A clash between two contenders vying for a go at one of the three champions in the division will occur on June 10th between former Mexican world champion Jaime Munguia and three-time Ukrainian world title challenger, Sergiy Derevyanchenko. The two are scheduled to fight at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.
Jaime Munguia (41-0, 33 KO’s), the former WBO world champion at 154 pounds, has resumed the (unbeaten) streak he held as a Super Welterweight, in the Middleweight division and has so far already recorded six victories at 160 lbs. Following the relinquishment of his WBO Junior Middleweight title and his subsequent move up to Middleweight in 2020, the 26-year old Mexican has often been linked to the top competitors in the division but has so far not been able to materialize any noteworthy match.
Notably, Jaime Munguia had received the opportunity to face WBO world champion Janibek Alimkhanuly (13-0, 8 KO’s) but the former world champion had instead chosen to ignore the WBO’s mandate last year in November following a win over Argentinian contender Gonzalo Gaston Coria (21-6, 8 KO’s) after reports surfaced of him potentially facing WBC Middleweight champion Jermall Charlo (32-0, 22 KO’s), but it seems that a title fight is not yet on the cards for the Mexican contender.
Sergiy Derevyanchenko (14-4, 10 KO’s) might yet be the toughest opponent he’s faced at Middleweight so far, but the 37-year old Ukrainian seems to be far past his peak given he has recorded a whopping three victories over his past five matches, though despite his losing streak, Derevyanchenko has yet to lose by stoppage or knockout.
Though Derevyanchenko had offered a spirited performance against Gennady Golovkin (42-2-1, 37 KO’s) in 2019 in a contest that some purported he had won, the Ukrainian’s career has since then gone downhill as he suffered two more back-to-back losses against Jermell Charlo in 2020, and current WBC interim Middleweight champion Carlos Adames in 2021.
In 2022 he recorded a UD win over lowly-ranked American contender Joshua Conley (17-5-1, 11 KO’s), but there remain questions as to how far past his peak he is, though undoubtedly his tough inherent nature and attitude will see him turn a fight with Jaime Munguia into a vicious battle ― if his past matches are any indication.
