Jaime Munguia is reportedly planning to meet veteran Ronald Gavril on December 14th at the Stadium Hot in Tijuana, Mexico. It will be a quick turnaround for former WBO junior middleweight champion Munguia, who stopped Erik Bazinyan in the tenth round on September 20.
Salvador Rodriguez of ESPN Knockout reports that Munguia (44-1, 35 KOs) fights Gavril (25-3, 20 KOs) for December 14th.
Fans were hoping that Munguia would face Edgar Berlanga or Caleb Plant next, as those were far more enticing fights. The reaction on social media to the news of Munguia possibly fighting Gavril next was negative.
People see this fight as Munguia returning to his old pattern of lower level opposition in record-setting fights. Most of Munguia’s previous wins have come against weaker fighters and not the excellent competition one would assume when looking at his 44-1 record.
On a positive note. Munguia is staying busy as this is his third fight in 2024, and it could help him climb the rankings. He lost to undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez via a 12-round unanimous decision on May 4 and made life-changing money in that fight. Munguia wants a rematch to get a second payday.
To get a second fight against Canelo, Munguia will have to beat at least two good contenders, such as Christian Mbilli and Caleb Plant. Top Rank is promoting Munguia now, and they can play it safe with him, choosing to match him against weaker opposition, hoping that Canelo will eventually pick him for a rematch.
Gavril has won his last seven fights since losing to David Benavidez via twelve round unanimous decision in their February 2018 rematch.
In their previous fight, Benavidez battered Gavril and won a 12-round split decision in September 2017. In that fight, an exhausted Benavidez was knocked down in the twelfth round.
Gavril gave Benavidez a lot of trouble in the contest, but that was seven years ago, and he’s not the same fighter. None of Gavril’s last seven wins have come against notable opposition, and he’s not young at 38.
