By Mark Eisner: Former WBO junior middleweight champion Jaime Munguia (41-0, 33 KOs) preserved his unbeaten record with a third round knockout win over journeyman Gonzalo Gaston Coria (21-6, 8 KOs0 on Saturday night at the Arena Astro in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Munguia knocked Coria down twice, dropping him once in round two and a final time in the third.
The fight was halted after Munguia knocked Coria down from a left to the body. Coria then looked to the corner and shook his head as if to say he wasn’t going to get up.
In round two, Munguia dropped Coria with a right to the head after the Argentinian ran into a shot while attempting to clinch.
With the victory, Munguia says he plans on challenging for a world title at middleweight in 2023, be it against IBF/WBA champion Gennadiy Golovkin or WBC champion Jermall Charlo.
Undercard results
- Super flyweight Argi Cortes (24-3-2, 10 KOs) edged Eric Lopez (16-7-2, 10 KOs) by 10 round split decision. The scores were Cortes 95-92, 95-92, and 96-91 Lopez.
- Featherweight Benito Sanchez (15-6-3, 3 KOs) fought to a 10 round draw against Jose Garcia (7-0-3, 6 KOs). The scores were 95-95, 95-95, and 95-95.
- Light welterweight Diego Torres (16-0, 15 KO) destroyed Hector Morales (6-2-1, 1 KO) by a fourth round knockout.
Preview: If Jamie Munguia can stop Coria faster than Janibek did, that would be a feather in his cap. It’s important that Munguia looked sharp because he wants to show the fans that he’s primed to challenge for a world title in 2023 against middleweight champions Jermall Charlo and Gennadiy Golovkin.
The 26-year-old Munguia has the tough power and the skills to defeat Golovkin and Charlo. He just needs the chance to fight them.
Some boxing fans have been critical of Munguia for failing to challenge WBO champions Demetrius Andrade and Janibek for their belts, but he chose not to.
Golden Boy attempted to set up a fight with WBC champion Jermall this year, but it reportedly didn’t happen because of network issues. It’s too bad because Munguia would have had an excellent shot at dethroning the unbeaten Charlo.
In the chief support bout, the formidable super flyweight contender Argi Cortes (23-3-2, 10 KO) battles Erick Lopez (16-6-2, 10 KO) in a 10 round bout.
Last September, Cortes gave Juan Francisco Estrada all he could handle in a losing effort. Some boxing fans that Cortes did enough to deserve the victory.
The judges felt differently, giving it to the popular Mexican star. Nevertheless, Cortes showed that Estrada is wearing down and not the same fighter that beat Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez by a questionable 12-round decision in 2021.
“I am very excited to be in Guadalajara,” said Munguia. “We are ready to bring a show to the fans here. In boxing, there are no simple opponents, and Coria is no exception. We hope that once we pass this hurdle, we are set for a big fight in 2023.”
Always entertaining Jaime Munguia will be fighting tonight in a middleweight 10-round affair against Gonzalo Coria in the headliner on DAZN at 7:00 p.m. ET at the Arena Astros in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The former WBO junior middleweight champion Munguia (40-0, 32 KOs) will get the opportunity to showcase his skills against Coria (21-5, 8 KOs), who has been around the block a few times, losing to Janibek
Alimkhanuly before he was a champion a couple of years ag