Jaime Munguia plans to face veteran Ronald Gavril on December 14 at the Hot Stadium in Tijuana, Mexico. This 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) will fight Gavril (25-3, 20 KOs) on December 14.
Fans had hoped that Munguia would next face either Edgar Berlanga or Caleb Plant, as those were far more attractive fights. The reaction on social media to the news of Munguia potentially fighting Gavril later was negative.
People see this fight as Munguia returning to his old pattern of fighting lower-level opposition in record-padding fights. Most of Munguia’s past wins have come against weaker fighters and not the stellar competition one would assume when looking at his 44-1 record.
On a positive note. Munguia is busy because this is his third fight in 2024, and that 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 wanted 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 promotes Munguia now, and they can play it safe with him, choosing to match weaker opposition, hoping that Canelo will eventually pick him for a rematch.
Gavril has won his last seven fights since losing to David Benavidez by a twelve-round unanimous decision in their rematch in February 2018.
In their previous fight, Benavidez edged Gavril, winning 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.
