The Plaza Monumental in Tijuana, Mexico is the setting this Saturday night, as home favourite Jaime Munguia defends his WBO Intercontinental middleweight title against the unbeaten D’Mitrius Ballard over 12 rounds.
DAZN is the place to watch the action unfold between Munguia and Ballard.
Munguia (38-0, 30 KOs) has been patiently waiting for a world title shot at 160 pounds, after ruling as a WBO champion at super welterweight.
The 25-year-old announced himself to the wider world by winning the world title in May 2018, wiping out Sadam Ali in four rounds, and he made five defences before outgrowing the weight.
He made his middleweight debut in January 2020, halting Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan in eleven, and the undefeated Mexican has had to settle for lower level opposition at his new weight, with sixth round retirement wins over Tureano Johnson and Kamil Szeremeta.
His last outing came in November 2021, where he clearly outscored the tough as nails Gabriel Rosado.
Current WBO champion, Demetrius Andrade is expected to move up in weight and face Zach Parker in an interim WBO title clash, so Munguia may be on the verge of a title shot, but must overcome Ballard (21-0-1, 13 KOs) in his first contest in Mexico since April 2019.
The Maryland native is unproven, and has never been the championship distance, although he has competed ten rounds on four occasions. The only blot on his record came in December 2019, when he was held to a draw by Yamaguchi Falcao for the vacant NABF belt.
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Ballard, 28, took nearly two years out, and returned in November 2021, outscoring Paul Valenzuela Jr over ten rounds.
Prediction: This looks like a tick over contest in his homeland for Munguia, while he awaits a shot at world honours. Ballard may be unbeaten, but hasn’t been in with anyone approaching his opponent’s pedigree and I think Munguia can send his fans home happy with a stoppage win within six.
Remaining Undercard
Former WBC, IBF and WBO flyweight champion Arely Mucino (30-3-2, 10 KOs) also makes a homecoming, and she gets an eight round assignment against Naylea Gil Sanabia (11-3-1, 5 KOs).
Prediction: Mucino hit the deck in her last contest against the unheralded Jacky Calvo, coming through via split decision over ten last November, and she should have too much for Sanabia, and can come through on the cards.
Unbeaten banger, Diego Torres Nunez (13-0, 13 KOs) can add to his 100% knockout record by stopping 20-year-old Jonathan Escobedo Martinez (8-2-1, 2 KOs) in their super lightweight bout set for ten, and at lightweight, William Zepeda (24-0, 22 KOs) can take his battle of the unbeatens against Yerel Siezar (19-0, 8 KOs) inside the ten round distance.
William Zepeda is RELENTLESS 🔥
14 straight KOs and still undefeated 🇲🇽#MunguíaRosado pic.twitter.com/qW1rPyJLPF
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) November 14, 2021
In eight round action, Jorge Garcia (22-3, 18 KOs) should be able to score an early win against Jesus Nunez Rodriguez (19-8-2, 13 KOs) at super welterweight, and at super flyweight, Argi Cortes (21-2-2, 10 KOs) can outscore Marlon Rios Sarinana (10-4-1, 6 KOs). The final eight rounder should see an early win for Christian Olivo (18-0-1, 7 KOs) over Juan Jimenez (31-21-3, 21 KOs).
At super welterweight, Evan Anthony Sanchez (9-0, 6 KOs) can score a stoppage win against Abraham Juarez (19-8, 8 KOs) in their six rounder.
Also in six round action, Angel Alvarado Soto (5-0, 4 KOs) can stop Rene Panchi Casimiro (9-16-1, 4 KOs) at flyweight, and at super lightweight, Hugo Castaneda Marroquin (5-0, KO4) can do the same against Marco Antonio Monteros (10-25-1, KO3) in their four rounder.
