Mexican super middleweight star Jaime Munguia returned to the win column with an action-packed 10th-round TKO over the previously unbeaten Erik Bazinyan at the Desert Diamond Arna in Glendale, Arizona, on Friday. The official time was 2:36.
WATCH: Jaime Munguia vs. Erik Bazinyan, exclusively on ESPN+
Following an entertaining and competitive scrap, Munguia (44-1, 35 KOs) came out blazing in the tenth and went for the finish. A solid left hook hurt the Canadian fighter badly and forced him to the ropes where Munguia unloaded a powerful two-fisted burst that put his man down for the count.
“[Bazinyan] hits hard, but at no point did he hurt me,” said Munguia via translator during his post-fight interview with ESPN. “It was a fight where I had to be intelligent. We had to break him down with shots to the body and then we came out with everything and that’s how we got the knockout.”
JAIME MUNGUIA JUST DID THAT 😳 pic.twitter.com/No3kTAHfeW
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) September 21, 2024
The action was hard-hitting in round one and Bazinyan impressed, particularly with the right hand as a lead and as a counterpunch. However, Munguia responded well and momentarily shook his opponent with a blasting two-punch combination.
Smart boxing was the order of the day for both men for the next several rounds. It was Munguia on the front foot, moving his head and varying up the attacks, but he had to be patient. Bazinyan’s jab was very effective, he was moving well, and he found a nice rhythm while moving laterally.
In round six, there was a noticeable tactical switch by Munguia. He upped the pace, targeted the body more often, and turned his punches over with more ferocity. Bazinyan was stunned more than once and looked troubled for the first time in the fight.
The firefight continued into round seven with Munguia landing the best punch of the fight – a huge right to the point of the chin. Habitually, the Mexican warrior followed up with a multi-punch attack, which prompted his opponent to fight back hard and pound his chest in derision.
Bazinyan had real success in this fight and let his lands go throughout. However, Munguia was busier, more aggressive, and his flashy bursts would have impressed the judges. The Canadian posted a very good round in the ninth, but it was a round that Munguia took off.
The Mexican star was told in no uncertain terms to take command of the fight going into the tenth and he did just that.
Munguia suffered the first loss of an 11-year professional career in May when he was decked and outpointed by pound-for-pound great Canelo Alvarez. It was a learning curve for the 27-year-old pressure fighter who performed well against a vastly more experienced foe.
Following a two-fight stint with acclaimed trainer Freddie Roach, Munguia is now back with his old coach Erik Morales, who certainly knows a thing or two about overcoming adversity and achieving great things in boxing. Taking on an unbeaten fighter like Bazinyan highlights the confidence the pair have and there are no signs of slowing down.
“There are great fights at 168 pounds... there’s Caleb Plant, there’s Edgar Berlanga, there’s Christian Mbilli,” said Munguia before selecting his preference. “I would like to face off against Plant or Berlanga next year.”
Jaime Munguia vs. Erik Bazinyan fight card
- Jaime Munguia def. Erik Bazinyan via TKO 10 (2:36); Super Middleweights
- Richard Torrez Jr. def. Joey Dawejko via DQ 5 (2:02); Heavyweights
- Emiliano Vargas def. Larry Fryers via TKO 5 (1:23); Super Lightweights
- Charly Suarez def. Jorge Castaneda via TKO 3 (2:22); Super Featherweight
- DJ Zamora def. Gerardo Antonio Perez via UD 8; Lightweights
- Jorge Garcia Perez def. Ilias Essaoudi via KO 1 (0:45); Super Welterweights
- Steven Navarro def. Oscar Arroyo via TKO 3 (2:35); Super Flyweights
- Sebastian Hernandez def. Yonfrez Parejo via TKO 5; Super Bantamweights
- Ricardo Fernandez def. Alan Garcia via KO 5 (2:25); Lightweights
