There stands a great chance that Bruno Surace’s undefeated record will be restored once an official ruling is made on Jaime Munguia’s positive drug test.
Just don’t expect the Frenchman to take a victory lap.
As reported by BoxingScene, Munguia, 45-2 (35 KOs), remains under investigation for the drug testing results surrounding their May 4 rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Munguia claimed a unanimous decision victory, six months after he was knocked out by France’s Surace, 26-1-2 (5 KOs), in the sixth round of their December 14 meeting in his hometown of Tijuana, Mexico.
The revenge-fueled feat by Munguia was immediately doused in controversy when it was learned that a collected sample returned adverse findings of exogenous testosterone. The unsealing and analysis of his “B” sample produced the same result.
Surace was generally silent on the subject until it became clear that Munguia is clearly at fault.
“I feel the need to speak up about recent revelations regarding Jaime Munguia's doping,” Surace said in a public statement made through his verified social media accounts. “First of all, I want to remind you that Munguia is a boxer I've long admired. He's a champion, a warrior, someone who made a mark on our sport. “When I gave him this rematch after my win in Tijuana, it wasn’t a simple choice: it was a walk of truth. I didn't want people to say I was lucky, it was an accident.
“I wanted to prove, once and for all, that I earned my place with my fists, my heart, and my work. During the whole preparation, I have put my life on the side. With my team ( , , )we worked like never before. We locked in this mission with total determination. Every day, every session, every pain had meaning: showing up 100% against one of the biggest names in boxing.”
Munguia will now have to appear before the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC), the presiding commission over the May 4 event in Riyadh.
There exists the very strong likelihood that the fight outcome will be changed to a No-Contest. Worse for Munguia is the punishment that is expected to come from the infraction. Whereas commissions in the United States are far too lenient when it comes to discipline for positive drug tests, the BBBofC caries a strict liability policy – meaning, athletes are responsible for what enters their system, unintentional or otherwise.
Meanwhile, Surace finds himself at a crossroad as he figures out his own next move.
The first fight with Munguia saw Surace move up from middleweight while on the heels of a 52-week layoff. He was decked early in their super middleweight clash intended as a hometown showcase for Munguia, who was well in the lead through five rounds.
It changed in an instant when Surace landed a monster right hand in the sixth round. Munguia hit the deck hard and was unable to gather his composure in time to avoid a stunning knockout defeat.
“I know this fight could change my life,” Surace told BoxingScene’s Tris Dixon at the time. “When I threw a punch, I kept it in mind that it could change my life, so I was 100 percent focused and motivated by that.”
Surace parlayed the career-best win into a lucrative payday from their rematch. It was originally targeted for April before talks fell apart. Plans were resurrected when Turki Alalshikh and the Riyadh Season group agreed to finance the fight, which was the co-feature to the Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez-William Scull undisputed super middleweight championship.
The initial win over Munguia saw Surace emerge as a consensus top ten contender. He dropped down towards the bottom rung following their rematch, though his previous placement could be restored once the fight outcome is overturned.
However, the damage is already done as far as he’s concerned.
“So yeah the fight [outcome] is annulled today,” noted Surace, though basing the comment on confirmation of Munguia’s drug test. “And even if the truth always comes out, that's not the outcome I came here for. That's not why I sacrificed everything. I can't rejoice in this situation because there's nothing to celebrate in it. It's sad for our sport. It is unfair to those who train with integrity. And it's painful for those who fight cleanly, honestly.
“Boxing is a tough sport. It asks for everything and sometimes gives little. But that's why we love it, too. How I feel today is great disappointment but also an even stronger desire to keep fighting for myself, for my team, for everyone who believes in fair boxing. We are now waiting for a sanction on the level of my disappointment to be passed by the competent authorities and I stand ready more than ever for what's next.”
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on and .