By Thomas Gerbasi
JAIME MUNGUIA isn’t accustomed to shedding. Actually, via 42 skilled boxing matches, he’s but to expertise the bitter style of defeat. That’s not straightforward at this stage of the sport, and it could be a testomony as a lot to the Tijuana native’s psychological power in addition to the bodily.
Don’t suppose so? I ask him for the final time he misplaced at something. He pauses. Then pauses some extra.
“The final time I misplaced was taking part in video video games,” he advised Boxing Information via a translator. “It’s considered one of my pastimes or hobbies, however clearly nobody likes to lose. Everybody desires to win.”
So, does it wreck his whole day when he comes up on the shedding aspect in a online game?
He laughs.
“Generally sure, generally no.”
Fortunately for the 27-year-old, he hasn’t needed to go down that street in his day job, however whereas most would assume that getting right into a dogfight this far into his profession can be the take a look at he may not be prepared for, final June, he handed with flying colors when he defeated Sergiy Derevyanchenko in a bout that garnered Battle of the 12 months consideration across the sport.
“Yeah, I’m very pleased with that struggle,” Munguia stated. “It was struggle for all struggle followers and for the folks watching there stay.”
All-action all through, Munguia needed to dig deep all through the 12-rounder with the longtime middleweight contender because the pair fought for seemingly greater than the spurious WBC Silver title at 168 kilos. And when the twelfth spherical arrived and he was down on two of the three scorecards, Munguia stepped up and dropped Derevyanchenko with a left hook to the physique, turning a possible loss right into a victory by way of scores of 114-113 (twice) and 115-112.
It wasn’t as dramatic as, say, Julio Cesar Chavez’s last-second end of Meldrick Taylor in 1990, however it really established Munguia’s bonafides relating to being a “Mexican fighter,” one thing you possibly can’t really quantify, however you’ll comprehend it once you see it. Munguia says it’s a set of qualities shared by all his compatriots, whether or not within the ring or out.
Jaime Munguia (Getty Photographs)
“I’d go so far as saying it’s not describing a Mexican boxer; I’d simply describe Mexicans, typically,” he stated. “Mexicans have all the time been ahead pondering, been urgent ahead. Even in case you inform them no, they’ll keep there. Mexicans will all the time struggle and search for their alternative.”
The subsequent huge goal for the previous super-welterweight belt-holder is the large alternative for everybody at 168 and 175 kilos, and that’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. The Mexican celebrity has been a subject in each latest interview with Munguia, though the person standing throughout the ring from him this Saturday at Footprint Heart in Phoenix is Islington’s John Ryder. Munguia takes the queries in stride, and he says the suitable issues relating to trying forward earlier than the duty at hand is accomplished.
“I’m 100 per cent centered on John Ryder,” stated Munguia. “He’s my predominant goal at this level, and in order for you the large fights at 168, we have now to get via this huge take a look at via John Ryder and that’s motivating for me.”
Ryder shall be a tricky take a look at for Munguia, a gritty vet who went 12 rounds with Alvarez final Could. A victory inside the space for the Mexican would go a great distance towards constructing public help for Munguia-Alvarez, however kinds make fights, and evaluating the top outcomes of two completely different fights towards the identical opponent doesn’t all the time inform the story of how a future bout will play out.
Munguia, a professional for the reason that age of 16, is effectively conscious of all of the noise and the way it has nothing to do with Saturday’s struggle, and it’s a testomony to a maturity he says he owes to his household.
“I’ve all the time been a really centered and disciplined man, however, fairly frankly, my household retains me grounded and centred and so they’ve proven me the truth of how issues actually work,” he stated. “It’s due to them that I’m who I’m.”
Discuss of a Could struggle with boxing’s largest star isn’t the one distraction main as much as the Ryder bout, as he’s getting ready in Los Angeles for the primary time with Freddie Roach after an amicable break up with Erik Morales. It’s not all the time a simple transition, particularly when each struggle has excessive stakes hooked up to it, however to this point so good for Munguia, who expects his keep on the Wild Card to be a everlasting one.
Jaime Munguia on the pads with Freddie Roach
“It was an excellent choice,” stated Munguia. “I’ve been acclimating very well with Freddie. It’s going to be a really everlasting choice to stick with Freddie and staying right here to coach in LA.”
Being in Los Angeles additionally permits him to dodge some diaper obligation for his three-month outdated son.
“It helps,” laughs Munguia, who, all jokes apart, has been making sacrifices like being away from his household for many of his boxing life. So, at this level, it’s second nature.
“Being away for Christmas, being away for New 12 months’s and being so distant from my household,” he stated when requested what he’s given as much as attain this stage in his profession. “I simply had a son who’s now three months outdated, and staying away may be very arduous, however these are the issues that we surrender and that we have now to beat to have the ability to get to the purpose the place we wish to go to.
“All of my life, since I used to be little, I’ve all the time identified I used to be meant to be a boxer. When children would ask me, ‘Oh, what do you wish to be?’ I all the time stated, I wish to be a boxer and I’m very completely satisfied and happy to have the ability to say that I’m making my dream come true.”
The dream isn’t over but. There are extra titles to win, huge fights to safe, and a legacy to cement. All whereas having a goal on his again positioned there by opponents who would love nothing greater than to be the one who places a mark in his loss column.
Jaime Munguia is okay with that. He’s a Mexican fighter.
“Greater than strain, it’s motivation to coach more durable and to be one of the best.”
