Many times underdog opponents head into the significant favorites backyard. It's commonplace in boxing. It's either seize the opportunity, or it goes to someone else. You don't want to be the one to kick yourself, watching someone else inside the ring fighting, and then ultimately beat the person you were supposed to lock horns with.
D'Mitrius Ballard was supposed to face Jaime Munguia in April. But he had to bow due to an elbow injury. So Ballard now gets the chance he thought slipped through his fingers on Saturday when he travels to Munguia's hometown of Tijuana, Mexico, fighting at Plaza Monumental de Playas de Tijuana. The fight can be seen worldwide on DAZN (excluding Mexico).
Ballard (21-0-1, 13 KOs) will be competing in front of the largest crowd of his career. Add that with going into the heavy-handed Munguia's hometown would be enough for some to reconsider. However, when the offer came back around, there was zero hesitation from Ballard.
"(I) definitely wanted the fight," Ballard bluntly admits to DAZN News. "I looked at it as this is just how my opportunity, my chance was presented to me. These are just the things that goes into it. I'm fighting Jaime Munguia on February 19. That night, it is my job to go to Tijuana, Mexico, and beat Jaime Munguia in his backyard, which numerous champions have done before throughout history. I’m up for the challenge. It didn't matter if the fight was on the moon, Mars, or something like that. I was going to take the fight. This is my opportunity, my chance and I'm very confident in myself."
Ballard fought on Munguia's undercard in his last time out, beating Paul Valenzuela via decision while Munguia defeated Gabe Rosado in the headliner. It was the first time Ballard had competed in almost two years. Being gone for a significant amount of time played a factor in Ballard's performance. He struggled early but came on in the latter half of the contest. Ring rust proved to be a real thing for him.
After shaking the rust and punching Valenzuela in the face is what the doctor ordered for Ballard, which gives him confidence that he's ready for the former WBO junior middleweight champion in what is expected to be a hostile atmosphere.
"To me, a little bit more than I thought it would be," Ballard said. "Maybe just a little more because just being there as that's probably the biggest crowd I have ever fought in front of. The crowd was filled with Mexican fans. I had cameras in my face. It’d been two years since I've been around. For the last two years, I have basically been a stay-at-home dad. I walked around with the dad bod, gave piggyback rides, and went to things with the kids. Not being able to fight, I just gave all my time to my kids. Getting back in the ring, I was getting those cobwebs off. It felt good. I've been back in the ring since that fight. I'm getting ready for this fight. I feel like I'm going to be ready."