Jaime Munguia will return to the ring on September 20th with a new promoter.
In a surprising twist, ESPN reported that the Mexican super middleweight boxer has signed a multi-fight co-promotion deal with Top Rank and Zanfer is severing ties with Golden Boy Promotions.
Munguia, who was last defeated by compatriot and undisputed 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez, is reportedly set to face Erik Bajinyan on September 20. The team change will also see the 27-year-old Munguia no longer working with Freddie Roach, instead reuniting with trainer and former four-division world champion Erik Morales.
The move would be a major blow for Golden Boy Promotions and his promoter Oscar De La Hoya, who have worked with Munguia since his first world title fight in May 2018. Munguia's fourth-round win over Sadam Ali earned him the WBO super welterweight championship, the only world title of Munguia's career, which saw him compete at middleweight from 2020-2022.
Another highlight of Munguia's career was his hard-fought victory over Sergey Derevyanchenko 13 months ago. The Tijuana-born boxer has since added another win to his tally, beating John Ryder in nine rounds in January.
Munguia's only loss came in May against fellow Mexican Canelo, when Munguia lost to the unbeaten champion via unanimous decision in the fourth round.
Top Rank made another move at super middleweight earlier this year, signing a co-promotion deal with top contender Christian Mbili. The Cameroon-born Frenchman stopped Britain's Mark Heffron in one round in May and will return to the ring against Derevyanchenko on August 17. If Mbili and Munguia overcome their upcoming challenges, we could see a clash between the two in late 2024 or 2025.
