On Saturday evening, Jaime Munguia continued his winning ways, plowing through D'Mitrius Ballard to win by third-round TKO from Plaza Monumental de Playas de Tijuana in his hometown of Tijuana, Mexico. The win runs Munguia's record to 5-0 since going up to middleweight at the beginning of 2020 and 39-0 overall, with 31 of those wins by way of knockout.
With Ballard in his rearview mirror, Munguia has plenty of options for his next fight. He's the No. 1 contender by the WBC and the WBO. So is that route the 25-year-old will take, or does Munguia choose to look elsewhere?
DAZN News examines who could be next in line for the Mexican star.
Janibek Alimkhanuly
While the calls have been made for Munguia to face a top-flight name, this is the most likely scenario for him. In talking with DAZN News before the Ballard fight, Munguia said he wants to fight for a world title in late spring or early summer.
"I’m definitely aiming for a world title fight later this year, hopefully in the summer. Early May is my goal," Munguia said.
Current WBO titlist Demetrius Andrade has been rumored to be moving up to super-middleweight against Zach Parker, which leaves the 160-pound belt up for grabs.
Munguia and Alimkhanuly are the top contenders, so they would meet to determine a new champion. It gives Munguia the title opportunity he's looking for, and it's a legitimate fight. Alimkhanuly is 11-0 with seven knockouts. He's coming off an eighth-round TKO win over former champion Hassan N'Dam.
Demetrius Andrade
If things could align the way boxing fans would like, this is the path Munguia should take if Andrade ends up not moving up in weight.
Andrade (31-0, 19 KOs) quieted the naysayers when he steamrolled past Jason Quigley in November to successfully defend his WBO title for the fifth time. Like Munguia, Andrade's been targeted for not facing top-flight competition. But that isn't because of his doing as "Boo Boo" has continuously had the door slammed in his face by Charlo, Gennadiy Golovkin, and Canelo Alvarez.
Munguia checks off the criticism by fans who say Andrade hasn't fought anybody of value. However, the Mexican star's performances have shown it's time for the kid gloves to be taken off and let him start swimming with the sharks. Andrade is the perfect guy for the job as he's champing at the bit for a significant name, and Munguia is that foe.
Gennadiy Golovkin
There were talks of this fight happening in 2018, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission denied Munguia as an opponent due to what they felt was his lack of experience. So much has changed in the last three years for both guys. But now, it's something that has entered Munguia's conscience, and it's one he desperately wants.
"If it was my choice, I would really like to fight Gennadiy Golovkin or the winner of Golovkin vs. (Ryoto) Murata," Munguia bluntly said to DAZN News.
Before talks could even be broached, Golovkin, the IBF titlist, will face WBA (super) titleholder Ryota Murata. It is unknown when that fight will take place. If GGG takes care of business and holds two pieces of 160-pound hardware, who wouldn't want to see a clash between the two hardest punchers in the division?
Of course, the fight the fans want is Canelo-GGG 3. But if that can't get made, why not Golovkin-Munguia?