Jaime Munguia is penciled to return to the ring in the next couple of months.
It will include a familiar face back in his corner.
The Ring has learned that Munguia (43-1, 34 knockouts) is targeted to headline a Golden Boy Promotions card in September. A firm date or opponent has yet to be established for what would be his second fight of the year.
“That’s one of the options on the table for (Jaime’s) return,” Golden Boy president Eric Gomez recently told The Ring. “We’re still working on things.”
Munguia is co-promoted by Golden Boy and Zanfer Promotions.
Tijuana’s Munguia last fought on May 4, when he lost to Ring/undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs).
The bout marked his first career defeat, which—directly or otherwise—ultimately resulted in a change of trainers. Munguia, 27, will return to Hall of Fame former four-division titlist and Tijuana legend Erik Morales.
Freddie Roach manned Munguia’s corner for his lone career defeat versus Alvarez and his Jan. 27 knockout win over John Ryder.
One name being floated as a potential opponent is unbeaten Erik Bazinyan. ESPN’s Salvador Rodriguez was the first to report Munguia’s return to the ring and Bazinyan as a possible opponent.
Such a fight would put Ring Top 10 contenders. Munguia and Bazinyan are rated No. 4 and 8, respectively, by The Ring.
Bazinyan is promoted by Eye of The Tiger Management in Canada.
Munguia defeated Sergiy Derevyanchenko by unanimous decision last June 10 in the 2023 Fight of the Year. It was a close back-and-forth fight throughout. Munguia dropped Derevyanchenko to the canvas with a body shot in the final round. It provided the margin of victory on the scorecards in their instant classic.
Bazinyan (32-0-1, 23 KOs), originally from Yerevan, Armenia and now resides in Laval, Canada, fought two days prior to Munguia’s last outing. It was equally unsatisfying, as he struggled in a split decision draw versus Shakeel Phinn on May 2. The 29-year-old fights under the Eye of the Tiger Management banner.
Munguia previously held WBO world junior middleweight title from May 2018 through Dec. 2019. He made five successful defenses in a 14 month span as one of the sport’s most active titleholders.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at santio89@yahoo.com
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