Munguia dropping out of Friday’s WBC-ordered purse bid for Derevyanchenko fight

By Boxing News - 09/15/2021 - Comments

By Dan Ambrose: Former WBO junior middleweight champion Jaime Munguia and his co-promoter at Zanfer won’t participate in the previously scheduled WBC 160-lb purse bid for a fight against former three-time world title challenger Sergiy Derevyanchenko.

The 24-old Munguia (37-0, 30 KOs) and his co-promoters at Zanfer will instead go in the direction of a fight with Gabe Rosado (26-13-1, 15 KOs).

It’s not a surprising move by Munguia to avoid Derevyanchenko because it was already a fight that his management was eying after his recent sixth round stoppage victory over Kamil Szceremeta on June 19th.

Rosado fought on the same DAZN card and destroyed previously unbeaten Golden Boy prospect Bektemir ‘Bully’ Melikuziev.

Munguia vs. Rosado = business level fight

This is a money fight between Munguia and Rosado, and it’s a more winnable fight for Jaime than if he were to face #2 WBC ‘The Technician’ Derevyanchenko.

It would seem obvious that #1 WBC Munguia’s management isn’t thrilled at the idea of putting him in a title eliminator that results in him becoming mandatory for WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo.

Image: Munguia dropping out of Friday's WBC-ordered purse bid for Derevyanchenko fight

Munguia is a fun fighter to watch, but he’s at the same level as Charlo’s last opponent Juan Macias Montiel. He wouldn’t do well against a guy as polished as Charlo.

That would be a bad idea for Golden Boy Promotions and Zanfer to throw Munguia in with Charlo or Derevyanchenko right now because he’s still too green. Munguia needs a lot more experience before he takes on the likes of Charlo or Derevyanchenko.

Even putting Munguia in against WBC middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade might be a bridge too far for him.

Munguia another Ryan Garcia type of fighter

What we’re likely to see with Munguia is his promoters at Golden Boy matching him like they’re doing with their popular lightweight contender Ryan Garcia.

With Ryan, he’ll never be more than a paper champion if he ever wins a title, but he’ll still make a lot of money because of his popularity. In other words, Ryan doesn’t have to prove that he’s one of the best to make a boatload of dough. It’s the same thing with Munguia.

Ryan is popular without even being a world champion, and Golden Boy isn’t in a hurry to put him in against any of the world champions at 135.

Munguia being moved CAREFULLY

In Munguia’s case, Golden Boy and Zanfer will likely continue to match him strategically, having him make money against beatable old guys, but not throwing him in with any of the talented champions.

The only belt-holder at 160 that Golden Boy might have considered letting Munguia fight is WBA champ Ryota Murata, but it’s too late now. Murata is expected to take on IBF middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin in December, and he’ll likely lose to him.

“A purse bid for WBC 160 eliminator, Jaime Munguia vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko, was set for Fri. Per source, Munguia is going in another direction & co-promoter Zanfer informed WBC they won’t participate. Munguia, co-promoted by Golden Boy, has been linked to a DAZN fight vs. Gabe Rosado,” said Dan Rafael.