Exciting young boxer Jaime Munguia (35-0, 28 KOs) returns to action after 10 months away, when his second contest at middleweight against Tureano Johnson (21-2-1, 15 KOs) airs live Friday, Oct. 30 on DAZN.
Ahead of Munguia vs. Johnson, Golden Boy Promotions boss and former world champion Oscar De La Hoya sat down with TV star and boxing analyst Mario Lopez, while another legend, Bernard Hopkins, joined the two via video call to break down Munguia's recent fights.
Lopez noted that while the unbeaten 24-year-old achieved great things under former trainer Robert Alcazar, the switch to inexperienced coach but respected competitor Erik Morales has enabled Munguia to fight less like De La Hoya himself and more like the great Antonio Margarito.
It was a viewpoint that De La Hoya himself agreed with.
"I think Robert Alcazar had him on his toes too much, boxing going back," he said. "The other fighter would be pressuring Munguia instead of Munguia pressuring his opponent and basically drowning them with his power and his relentless aggression.
"I like that Morales now has him on the bulbs of his feet but he isn’t moving as much. He isn’t as jittery. He’s aggressive without being reckless."
Hopkins, who offered De La Hoya words of encouragement on his planned return to the ring in the near future, believes Johnson is the logical next fight for what he sees as a superstar rising to prominence in Munguia.
He said: "The Johnson fight is gonna show just how talented Munguia is. The transition and the steps he has taken, how it’s been done, will get Munguia to the next level. This is his time.
"I’m so excited for 2021 when it gets here, there’ll be big, big names for Jaime. But this one first against Johnson, it won’t be a cakewalk. But I think it will show that Munguia is somebody to watch out for in the boxing world."
Munguia's stunning four-round wipeout of Sadam Ali in 2018 to become WBO light-middleweight champion was the night he arrived as a serious player. De La Hoya admitted the crowning moment surprised all of them.
"Ali’s opponent fell through, and Jaime Munguia was a last-minute replacement," explained De La Hoya. "Obviously he shocked the world. Ali is one of the most technical boxers out there, he had a great win against Miguel Cotto and Jaime was able to just walk right through him."
"Sadam has been in there against some talented people and to get that response from Munguia … Ali doesn’t get knocked around like that," concurred Hopkins.
"When you look at the range of punches here, he takes his time. He’s coming in and coming in with a good distance without getting hit. To see that talent at this stage is very exciting."
Returning to the topic of Morales, who was the first Mexican-born fighter to win world championships in four different weight classes, the legends discussed how he may be the right man to guide Munguia to the very same feat.
"With Erik Morales in his corner, I can see the progress that he’s making," said De La Hoya. "Munguia is settling down more, he’s moving his head a lot more. I think Morales can be a good asset to his team."
Added Hopkins: "He has an experienced former fighter and a respected teacher [in Morales]. Those two together, with the respect Jaime has for Erik, the way he’s throwing combinations to the body, to the head … he was doing it before, but he seems to be more conscious now.
"More and more precise, he’s making them count and getting those devastating knockouts. Because of his lean body, that left jab because of his own reach can get him leverage and get him space.
"He has all the tools. Now he has a veteran fighter in his corner, if he gets past Johnson it will show everybody that they’re looking at the same fighter I’m looking at. With each fight, with each win, his confidence will grow. And he already has a high knockout ratio. Nearly 30 wins by knockout in 35.
Munguia's most recent fight was a penultimate-round stoppage of rugged Irishman Gary O'Sullivan in his middleweight bow in January. Both De La Hoya and Hopkins were extremely impressed with the way he handled 'Spike'.
"Sullivan came into their fight as a tough, tough opponent for Jaime," said De La Hoya. "Not a walk in the park. And Munguia was able to stop him."
"He throws those power punches like that, straight down the middle," noted Hopkins. "He gets off some great shots there. That’s the distance you need. Anyone who fights him there will not win."
So, can anyone stop Munguia, Johnson included?
"It’s up to the fighter," admitted De La Hoya. "If he’s willing and susceptible to learn and grow as a fighter, the sky’s the limit. Bernard Hopkins is a perfect example.
"Fighters like us who have won world titles at multiple weight classes, we’re able to learn as we fight. We’re able to grow as a fighter mentally and physically. We adjust, we know how to adjust to opponents and styles.
"I think Munguia is on his way to big things because he has big fights but they are fights that will prepare him for the big fights to come."