said Eddie Hearn to the DAZN Boxing Show on the Jermall Charlo vs. Juan Macias Montiel fight. “It was quite exciting, and that was surprising as well.
“How can you stand there after the fight and say, ‘It’s time for me to unify the division’ and only talk about one champion [Gennadiy Golovkin], who is not going to fight you because he’s fighting in Japan [against Ryota Murata,” said Hearn about Jermall Charlo using his time in the spotlight at the post-fight press conference talking about wanting to fight GGG next.
“Why is he not mentioning Demetrius Andrade?” Hearn continued about Jermall. “He’s an American, undefeated world middleweight champion, and yet he’s talking about two fights [Canelo Alvarez and Golovkin] that we all know aren’t going to happen right now.
“It’s baffling, really. Make the offer; it’s a pay-per-view fight for you guys on FOX. It’s two American world champions in a middleweight unification,” said Hearn.
Charlo’s comment about wanting Andrade to fight Montiel next made it obvious to everyone that he wants no part of fighting him, even though the fight would pay him more than the guys he’s been fighting.
Rather than fight Andrade and risk getting beaten, Charlo will continue to fight the no-name opposition he’s been being fed by his management.
Munguia choosing not to challenge Demetrius
“Jaime Munguia moved up from 154 to 160,” Hearn continued. “When you move up in divisions as a champion with the WBO, you become mandatory, which he was.
“We’ve seen it with Oleksandr Usyk. Jaime Munguia was mandatory for Demetrius Andrade. He turned that down, and it went to Liam Williams.
“Okay, you want to get a few fights in at middleweight, I understand. Now, you can get another fight that can get made automatically, Jamie Munguia against Demetrius Andrade.
“So there’s a chance for Munguia to become a two-weight world champion, but there’s never been a conversation about it because he’s already told that he’s turned it down. We’re both on the same platform,” said Hearn.
Gabe Rosado stole the show from Munguia with his third round knockout victory over highly-rated prospect Bektemir Melikuziev on the same card at the Don Haskins Center. Rosado fights at 168, not 160.
It’s a bizarre move on Munguia’s part to fight Rosado rather than challenge Demetrius Andrade for his WBO 160-lb title.
