In a highly anticipated grudge match, Mexican star Jaime Munguía (45-2, 35 KOs) exacted revenge on Bruno Suráce (26-1-2, 5 KOs) with a commanding unanimous decision victory Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) on the undercard of the Canelo-Scull undisputed super middleweight fight at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, cementing his place back in the super middleweight title conversation. Judges Howard Foster and Ron McNair had it 117-111 while Kieran McCann 116-112 all in favor of the Tijuana native Munguia.
Suráce went to Munguia's backyard in Tijuana last December to register a shocking 6th round knockout victory. This time however Munguia and his new team made sure there will be no repeat from last time's fiasco.
From the opening bell, Munguía fought with calculated aggression, cutting off the ring and forcing Suráce into exchanges. The Mexican landed thudding body shots and sharp combinations, while Suráce—known for his slick movement—struggled to keep Munguía at bay.
A key moment came in the sixth round when Munguía stunned Suráce with a right hand-left hook combo, forcing the French to hold on. Though Suráce survived, Munguía’s consistent work rate and power punches kept him in control throughout.
Suráce relied heavily on lateral movement and counters. However, Munguía cut the ring off effectively, negating Suráce’s evasiveness. While Suráce landed some clean counters, his lack of sustained offense allowed Munguía to pile up rounds.
By the championship rounds, Suráce appeared frustrated, resorting to occasional showboating that drew cheers from the Riyadh crowd but did little to sway the judges.
With this win, Munguía re-establishes himself as a top contender at 168 lbs, potentially setting up a blockbuster showdown Edgar Berlanga, David Benavidez or Caleb Plant.
For Suráce, the loss halts his momentum, but his skillset and fan-friendly style ensure he remains a viable name in the division.
Comments
Share your thoughts on the above article by Dong Secuya.