Jamie Munguia vs Bruno Surace - ESPN+

[edpboxing]

Live at 8 PM CT

44-1 Jamie Munguia vs 25-0-2 Bruno Surace

30-0-1 Alan Picasso vs 26-2-2 Isaac Sackey

18-0 Carlos Garcia Castillo vs 18-4-1 Juan Ramon Guzman

31-4 Jorge Garcia vs 20-3 Kudratillo Abdukakhorov

17-0 Sebastian Hernandez vs 13-4 Sergio Sosa

10-2-1 Cristihan Islas vs 10-1 Juan Anacona

[J.C. Superstar]

At least Saturday is stacked with a lot of other cards to begin with. Picasso, Garcia and Hernandez being part of the card to showcase as future contenders at their respective divisions is also good for them.

I like Jaime Munguia’s activity. I don’t like this opponent specifically because Bruno Surace (25-0, 4 KOs) is a unknown quantity at a division below, but I rather see a fighter stay busy than sitting out and doing nothing. 4 fights (2-1 so far) in 2024 having fought Ryder, Canelo and Bazinyan is a pretty solid run.

Seen highlights of Bruno, he actually displays good technical skills and is aggressive fighter despite his low knockout ratio, Sarace also tends to be physically bigger than most fighters he has faced so his lack of power and lack of size advantage might be his undoing in this bout considering his aggressive style is well tailored for Munguia, his biggest wins are not exceptional at all, with wins over Diego Natchoo (21-2-4) and Jhon Jader Obregon (11-0).

[Joseph]

I had no idea Munguia was fighting this guy. He's not bad, but I was under the impression that Jaime was fighting Gavril. What happened there?

[edpboxing]

I had no idea Munguia was fighting this guy. He's not bad, but I was under the impression that Jaime was fighting Gavril. What happened there?

I heard Gavril pulled out, but honestly have no idea why or if that’s true. He fought at the end of November so he obviously wasn’t injured.

[J.C. Superstar]

I had no idea Munguia was fighting this guy. He's not bad, but I was under the impression that Jaime was fighting Gavril. What happened there?

Gavril contends at light heavyweight and likely is unable to cut down to 168 considering his age (38 years old). Hope Munguia vs M'billi comes to fruition though in 2025. Top Rank is heading that direction from what I read at least.

[garfios]

At least Saturday is stacked with a lot of other cards to begin with. Picasso, Garcia and Hernandez being part of the card to showcase as future contenders at their respective divisions is also good for them.

I like Jaime Munguia’s activity. I don’t like this opponent specifically because Bruno Surace (25-0, 4 KOs) is a unknown quantity at a division below, but I rather see a fighter stay busy than sitting out and doing nothing. 4 fights (2-1 so far) in 2024 having fought Ryder, Canelo and Bazinyan is a pretty solid run.

Seen highlights of Bruno, he actually displays good technical skills and is aggressive fighter despite his low knockout ratio, Sarace also tends to be physically bigger than most fighters he has faced so his lack of power and lack of size advantage might be his undoing in this bout considering his aggressive style is well tailored for Munguia, his biggest wins are not exceptional at all, with wins over Diego Natchoo (21-2-4) and Jhon Jader Obregon (11-0).

JC, this type of opponents are a slap on the face to his fans, this is not about staying busy but a non risk fight. He can choose whoever he wants and any fighter will say YES, this is the same path GBP took with canelo. Why doesn't he fights mbilli or Iglesias? And after the fight he's going to be ready for canelo. They should be ashamed just by announcing this fight.

[Blond Beast]

Don’t underestimate the French. Jaime is must see tv and I’d watch him pound a telephone pole. I agree that it’s better than him sitting out and getting rusty. If the fight is more exciting than most expect it becomes a bit harder to judge or what to think about the choice to make this fight. Munguia is one of those guys that all you have to say is “Jaime is fighting.,,” and that’s enough to want to watch.

[J.C. Superstar]

JC, this type of opponents are a slap on the face to his fans, this is not about staying busy but a non risk fight. He can choose whoever he wants and any fighter will say YES, this is the same path GBP took with canelo. Why doesn't he fights mbilli or Iglesias? And after the fight he's going to be ready for canelo. They should be ashamed just by announcing this fight.

This is a stay busy bout for Munguia to have some exposure rather than a challenge that will help Munguia climb the rankings, an exhibition performance against an undefeated Journeyman in front of 40,000 people in "Estadio Caliente in Tijuana, Mexico". He already fought Ryder (Gatekeeper), Canelo (Unified Champion) and Bazinyan (Ranked Contender WBO #2, WBA #4, WBC #7, IBF #7 Erik Bazinyan). Don't think this fight will be treated as a significant bout, not even compared against a diminished Ryder.

Cristian M'billi was in talks already against Pacheco for the last month or two, until team Benavidez and Eddie Hearn opted for Steven Nelson for his development over McCumby and M'Billi. It's not like the two could be in talks when Munguia was in talks against Gavril aswell for Decemeber. It was announced Wednesday that Christian Mbilli and Jaime Munguia should fight for the WBC’s interim super middleweight title in 2025. It will be down to Top Rank and Eye of the Tiger to work out a deal, which is pretty likely considering both collaborate pretty often to show fights from Canada to ESPN and both fighters had called each other out after winning their latest bout.

Also have to take into account that Iglesias has just recently climbed the rankings just becoming allegeable to fight for a title shot for the IBF (#7) and WBC (#5), he isn't as well known as the rest of the Super Middleweights outside of the hardcore boxing fans that seen his dominant performances against Agbeko and Ivanov. He might be better than most Super Middleweights, but with his 30-50K viewership, he isn't as well known while not fighting under a specific big promotion.

[garfios]

This is a stay busy bout for Munguia to have some exposure rather than a challenge that will help Munguia climb the rankings, an exhibition performance against an undefeated Journeyman in front of 40,000 people in "Estadio Caliente in Tijuana, Mexico". He already fought Ryder (Gatekeeper), Canelo (Unified Champion) and Bazinyan (Ranked Contender WBO #2, WBA #4, WBC #7, IBF #7 Erik Bazinyan). Don't think this fight will be treated as a significant bout, not even compared against a diminished Ryder.

Cristian M'billi was in talks already against Pacheco for the last month or two, until team Benavidez and Eddie Hearn opted for Steven Nelson for his development over McCumby and M'Billi. It's not like the two could be in talks when Munguia was in talks against Gavril aswell for Decemeber. It was announced Wednesday that Christian Mbilli and Jaime Munguia should fight for the WBC’s interim super middleweight title in 2025. It will be down to Top Rank and Eye of the Tiger to work out a deal, which is pretty likely considering both collaborate pretty often to show fights from Canada to ESPN and both fighters had called each other out after winning their latest bout.

Also have to take into account that Iglesias has just recently climbed the rankings just becoming allegeable to fight for a title shot for the IBF (#7) and WBC (#5), he isn't as well known as the rest of the Super Middleweights outside of the hardcore boxing fans that seen his dominant performances against Agbeko and Ivanov. He might be better than most Super Middleweights, but with his 30-50K viewership, he isn't as well known while not fighting under a specific big promotion.

Well, I guess you're right about an stay busy fight. My complaint with this kid is his resume is full of staying busy fights, win o lose you don't see a stu in his resume, they ordered mbilli vs munguia fight, I don't see any inclination ftom any of the parties to make it happen, the division is in an stand still. canelo needs to go. And yes, Iglesias is going to be avoided like the plague, even if he wins a major belt the guys like munguia, mbilli and berlanga are not going to be jumping in the ring with him.

[J.C. Superstar]

Well, I guess you're right about an stay busy fight. My complaint with this kid is his resume is full of staying busy fights, win o lose you don't see a stu in his resume, they ordered mbilli vs munguia fight, I don't see any inclination ftom any of the parties to make it happen, the division is in an stand still. canelo needs to go. And yes, Iglesias is going to be avoided like the plague, even if he wins a major belt the guys like munguia, mbilli and berlanga are not going to be jumping in the ring with him.

Personally I quite disliked how he was being maneuvered at Middleweight, which was a pretty lackluster division to begin with. But at least he didn't let his career just rot away by not fighting even if it was against unknown unnoteworthy opponents. Munguia is 28 years old, has a solid fan base backing (1.4 Million and 300 K followers in the Media) and think his ceiling is at 168. Tim Tszyu didn't get recognition until he was the same age. Too bad he got overwhelming lost to Bakhram recently.

As for Canelo, he is holding the division hostage with him holding the majority the belts with quite a low activity rate, he is also choosing unworthy fighters for a title shot after he lost to Bivol. Heck, I like Jaime but he barely had few bouts at 168 and they were all against lesser opposition than the opponents Benavidez and Morrell have beaten. Canelo is holding the division at a standstill like Spence and Crawford did at 147, but he is not even making the few fights he has worth it. Every sanctioning body like the WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO he makes a decision and every fighter at 168 avoiding taking risks to not lose a title shot opportunity. Be nice if he could just say he wants fight who he wants, and give up the belts. Be a prize fighter like Gervonta Davis Or move up, but he is treating his career as a business than a sport now, he will let the division rot if it means he is getting compensated for fighting lesser opposition like Eubank Jr or a Jermell Charlo moving up two divisions.

As for Iglesias, might be the case unless he were to win a title, but knowing Canelo that could take years unless one of them move up.