By Dan Ambrose: Golden Boy Promotions boss Oscar De La Hoya says he wants to make a fight between Jaime Munguia and IBF middleweight champion Gennadiy ‘GGG’ Golovkin soon. De La Hoya believes the Golovkni vs. Munguia fight will be the “fight of the year” when it happens.
Munguia hasn’t shown the ability to be competitive with a fighter in Golovkin’s caliber. Last Saturday, Munguia looked sluggish in defeating little-known D’Mitrius Ballard by a third round knockout.
It’s unclear where Golden Boy found Ballard, but as bad as Munguia looked, it’s a good thing they did use him as the opponent. If Munguia had fought a good middleweight, he would have lost.
Jaime needs to be campaigning at 168 already because his body is too big for the 160-lb division.
Unfortunately, there’s little chance Munguia (39-0, 31 KOs) will be getting a title shot against Golovkin (41-1-1, 36 KOs) in 2022. Golovkin has a fight against Ryota Murata in April, and then, depending on the success of negotiations, GGG will face Canelo Alvarez on September 17th.
Munguia needs to face a live body at 160
It would be great for Munguia to get busy earning a title shot against Golovkin by beating Janibek Alimkhanuly rather than waiting for a handout based on wins over weak opposition.
At least if Munguia beats Janibek, De La Hoya can tell the fans that he’s earned a title shot rather than being given one based on victories over these fighters:
- 36-year-old Gabe Rosado
- 38-year-old Tureano Johnson
- 37-year-old Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan
- D’Mitrius Ballard
- Kamil Szeremeta
If the goal is to get Munguia a cash-out, which he has no chance of winning against Golovkin, it isn’t very reassuring.
Some boxing fans probably relish the idea of Golovkin and Munguia battling it out, but it doesn’t mean as much due to the poor opposition Jaime has faced at middleweight to get that fight.
Munguia has been given a high ranking with the WBC and WBO at 160 based on wins over beatable guys. It would be understandable for Munguia to be ranked #1 with the WBC and WBO if he’d beaten Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, Chris Eubank Jr, or Sergiy Derevyanchenko.
Granted, Munguia never beaten anyone of note during his two years as the WBO junior middleweight champion, but he had an excuse back then because there weren’t a lot of quality fighters in the division at the time.
“I feel that a Jaime Munguia – GGG fight in the near future can deliver a lot of action, can deliver a great fight, the fight of the year just based on their styles alone,” said De La Hoya to The Walkway To Fight Club.
“Jaime Munguia, a devastating puncher. He has a lot of heart. He has a great fan-friendly style that can only make it a great fight against Gennadiy Golovkin,” said De La Hoya.
Now that Munguia is fighting at 160, he’s had the opportunity to face Jermall Charlo and Demetrius Andrade, and he’s failed to take advantage.
That’s understandable coming from a fighter that is being groomed for a cash-out against Golovkin, but it’s still pathetic if that’s what the goal is for unbeaten Munguia.
De La Hoya isn’t helping Munguia by matching him against weak opposition for the last two years since he moved up to middleweight.
“We know Golovkin is one guy who never shies away from a challenge,” said De La Hoya.
“He goes in their forward, face-first, action-packed fights all the time. So we strongly feel that a Jaime Munguia vs. GGG fight will be epic for both guys,” said De La Hoya.
Rather than De La Hoya matching Munguia against the talented opposition at 160 like Janibek Alimkhanuly, Chris Eubank Jr, Demetrius Andrade, Jermall Charlo, or even Sergiy Derevyanchenko, he’s been fed these sublevel opponents:
- D’Mitrius Ballard
- Gabe Rosado
- Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan
- Tureano Johnson
- Kamil Szeremeta
Munguia’s fight last Saturday night on DAZN was against Ballard, who is NOT ranked in the top 15 by any of the four sanctioning bodies. Just why Golden Boy matched Munguia against a noncontender in Ballard is the magic question.
Munguia stopped Ballard in the third round at the Bullring at the Sea in Tijuana, Mexico.
