A former WBO title holder at 154lbs, unbeaten Mexican Jaime Munguia will continue his middleweight journey against D’Mitrius Ballard on April 23, with a long-mooted clash against IBF champion Gennady Golovkin still an intriguing possibility down the line.
Munguia (36-0, 29 KOs) faces Maryland’s unbeaten Ballard (20-0-1, 13 KOs and 2 NC) after original opponent Maciej Sulecki withdrew through injury. In 2018, Golovkin agreed to face the then-untested Mexican but the Nevada State Athletic Commission blocked that fight. Munguia’s subsequent form shows he belongs at that level. But the 24-year-old, who is trained by Mexican great Erik Morales, remains keen to improve.
“In this sport you never finish learning. Every workout, every fight is a new experience, so we keep learning, working. I’m still very young and I can keep getting better and that gives me confidence that we’re going to get in a better position than the last fight,” Munguia told Jorge Ebro of El Nuevo Herald.
“I see things positively [for me at middleweight]. I think there’s a great future for me in this division. There are very good fighters, great opponents. I wish I was fighting for a world championship maybe this year or next year, but we’re going to try to keep progressing.
“Lucky or unfortunately, the fight with Golovkin hasn’t happened. I’m not really desperate for that fight. Obviously, if it ever occurs, it would be an honour for me to face him. He is no longer the same [fighter at 39 years old], but I have great respect for him. He’s a great fighter and, as I’ve always said, we have to be very careful when we fight him.”
Feature image: (L) Matchroom Boxing (R) Golden Boy/Tom Hogan