This Saturday, an ambitious Jaime Munguia (41-0, 32 KOs) will step into the ring against Sergiy Derevyanchenko (14-4, 10 KOs) at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. The unbeaten Munguia, confident in his abilities, predicts a knockout victory over Derevyanchenko, who has lost three of his last four fights. This bout signifies a step up for Munguia from his usual opposition since his victory over Liam Smith in 2018.
The buzz surrounding the fight has been unusually quiet, hinting at a potential mistake on Golden Boy’s part for matching Munguia with Derevyanchenko, who has been struggling in recent bouts. For Munguia to secure more attention, the consensus seems to point towards him taking on tougher contenders such as Carlos Adames, Janibek Alimkhanuly, and Demetrius Andrade. At the final press conference, Munguia towered over Derevyanchenko, sparking comments about the potential weight class disparity for their bout set at 168 lbs.
With Munguia’s move to 168, speculation rises that he aims to secure a fight against undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. However, the likelihood of such a matchup remains in doubt, primarily due to Canelo’s potential unwillingness to favor his former promoters at Golden Boy. Munguia has also expressed his interest in fighting against the likes of Jermall Charlo or David Benavidez, though most believe his true target to be Canelo and Gennadiy Golovkin.
Some boxing fans suggest Golden Boy is attempting to preserve Munguia’s unbeaten record, reminiscent of Floyd Mayweather Jr’s illustrious 50-0 record. Critics argue that the softer matchups for Munguia have been an attempt to bolster his record without significantly testing his abilities. If Munguia continues at his current pace, he could potentially eclipse Mayweather’s record within four years, adding a further layer of a notable career. Whether these speculations come to fruition remains to be seen, but the anticipation for this weekend’s fight continues to build.
Image Credit: Sky Sports