Sadam Ali vs. Jaime Munguia - May 12, 2018

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Makes sense. Mungia has been training for a fight on Golovkins card a week prior, so he would be training anyway..

[Ruthless-RKO]

Sadam Ali vs. Jaime Munguia Set For May 12 in Verona

The fortune of Mexican junior middleweight Jaime Munguia has changed for the better.

A few short weeks ago, he was being considered as the replacement opponent for Canelo Alvarez, who due to a positive drug test was forced to withdraw from a planned rematch with unified middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin on May 5.

But the local commissions rejected the idea of that bout, because they felt Munguia was too inexperienced for such a contest and he was also coming up in weight.

Earlier today, it was officially announced that Munguia will challenge World Boxing Organization (WBO) super welterweight champion, Saddam Ali, on May 12 in Verona , NY.

HBO will televise the fight.

Munguia is replacing mandatory challenger Liam Smith, who withdrew less than a week ago with an illness.

Ali is making his first defense after capturing the world title last December in Madison Square Garden with a big upset win over Miguel Cotto.

This will also be Ali's second contest in the junior middleweight division. The United States Olympian will be a big favorite in the fight.

In the HBO televised co-feature of the card, Rey Vargas will defend the WBO bantamweight title against Azat Hovhannisyan.

[Best Coast]

Makes sense. Mungia has been training for a fight on Golovkins card a week prior, so he would be training anyway..

Really cool the way that worked out. Glad to see them make the most of an obvious opportunity once Munguia was rejected for GGG. Ali is nowhere near GGG in talent, so this will be a more competitive matchup than GGG-Munguia would ever be!!

[Ruthless-RKO]

Makes sense. Mungia has been training for a fight on Golovkins card a week prior, so he would be training anyway..

Really cool the way that worked out. Glad to see them make the most of an obvious opportunity once Munguia was rejected for GGG. Ali is nowhere near GGG in talent, so this will be a more competitive matchup than GGG-Munguia would ever be!!

Yeh. I'm looking forward to seeing what Mungia can do.

[boxing_rocks]

How can he make weight so quickly? Ali will stop him.

[Best Coast]

How can he make weight so quickly? Ali will stop him.

Munguia's last fight was a month ago at 155 and a year ago he was at 147. What's hard to figure is why someone tried to pawn him off as a legit MW challenge for GGG!!

[Ruthless-RKO]

How can he make weight so quickly? Ali will stop him.

Munguia's last fight was a month ago at 155 and a year ago he was at 147. What's hard to figure is why someone tried to pawn him off as a legit MW challenge for GGG!!

What he said.. he's got 2 weeks.. he may already be around 154 pounds..

[SenorPipino]

How can he make weight so quickly? Ali will stop him.

Munguia's last fight was a month ago at 155 and a year ago he was at 147. What's hard to figure is why someone tried to pawn him off as a legit MW challenge for GGG!!

He was being pawned off as a challenger for Golovkin.

I don't thing that he was being pawned off as "legit."

[Lackeos]

Munguia is a great prospect. It is surprising that his handlers think he is ready for Sadam Ali. But it was also surprising that Dogboe's handlers thought he was ready for Megdaleno, and obviously they knew what kind of fighter they were working with.

[SenorPipino]

I've never seen Munguia so it's hard to judge how he would do with Ali, a solid, if unspectacular veteran.

Scouting reports repeatedly question his true power--especially at 154---since his opposition has been pretty weak.

Also his porous defensive skills, or lack thereof, seems to be a consistent criticism.

Right now I think Munguia figures to be too green for Ali, and might not even be a true contender.

But the fight should shine a light on the extent of the Mexican's actual talents.

[gilgamesh]

I've never seen Munguia so it's hard to judge how he would do with Ali, a solid, if unspectacular veteran.

Scouting reports repeatedly question his true power--especially at 154---since his opposition has been pretty weak.

Also his porous defensive skills, or lack thereof, seems to be a consistent criticism.

Right now I think Munguia figures to be too green for Ali, and might not even be a true contender.

But the fight should shine a light on the extent of the Mexican's actual talents.

Agreed

I'm gonna try to see what video I can find of Munguia in action later this week to maybe have a better idea what he might be bringing to the table in this matchup.

[SenorPipino]

I've never seen Munguia so it's hard to judge how he would do with Ali, a solid, if unspectacular veteran.

Scouting reports repeatedly question his true power--especially at 154---since his opposition has been pretty weak.

Also his porous defensive skills, or lack thereof, seems to be a consistent criticism.

Right now I think Munguia figures to be too green for Ali, and might not even be a true contender.

But the fight should shine a light on the extent of the Mexican's actual talents.

Agreed

I'm gonna try to see what video I can find of Munguia in action later this week to maybe have a better idea what he might be bringing to the table in this matchup.

Please share your observations.

I'm interested in how the oddsmakers view this matchup since Munguia has been pretty much hidden away.

Smith vs Ali was considered a pick 'em fight.

Although Ali isn't held in high regard despite whipping Cotto, he still figures to be a solid favorite against Munguia.

[gilgamesh]

I've never seen Munguia so it's hard to judge how he would do with Ali, a solid, if unspectacular veteran.

Scouting reports repeatedly question his true power--especially at 154---since his opposition has been pretty weak.

Also his porous defensive skills, or lack thereof, seems to be a consistent criticism.

Right now I think Munguia figures to be too green for Ali, and might not even be a true contender.

But the fight should shine a light on the extent of the Mexican's actual talents.

Agreed

I'm gonna try to see what video I can find of Munguia in action later this week to maybe have a better idea what he might be bringing to the table in this matchup.

Please share your observations.

I'm interested in how the oddsmakers view this matchup since Munguia has been pretty much hidden away.

Smith vs Ali was considered a pick 'em fight.

Although Ali isn't held in high regard despite whipping Cotto, he still figures to be a solid favorite against Munguia.

Will do

[SenorPipino]

I just hope that Munguia lays off the Mexican beef burritos between now and fight night.

[Stuarty]

Would've preferred Liam Williams from a British perspective

[Stuarty]

I just hope that Munguia lays off the Mexican beef burritos between now and fight night.

[gilgamesh]

Please share your observations.

I'm interested in how the oddsmakers view this matchup since Munguia has been pretty much hidden away.

Smith vs Ali was considered a pick 'em fight.

Although Ali isn't held in high regard despite whipping Cotto, he still figures to be a solid favorite against Munguia.

Will do

Ok so I just watched Munguia's most recent bout against Jhonny Navarette. Navarette entered the bout with a 31-11-2 record, and had already faced Munguia once before losing to him via Unanimous Decision in a 10 rounder.

There first 1st go round was a Welterweight bout, and this one was a Jr. Middleweight bout...Munguia appeared to be MUCH the bigger man, and had definitely grown into the new weight class much better than Navarette had.

Munguia was the aggressor the entire contest, and threw a lot of punches, he's not overly accurate, but fires away with so many shots that he still gets in shots in regularity. He's not particularly hard to hit as he just kinda walks in there, and seems willing to take your shots to give his. He has good power in both hands, particularly the left hook...nothing too amazing, but enough power that you have to respect it.

Now...as for his bout with Ali. Ali is WAY more skilled both defensively and offensively than this Navarette kid, and I suspect way more skilled than anyone Munguia will have ever faced. The wild, and often amateurish manner in which Munguia attacks is gonna get him countered a lot by Ali, I also don't expect he'll be too successful in landing his own shots on Ali. Oh sure he'll land some, but Ali has enough defensive skills that he'll avoid the majority of Munguia's bigger shot.

Bottom line: I think the gap in talent is pretty wide between Sadam Ali and Jaime Munguia, and Sadam Ali is either going to win a very lopsided decision (like a shutout) or knock out Munguia in the mid to late rounds.

Consider that Ali is 29 and Munguia is 21, and Ali has his full "Man Strength"...I suspect it's gonna be a KO for Ali in a one sided fight.

[Evander]

Bottom line: I think the gap in talent is pretty wide between Sadam Ali and Jaime Munguia

[SenorPipino]

Please share your observations.

I'm interested in how the oddsmakers view this matchup since Munguia has been pretty much hidden away.

Smith vs Ali was considered a pick 'em fight.

Although Ali isn't held in high regard despite whipping Cotto, he still figures to be a solid favorite against Munguia.

Will do

Ok so I just watched Munguia's most recent bout against Jhonny Navarette. Navarette entered the bout with a 31-11-2 record, and had already faced Munguia once before losing to him via Unanimous Decision in a 10 rounder.

There first 1st go round was a Welterweight bout, and this one was a Jr. Middleweight bout...Munguia appeared to be MUCH the bigger man, and had definitely grown into the new weight class much better than Navarette had.

Munguia was the aggressor the entire contest, and threw a lot of punches, he's not overly accurate, but fires away with so many shots that he still gets in shots in regularity. He's not particularly hard to hit as he just kinda walks in there, and seems willing to take your shots to give his. He has good power in both hands, particularly the left hook...nothing too amazing, but enough power that you have to respect it.

Now...as for his bout with Ali. Ali is WAY more skilled both defensively and offensively than this Navarette kid, and I suspect way more skilled than anyone Munguia will have ever faced. The wild, and often amateurish manner in which Munguia attacks is gonna get him countered a lot by Ali, I also don't expect he'll be too successful in landing his own shots on Ali. Oh sure he'll land some, but Ali has enough defensive skills that he'll avoid the majority of Munguia's bigger shot.

Bottom line: I think the gap in talent is pretty wide between Sadam Ali and Jaime Munguia, and Sadam Ali is either going to win a very lopsided decision (like a shutout) or knock out Munguia in the mid to late rounds.

Consider that Ali is 29 and Munguia is 21, and Ali has his full "Man Strength"...I suspect it's gonna be a KO for Ali in a one sided fight.

And then you remember light hitting Jessie Vargas swarming all over Ali, dominating him and then eventually knocking him out.

It was just 2 years ago.

Vargas and Munguia are much fresher than the end of the line Cotto.

If Munguia has legit power at 154 and employs his usual aggressive approach, he might turn the trick like Vargas did.

He breaks down Ali and then takes him out.

Since the Vargas fight, I've always questioned Ali's toughness.

Maybe the champion cleanly outboxes Munguia in the early rounds but eventually wears down.

From the taped bouts I've seen of Munguia, he has a pretty decent body attack in the tradition of Mexican brawlers.

Could be a more interesting matchup than it appears at first glance.

[gilgamesh]

Doubtful, but we'll see. Jessie Vargas is also significantly more skilled than Munguia and would have just as easy a time with Munguia as I'm expecting Ali will.

[Mexi-Box]

Man, Munguia is in a real sink or swim.

[Mexi-Box]

Doubtful, but we'll see. Jessie Vargas is also significantly more skilled than Munguia and would have just as easy a time with Munguia as I'm expecting Ali will.

Not so sure we're seeing the same Jessie Vargas anymore. He was very disappointing against Broner. Guy looked like a monster when he was with Heredia, which I think it was for the Bradley and Ali fights. Effed Bradley up towards the end of their fight.

[oogiebe]

Doubtful, but we'll see. Jessie Vargas is also significantly more skilled than Munguia and would have just as easy a time with Munguia as I'm expecting Ali will.

Not so sure we're seeing the same Jessie Vargas anymore. He was very disappointing against Broner. Guy looked like a monster when he was with Heredia, which I think it was for the Bradley and Ali fights. Effed Bradley up towards the end of their fight.

Vargas seems to have never learned the meaning of 'pace.' Looks great early...slows and fades later. Bad training and fight plan to me. He's got some talent but his handlers haven't gotten the most out of him, and maybe never will.

[SenorPipino]

Munguia is a young guy. Just 21.

He turned pro at 16 which is common in Mexico.

I don't see it as a do or die fight for him.

Even if he's schooled by Ali, there's plenty time for Munguia to bounce back.

It'll just be a learning experience.

And Munguia certainly has a much more live chance to snatch the world championship than does his fellow unbeaten countryman Carlos Ocampo, who is just 22.