Jaime Munguia called out Caleb Plant and Edgar Berlanga after his tenth round knockout victory over Erik Bazinyan (32-1 23 KOs) in the main event last Friday night at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
(Credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank)
Munguia (44-1, 35 KOs) wants a big name to be ranked high and position himself for another world title challenge. Beating Plant or Plant would be an excellent way to rise to the top and get a rematch with unified super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez.
Former WBO junior middleweight champion Munguia also mentioned that he wants to fight #1 WBC ranked Christian Mbilli. However, he is coming off an injury from his recent fight against Sergiy Derevyanchenko, and apparently wants to challenge for a world title against Canelo next. Mbilli has already earned his world title shot. It wouldn’t make sense for him to risk that spot against Munguia.
Those two fighters will be risky for Munguia (44-1, 35 KOs), who struggled last night with Bazinyan’s jab and occasional flurries. Fighting the big puncher Berlanga or the skilled boxer Plant will be difficult for Munguia from what he showed against Bazinyan.
Plant mentioned that he wants to fight Munguia next after his recent win over Trevor McCumby on September 14th. It will be an excellent fight for the fans.
“There are great things coming up, big fights at 168 pounds. There’s Caleb Plant, Berlanga, Christian Mbilli. There are great battles, and we will also give great wars,” Munguia said when interviewed after his victory over Bazinyan.
Berlanga’s management is likely to drop Munguia’s offer because he is expected to take a rebound fight in New York or Puerto Rico in early 2025 to rebuild after his loss to Canelo on September 14.
Going from losing to Canelo in a penalty fight to a big punch like Munguia wouldn’t be a smart move for Berlanga.
Of the three fighters Munguia called out, Plant (23-2, 14 KOs) is the most realistic one to take him up on the offer. Caleb Plant needs a win like that to increase his chances of a lucrative rematch against Canelo. In 2021, former IBF super middleweight champion Plant was knocked out by Alvarez in the 11th round.
This loss for Plant makes it necessary for him to get a big win over a big name fighter like Munguia to strengthen his position for a rematch against Canelo. Plant’s recent win over the little-known McCumby wasn’t big enough to encourage Canelo to fight him again.
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