Jaime Munguia will return to the ring with a new promoter and an old trainer in a familiar region.
The Ring has learned that Tijuana’s Munguia has entered a co-promotional pact with Top Rank, though both sides have declined comment on the matter. The union will be consummated on Sept. 20, when the former WBO junior middleweight titlist will face unbeaten Erik Bazinyan.
A location was not confirmed, though sources inform The Ring that it will land at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
ESPN Deportes’ Salvador ‘Chava’ Rodriguez first reported Munguia’s signing with Top Rank.
Munguia (43-1, 34 knockouts) fights in the greater Phoenix area for the second time in 2024. He defeated England’s John Ryder atop a Jan. 27 DAZN show from Footprint Center, home to the NBA’s Phoenix Suns.
It will mark the third fight of the year for Munguia, The Ring’s No. 4-rated super middleweight. Back along for the ride as head trainer is Hall of Fame former four-division titlist Erik Morales. The pair of top Tijuana talents reunited after a two-fight separation. Munguia worked with Freddie Roach for the win over Ryder and defeat to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) on May 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
His Top Rank debut will also include career-long promoter Zanfer Boxing. Golden Boy Promotions has worked with Munguia—officially otherwise—in a co-promotional arrangement since Dec. 2017.
Bazinyan (32-0-1, 23 KOs), an Armenian based in Laval, Canada, is the Ring’s No. 8-rated super middleweight. The 29-year-old contender most recently fought to an eight-round draw with Shakeel Phinn on May 2 in Montreal.
Munguia first gained notoriety as a suggested opponent for then-unbeaten and unified middleweight titlist Gennadiy Golovkin (42-2-1, 37 KOs) in May 2018. Golovkin was in need of an opponent when Alvarez was suspended after he tested positive for Clenbuterol. Munguia was 21 and considered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission to be too green for the assignment.
The rejection opened the door for Munguia’s first career title fight, anyway.
He went on to face Sadam Ali, whom Munguia slaughtered inside of four rounds to win the WBO 154-pound title. Five successful defenses followed, all in a span of just 14 months, before he moved up to middleweight in 2020.
Munguia never made it to a major title fight at 160, which he outgrew before he eventually settled in at super middleweight.
He emerged as a top contender following his 2023 Fight of the Year-honored decision win over Sergiy Derevyanchenko (15-5, 10 KOs) last June. The status was cemented in his stoppage win over Ryder (32-7, 18 KOs), which led to a dream all-Mexico showdown with Alvarez.
Munguia suffered his first career defeat in their May 4 clash. Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) presented the event, though Golden Boy was still involved despite its deal having expired with Munguia. The arrangement led to DAZN’s inclusion as well, as the streaming platform also carried the Prime Video Pay-Per-View card.
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The post Jaime Munguia Signs With Top Rank, Will Face Erik Bazinyan On Sept. 20 In Glendale, Arizona appeared first on The Ring.
