This Saturday, December 14, Top Rank Boxing brings us a super middleweight clash live from Estadio Caliente in Tijuana, Mexico. Hometown hero Jaime Munguia faces France’s unbeaten Bruno Surace in a 10-round main event live on ESPN+ at 9pm ET/6pm PT.
Let’s cut to it. Munguia (44-1, 35 KOs) is on a redemption arc after her 2024 was as bumpy as a Tijuana back road. Sure, he kicked off the year with a ninth-round demolition of John Ryder, but then came May’s Canelo Alvarez fight — a big-ticket bout where Munguia hit the canvas and walked away with a unanimous decision loss. Credit where it’s due, he bounced back in September with a 10th-round knockout of Erik Bazinyan, but let’s face it: Bazinyan wasn’t exactly the stuff of nightmares.
Then there’s Bruno Surace (25-0-2, 4 KOs). The Frenchman may be undefeated, but with only four knockouts, he doesn’t exactly scare the heavy hitters. Surace’s claim to fame? Milos Jankovic and Jhon Jader Obregon beat. WHO? Exactly. This fight is Surace’s first big leap onto the international stage. Can it handle the heat, or will it fold faster than a cheap lawn chair?
Although Munguia is the clear favorite, this match is not without intrigue. It’s a chance for Surace to prove he’s more than an undefeated record padded with soft touches. For Munguia, it’s about keeping his name relevant and perhaps landing another huge fight in 2025.
As for the ESPN+ telecast, the irony of calling it a “super middleweight showdown” is not lost on us. But hey, maybe Munguia will land another knockout, or maybe Surace will shock us all – stranger things have happened.
Key details:
- Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024
- Time: 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT
- Location: Caliente Stadium, Tijuana, Mexico
- Live on: Live on ESPN+
Fighter profiles
Jaime Munguia (44-1, 35 KOs)
- Age: 28
- Hometown: Tijuana, Mexico
- Achievements: Former junior middleweight world champion.
- Recent Fights:
- Win – KO vs. John Ryder (Jan 2024).
- Loss – UD vs. Canelo Alvarez (May 2024).
- Win – KO vs. Erik Bazinyan (Sep 2024).
- Key Strengths: Power boost, hometown support, experience in big fights.
Bruno Surace (25-0-2, 4 KOs)
- Age: 26
- Hometown: France
- Achievements: Unbeaten record, step on the international stage.
- Recent Fights:
- Win – UD vs. Milos Jankovic (May 2023).
- Win – YOU vs. Jhon Jader Obregon (Dec 2023).
- Key Strengths: Discipline, strong fundamentals, undefeated confidence.
- Key weakness: Lack of knockout power.
