Eric Bazinyan (right) lands a hard right on Shakeel Phinn – Photo by Vincent Ethier
Erik Bazinyan has been a contender in the super middleweight division for the past few years.
More recently, however, he has struggled to impress, coming to the point where he was tied last time out by Shakeel Phinn. Not exactly the type of result you expect from someone with world title aspirations.
But that is now in the past. Bazinyan will step up in class against former junior middleweight titlist Jaime Munguia on Friday at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
“I needed a new motivation to push and stay in the fight and be more committed and focused, and this is a fight like that,” Bazinyan (32-0-1, 23 knockouts) told The Ring said. “For my last fight I was sick, and wasn’t 100 percent that night. But whatever, I never said anything, even after the fight.
“It’s motivation. This is the best opportunity, this is the chance to get my name out there and let people know who I am and what I can do. That’s why it motivates me to do something big and put my name out there.”
Opposing Munguia, who himself is looking to get his career back on track after dropping a spirited decision to Ring and then-undisputed super middleweight titleholder Canelo Alvarez in May, will present his toughest test yet.
Jaime Munguia – Photo by Golden Boy/Cris Esqueda
“It’s going to be a very good fight,” he said. “This is the best opportunity I have, so I’m more ready than ever. I have a great chance to shock the world.”
Presumably, Bazinyan, rated No. 6 by The Ring at super middleweightbecame comfortable fighting in the Quebec region.
This time he won’t have any of the comforts of being the home fighter. For this fight he will be on the opposite side of the equation and is a substantial 6/1 bet.
“It’s the first time I’m the underdog – (but) it doesn’t matter,” said the 29-year-old Armenian-born fighter, who now lives in Montreal. “Once the fight starts, it doesn’t matter, it’s a ring.
“It’s in our game plan, but I can be sure it’s going to be a huge upset.”
For him to overcome those odds, he will need to use his height and reach to keep Munguia honest and likely earn his respect and stifle the home crowd, who will be out for blood.
Erik Bazinyan – Photo by Vincent Ethier/Eye of The Tiger
“He’s a very tough fighter,” Bazinyan admitted. “He throws a lot of punches and he’s very tough, but to me he’s beatable and he gets hit a lot. I have all the tools to win this battle.”
Bazinyan, as usual, trained in Montreal under the watchful eye of Marc Ramsay and his team. He has been in the gym since the May stalemate with Phinn and has sparred regularly with undefeated British fighter Mark Jeffers.
“It’s going to be a great experience for me,” he said. “We’ve been training really hard, I’m ready to just go out there and do my thing and shock the world. I expect to win.”
Camille Estephan of Eye of The Tiger welcomes the big event for his fighter.
“Erik is going to deliver a war to Munguia,” said the EOTT president. “His camp is on the mark and he will be ready on September 20.
“This is an opportunity he has worked for all his life. I am confident that he will raise his game and deliver a performance that will resonate throughout the boxing world.”
Munguia, rated No. 2 by The Ring at 168 poundscame out of nowhere to knock out Sadam Ali (TKO 4) and lift the WBO junior middleweight title. He made five saves, notably defeating Liam Smith (UD 12). The power-punching Mexican then moved up to middleweight and further established himself by beating the experienced trio of Gary O’Sullivan (TKO 11), Kamil Szeremeta (RTD 6) and Gabriel Rosado (UD 12).
The 27-year-old had talks to face WBC titlist Jermall Charlo which ended in a frustrating stalemate. Weight issues saw him move up and outlast Sergiy Dereyanchenko (UD 12) in a classic, then impressively defeat John Ryder (TKO 9). He was dropped and lost his undefeated record against Canelo (UD 12).
It will be interesting to see how Munguia recovers from the loss to Canelo, and if Bazinyan can expand now, he is in the big leagues. Whoever answers that question in the affirmative will go a long way in determining the outcome.
I favor the more experienced Munguia to win on points but Bazinyan has fought up and down to the level of opposition and if he can box to the best of his ability an upset is not out of the question .
Munguia-Bazinyan, plus undercard bouts, will be shown on ESPN at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m.
Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at (email protected).
