By Jake Donovan
November 20, 2022
Source: Boxing Scene
Photo Source: Boxing Scene
Jaime Munguia insisted following his latest win that he is ready to move toward a major title.
For the second time this year, the WBO is prepared to test his sincerity.
Tijuana’s Munguia (41-0, 33KOs) was formally ordered to enter talks with WBO middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly 13-0, 8KOs). Munguia has long served as the number one contender but is now identified as the mandatory challenger, which means he either next challenges for the title or clears the way for a more willing participant. “Please be advised that the WBO World Championship Committee orders the parties herein to commence the negotiations for the above-referenced bout between Jaime Munguia and [Janibek] Alimkhanuly,” Luis Batista-Salas, chairman of the WBO Championship Committee noted to the promoters of both boxers via official letter, a copy of which was obtained by BoxingScene.com. “The parties are granted 15 days to reach an agreement.”
A purse bid hearing will be called if a deal is not reached by Decembet 5. The minimum accepted bid for a WBO-sanctioned middleweight title fight is $200,000.
The order comes just one fay after Munguia—co-promoted by Zanfer Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions—scored a third round knockout of Argentina’s Gonzalo Coria this past Saturday from Arena Astros in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Alimkhanuly—who is promoted by Top Rank and managed by Egis Klimas—claimed the interim title with a second-round knockout of Danny Dignum in May. The fight came about after Munguia declined to enter talks for the previously ordered fight, as he was in talks for a bout with WBC titlist Jermall Charlo which never materialized.
The interim belt was upgraded to full title status for Alimkhanuly after Demetrius Andrade was forced to vacate after failing to honor repeated calls for a mandatory title fight.
Alimkhanuly lodged his first title defense in a twelve-round, unanimous decision win over England’s Denzel Bentley on November 12 in Las Vegas.
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