Calls Mount for Jaime Munguia’s Retirement as Frenchman Accomplishes What Canelo Couldn’t in Potential Upset of the Year

Tijuana is shaking!! It will be some time before ‘The Gateway To Mexico’ makes some sense out of the storm that unfolded as hometown kid Jaime Munguia went down after Bruno Surace‘s right cross connected, sending him down to the canvas. The sixth-round collapse of a fighter credited by many as having one of the strongest chins in the sport invariably attracted calls for retirement.

28-year-old Munguia, who stepped into the ring for the fourth time this year, suffered a career-first loss to Canelo Alvarez in May. Recent reports suggested a potential matchup that may have tucked him back as a title challenger to Alvarez’s belts. However, the loss to Surace has delivered a big jolt to the equations. Many will question whether he is up to the task. For the French fighter, it is a career-defining moment. If he plays his cards smartly, then he stands every chance of taking eight-year-old Journey to altogether new heights.

Bruno Surace’s game-changing move

Following his departure from Oscar De La Hoya‘s Golden Boy Promotions, Munguia joined the Top Rank stable. The promotions posed a question: “UPSET OF THE YEAR?” To some of the fans, it might as well be: “Is Munguia back to square one?”

The shocking about-face left many scratching their heads. Till the knocked-out Munguia kept Bruno Surace on the back foot. In the second round, a powerful left hook from Munguia landed clean on Surace’s face. But the tough Frenchman managed to beat the referee’s count and resumed fighting.

Jaime Munguia kept an aggressive pace, pushing Surace to the ropes. Though brief, the latter had his moments. In the fourth round, a left body shot followed by back-to-back short rights unsettled the former light middleweight champion.

With some thirty seconds left in the sixth round, Surace found himself leaning on the ropes. Munguia’s combinations left him answerless. But just when it appeared that the fight was out of his hold, Surace squeezed a much-needed gap and exploited the split-second advantage by thrusting a solid right. Munguia had no chance. Though he got up, the referee saw it clearly; it was game over for Jaime Munguia.

Understandably, some of the fans weren’t happy with the outcome. Let’s check what some of them had to say.

Jaime Munguia outstretched

A fan cleverly wordplayed on Top Rank’s poser: “[Humbling] of the year ????.” Many followers believe that Jaime Munguia has been overhyped. Perhaps this fan’s thoughts must have stemmed from that narrative.

For the next one, it was embarrassing that Munguia lost in front of a home crowd. They said, “Losing at home by KO as a Mexican to a French fighter should be an automatic retirement.” But is that a good enough reason to call out a retirement?

The following user picked Canelo Alvarez for throwing a jibe. They teased how Bruno Surace’s upset victory reflects poorly on the super middleweight champion. “Canelo’s resume gets weaker and weaker ????,” they said. While reports suggested the Mexican superstar went easy on Munguia, many lamented that as reigning champion he couldn’t secure a knockout victory.

But the next one speculated, “Well…we know who Canelo is fighting next ????.” Talks of Alvarez’s next outing may surface anytime soon. Hence Surace’s name is likely to appear on the probables list, it seems.

A voice of reason joined. This fan said, “It’s boxing; anything can happen. He just needs to leave Morales and go back to Freddy Roach or a better trainer, because Morales teaches no defense. He’ll be back.” Before the Alvarez fight, Munguia joined Freddie Roach’s stable but subsequently switched over to former trainer Erik Morales. The former world champion was a well-known ring brawler in his time.

It may be too early to speculate on Jaime Munguia’s fate. He still has many years of boxing left in him.

Nevertheless, potential matchups against the likes of Caleb Plant, Edgar Berlangaand Christian M'billi will now be under scrutiny. For unbeaten Bruno Surace, doors are open to a potentially glorious chapter in his career. As one fan pointed out, who knows—he may even get a chance to face Canelo Alvarez.

What are your thoughts on Jaime Munguia’s KO loss?