By: Hans Themistode
The last time Jaime Munguia fought in his native Mexico, he struggled against competitor Dennis Hogan. This round, the highly ranked middleweight contender had a much better performance.
The 25-year-old, who won the £154 title, entered the Plaza Monumental, in Tijuana, Mexico, and stood firmly in the ring against the previously undefeated D’Mitrius Ballard.
In the opening round, Ballard, a banned underdog, tried to push Munguia back. He squirmed, interlocked, and jabbed Munguia in the head with a jab. As a nervous crowd stood on pins and needles, Munguia calmly landed a powerful right hook, followed by a left hook to the body.
Ballard grimaced back a few steps and held on to his much younger opponent. Even with the Maryland-born player out of the round, Munguia highlighted the problem in the second inning. He cut a series of shots into Ballard’s body before ending his coordination with a backhand.
For Ballard’s credit, he doesn’t appear to be a fish that lives on the water. He shoved his head into Munguia’s chest and knocked out several shots of his own. In the end, his moments of success were fleeting as Munguia cornered him in third place. The Mexican product forced the crowd to their feet as he landed with a straight left hand, sending Ballard crashing into the tarp.
Seemingly unaware of what had happened, Ballard stood up and urged Munguia to fight him in the center of the ring. Ultimately, Ballard’s bravery is his undo. Munguia hit multiple unanswered shots within seconds, forcing referee Juan Jose Ramirez to intervene and banish their contest.
