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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 21: WBO junior middleweight champion Jaime Munguia of Mexico poses with his belt after his unanimous decision victory over Liam Smith of England on July 21, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 21: WBO junior middleweight champion Jaime Munguia of Mexico poses with his belt after his unanimous decision victory over Liam Smith of England on July 21, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
What’s better than a win? A win as spectacular as Jaime Munguia’s in last night’s fight against John Ryder. What’s more, Bernard Hopkins and Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. are singing praises for the Tijuana native. Jaime Munguia dropped Ryder four times during the fight and knocked out the Brit in the ninth round of their 12-round clash in Footprint Center in Phoenix, potentially sealing the deal for his next fight!
The undefeated boxer has been hinting at a fight against Mexico’s Canelo Alvarez, and his dominant win today takes him a step further to that fight. Canelo is supposed to appear in the ring on May 4 for Cinco de Mayo, so an all-Mexican fight makes all the sense. But there’s no word on who Canelo’s opponent will be. Meanwhile, Hopkins has suggested Munguia is ready for anyone in Canelo’s 168 division today in an interview with Fight Hub TV.
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Bernard Hopkins claims Jaime Munguia has made a statement
When asked how he would rate his starfighter, an overjoyed Hopkins stated, “First of all, I would rate that he’s ready. He’s more than ready! I’ve seen poise, I’ve seen patience. But I [have] also seen somebody that overcame some rounds where it was a give and take, and he didn’t succumb to the relentless and toughness of his opponent.”
Later in the interview, the former champion and the top honcho at Munguia’s Golden Boy Promotions claimed, “Going forward, this is a statement that he’s ready for anyone at 168 lbs. You see the strength, the energy, and the [percistence]…how he pressed when he needed to press the issue.” Hopkins also added that he has seen patience and perfect execution in Munguia’s fight, stating he is more than comfortable in the 168 lbs division. However, he wasn’t alone in his praise of Munguia.
Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. claims Munguia needs to continue improving
Seeing Munguia’s dominant show of performance, which prompted Ryder’s corner to urge the oblivious referee to stop the fight, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. claimed he was happy for Munguia. “I’m happy. The truth is, I think he hit [with] authority,” said Chavez Sr., as per translations. However, Chavez Sr. suggested there’s more room for improvement in Mungia’s game.
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“He has to continue improving, but the truth is, very good – everything is good,” said Chavez Sr., as per translations. What’s more, Jaime Munguia himself has called out Canelo during the post-fight interview. “It will be a great fight among Mexicans. Canelo gives us the chance! It will be an honor to be in the same ring as him,” Munguia said.
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With a successful fight coming to an end, Hopkins and Chavez Sr. have given Jaime Munguia the green light to take on even more difficult opponents in the 168 division. However, whether that will be Canelo is yet to be seen. Who do you think Munguia should fight next?
Watch This Story: Event Recap: Best Highlights From Jaime Munguia vs. Gabriel Rosado
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