Jose Armando Resendiz went back to an old target for a new challenge.
BoxingScene has learned that previously failed talks between Resendiz and Tijuana’s Jaime Munguia have not only resurrected but have led to a head-on collision. Terms have been reached for the all-Mexico clash, which will take place on May 2 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout will serve as the chief support to the Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez-David Benavidez cruiserweight clash.
ESPN Knockout's Salvador "Chava" Rodriguez was the first to report the 11th hour development, just as it appeared that Resendiz was prepared to next defend his WBA 168lbs title versus Jermall Charlo.
Several outlets were led to believe Resendiz-Charlo was done - including BoxingScene and this reporter specifically, who ran with bad info and apologizes to our readers for the error.
Nevertheless, the pre Cinco de Mayo event gets the significantly better matchup now that Munguia is back in the mix.
The two sides previously discussed the possibility of this clash, shortly after Resendiz, 16-2 (11 KOs) was able to advance in talks with former title challenger Edgar Berlanga, 23-2 (18 KOs). Somewhere along the way, it was decided that Munguia, 43-2 (35 KOs) would head in a different direction, though he was suddenly thin on next options. The former WBO 154lbs titlist and current top super middleweight contender already declined to move forward with a proposed vacant IBF title fight with Osleys Iglesias, 14-0 (13 KOs) at the time.
Furthermore, Munguia hadn’t fought since he defeated France’s Bruno Surace via unanimous decision last May in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The feat avenged an upset knockout defeat he suffered five months prior in his Tijuana hometown.
However, the aftermath was messy given Munguia’s post-fight drug test producing an adverse finding for exogenous testosterone. The subsequent investigation ended without Munguia facing any real disciplinary action, other than being limited to just one fight on the year.
Just like that, Munguia is now back in the title mix. He previously challenged then-undisputed 168lbs champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, 63-3-2 (39 KOs) in May 2024, only to suffer his first career defeat via lopsided unanimous decision.
Resendiz has not fought since his points win over Caleb Plant to claim the WBA interim 168lbs title in a major upset last May 31 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was among the year’s more stunning results; it also put Resendiz in a favorable position given the shift in the division’s landscape by year’s end.
Alvarez was the undisputed champion at the time but lost to Terence Crawford, 42-0 (31 KOs) via unanimous decision last September. Crawford became a five-division champ with the feat, the final act of his legendary career as he announced his retirement three months later.
Crawford’s exit from the sport opened up the 168lbs title picture, with the WBC, IBF and WBO belts all up for grabs. The only belt to change hands outside the ring was the WBA, as Resendiz was formally upgraded in the sanctioning body’s most recent ratings cycle.
Uzbekistan’s Bektemir Melikuziev, 16-1 (10 KOs) is the current number-one contender to the title. However, the WBA has yet to declare the 2016 Olympic silver medalist as the mandatory challenger, which left Resendiz with wiggle room to secure a voluntary defense.
He wiggled himself all the way back to his most desired target.
Prior to revisiting talks with Munguia, Resendiz was believed to be in advance talks with Houston’s Charlo, 34-0 (23 KOs). The matchup would have put a bow on the abovementioned May 31 PBC on Prime Video event, which was designed for Plant and Charlo to next meet.
Charlo defeated Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna in the co-feature but was left without a grudge match after Plant fell short in the main event.
Resendiz and Charlo are both with PBC, which made sense to move forward with that fight.
Given the weekend’s theme, it apparently made more sense in the end to revert back to Munguia as the challenger.
