Jaime Munguia in shreds after shock Surace KO loss
Plus, MJ cleans up in Monte-Carlo, Inoue fight date moved and Alexis Rocha draws
Jaime Munguia was no doubt taking a long, hard look at himself in the mirror on Sunday morning, wondering just what went wrong during his big Tijauana homecoming. The stage was set, Mexican fans packed in and Munguia was looking forward to a bright 2025.
Image Credit: The Tennessean
French opponent Bruno Surace had plans and ambitions of his own. Including not being a festival stepping stone. Munguia started strongly, setting the pace, bounding in and out of range as he does, like an excitable puppy.
Surace’s jab and right hand were working nicely, but when Munguia introduced him to the canvas in round two, it seemed the end was predictably nigh.
Not so. Surace was finding pockets of success, catching Munguia, who held his hands low. The Mexican had only tasted defeat once in his career. That came earlier in the year at the fabulous fists of countryman Canelo Alvarez.
After a bounceback win over unbeaten Armenian Erik Bazinyan, normal service was being resumed until round six when Surace sent out a few warning sign right hands that Munguia failed to heed. Suddenly, in that same round, a jab was followed by a wrist-snapper of a right and Munguia was left flat on his back.
The fans were stunned. The ESPN+ commentary team was stunned. The referee seemed stunned that he was doling out a fatal count that was about to send Munguia’s career into flux. Counted out, head bowed, there were no complaints to be made. Surace fell to his knees, a worthy winner by knockout.
Surace will get his moment in the sun again next year. They’ll rematch, and Munguia (if defensively responsible) will probably win and move on towards clashes with the likes of Christian Mbilli, Diego Pacheco or Edgar Berlanga.
All of those future foes will have been watching this with great interest. Munguia was always a little flawed; only he knew how to get the job done. Surace made him look open and crackable.
Murodjon Akhmadaliev wins by KO in Monte-Carlo, then calls out Naoya Inoue
Over in Monte-Carlo, Eddie Hearn and company dusted off their tuxedos, polished their bow ties and enjoyed a five-fight card that delivered fair amounts of action and drama.
In the main event, Murodjon Akhmadaliev made surprisingly light work of Ricardo Espinoza Franco, dropping the Mexican three times in round three before the referee called it off.
The man known as ‘MJ’ proceeded to call out Naoya Inoue for a straightener after Inoue deals with mandatory challenger Sam Goodman (more on that shortly).
In the chief supporting contest to MJ, Cheavon Clarke lost to Leonardo Mosquea by split decision. Mosquea came out swinging, floored Clarke heavily in round one and was expected to fade.
He did briefly before turning the heat back up late on to secure the European cruiserweight title. Surace’s knockout of Jaime Munguia and Kevin Lele Sadjo’s knockout win in the Bahamas made it a good weekend for France.
Maxi Hughes showed there’s life in the old dog yet by cutting and dominating Ireland’s Gary Cully over 10 rounds. The shutout cards were probably accurate, but it was one of the most competitively one-sided fights you’ll see.
Beatriz Ferreira, aka ‘The Beast’, beat lumps out of Licia Bourdesa for 10 rounds. The French woman was game but should’ve been stopped.
Alexis Rocha draws with Raul Curiel in California
In what was a fun 12-round brawl between two world-level aspirants, title bridesmaid Alexis Rocha showed some solid boxing fundamentals during his majority draw with Raul Curiel.
Whenever ‘Lex’ -who’s had a tough paper round at age 27- opted to trade or was dragged into warfare, Curiel was allowed to land shots and win rounds. Fight of the Year calls are a little strong, but it was fun and both men seemed happy to run it back.
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Naoya Inoue fight date rescheduled following Sam Goodman’s cut
News broke late on Friday evening that Australian super-bantamweight title challenger Sam Goodman had suffered a cut in sparring and was unable to fulfil his obligation to fight Inoue on December 24.
The clash for all of Inoue’s undisputed belts in Japan has now been shelved until January 24, which is unfortunate for both men but at least keeps the ball rolling four weeks later.
Inoue has been linked with Junto Nakatani, Murodjon Akhmadaliev (WBA mandatory) and Alan Picasso, who won by knockout on the Rocha-Curiel undercard. It all depends on a smooth route through Goodman, of course.
About Steve…
Current existence: Online editor at Boxing News Magazine.
Previous lives: Author (8 books), podcaster (500+ eps), scriptwriter for Motivedia channel, newspaper journalist, copywriter & educator.
Contact: stevenwellings1982@gmail.com