In an exciting development for boxing fans, Jaime Munguia is set to face Bruno Surace once more as a key match on the Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull pay-per-view card scheduled for May 3rd in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The decision to feature Munguia on this card is strategic, aiming to leverage the festive atmosphere and generate buzz for a potential future rematch with Canelo. Although Jaime’s previous encounter with Alvarez last May was a disappointing one, resulting in a loss, a couple of impressive victories could pave the way for another showdown with Canelo.
There’s no denying it would be a tough pill to swallow if Munguia gets a second chance against Canelo while more deserving fighters like David Benavidez and David Morrell remain sidelined. However, the world of boxing often operates on business principles. To maintain Canelo’s marketability, opponents like Munguia, who present the right kind of challenge, are carefully chosen.
The Showdown with Surace
It’s crucial that Munguia avoids another knockout at the hands of Surace, given the sting of the sixth-round knockout he suffered last December in Tijuana.
Today, The Ring unveiled the lineup for the undercard of the Canelo-Scull fight, and it’s looking like this:
- Jaime Munguia vs. Bruno Surace II
- Martin Bakole vs. Efe Ajagba
- Badou Jack vs. Ryan Rozicki
- Marco Verde vs. Michel Polina
- Brayan Leon vs. Aaron Guerrero
There’s been quite a bit of chatter concerning heavyweight Martin Bakole (21-2, 16 KOs), who recently suffered a shock defeat to Joseph Parker, being knocked out in just the second round last month in Riyadh. Many fans argue that his inclusion in the Canelo-Scull event feels premature, preferring to see him regain his footing in smaller matches first. Let’s hope Bakole returns to the ring in better shape than the hefty 310 lbs he weighed against Parker. It’s disappointing to see an athlete, who knocked out Jared Anderson last August, slack off like that—especially when a fighter’s physique is so critical to their career.
WBC cruiserweight champion Badou Jack, at 41 with a record of 28-3-3 and 17 knockouts, will be defending his title against Ryan Rozicki, who stands at 20-1-1 with 19 KOs. While this bout might attract older fans familiar with Jack’s career highlights, it might not resonate as strongly with the younger audience.
In a tweet heralding this event, we saw the enthusiasm for what promises to be a historical night.
History in the making 🥊🔥 Fatal Fury – Canelo vs. Scull lands in Riyadh 🇸🇦
For the first time ever, Canelo defends his undisputed crown outside the US and Mexico… Can’t miss this one 💪
🗓 May 3📍 ANB Arena, Riyadh#RiyadhSeason
With such an exciting lineup, boxing fans worldwide have good reason to mark May 3rd on their calendars.
