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Jaime Munguia Defeats D’mitrus Ballard
Photos: Tom Hogan - Golden Boy
A spectacular showdown was seen tonight at the Plaza
Monumental de Playas de Tijuana between two undefeated
fighters Jaime Munguia (39-0, 31 KOs) “The Pride of
Tijuana” taking on D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard
(21-1-1, 13 KOs) Prince George City, Maryland. The
raging fighters stepped into the ring not losing any
time as they each took turns using their jab, trying to
dictate the pace of the fight. Munguia successfully
cornered Ballard visibly hurting him in the second
round. In the third round, Munguia saw an opportunity
and knocked down Ballard with a body shot. Ballard
eventually got up after spending a few seconds on the
canvas, but was quickly dispatched by Munguia at the
1:47 mark of the fight.
“I want to thank everyone for their support today. It
was a dream of mine to fight here, in from of the people
that saw me grow up and develop as a fighter. We came
well prepared for this fight and my performance today
proved it. I knew that I was going to be the one to
apply pressure and I went in there and did my job.
D’Mitrius did have some power, that surprised me, but
after the second round, Erik Morales advised me to apply
more pressure, throw more combinations. It paid off, I
dropped him with a good liver shot and decided to just
go for it and ended the fight,” said Jaime Munguia
“I felt I prepared well for Munguia today, but his power
surprised me. I couldn’t find my rhythm and apply my
jab. Now we have to go back to the gym, keep working,
and figure out what comes next,” said D’Mitrius Ballard.
In the co-main event of the night, Mexico’s undefeated
rising star, William “Camaron” Zepeda (25-0, 23 KOs) of
San Mateo Atenco, Mexico, showed off why he is
considered to be one of the most dangerous fighters in
the lightweight division when he took on Luis “Bofo”
Viedas (29-12-1, 10 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico. Viedas had
an awkward style, as charged headfirst a few times,
causing him to slip several times throughout the fight.
Zepeda chased him around, knocking him down twice in the
second round and twice in the third round, with the
referee calling the fight when he failed to get up at
the 1:51 mark.
“He had a very dirty style of boxing, he kept coming
forward, lunging in an awkward way,” said William
Zepeda. “But fortunately, we were able to do our job
today and got the victory.”
In one of the most entertaining fights of the night,
Diego “Azabache” Torres (14-0, 13 KOs) from Zapopan,
Mexico, went the distance for the first time in his
career when he faced fellow countryman Jonathan “Perita”
Escobedo Martinez (8-3-1, 2 KOs). The 10-round super
lightweight fight had the crowd cheering all night as
both fighters went after each other with devastating
blows that left Escobedo Martinez with two cuts, one
above the left eye and another below the right. That was
a result of Torres Nunez’s effect and powerful jab,
which he utilized heavily in the first few rounds of the
fight. In the fifth round, the referee took a time out
to examine the cut above the left eye, with the doctor
ruling him ‘ok’ to continue. Torres Nunez took a knee in
the sixth round, but the referee ruled it a slip.
Escobedo Martinez was out for blood after the referee’s
ruling, as he cornered Torrez Nunez a few times, visibly
hurting him. Torres Nunez had a point deducted in the
eighth round as he continued to lose his mouth guard.
Both fighters were visibly tired and worn down by the
10th round, as they closed out the fight to the applause
of the attendees. Ultimately, Torres Nunez was crowned
the victor via unanimous decision with scores of 97-92,
98-91, 97-92 as fight fans gave his opponent a standing
ovation for his brave performance.
Opening the DAZN broadcasts, undefeated Rafael “El
Divino” Espinoza (18-0, 15 KOs) of Guadalajara, Mexico,
took on Alie “Demolition Man” Laurel (18-7-1, 11 KOs) of
Manila, Philippines. The scheduled 10-round
featherweight only lasted a round after Espinoza knocked
down Laurel twice in the first round, winning by
technical knockout at the 1:30 mark.
Christian Olivo (19-0-1, 7KOs) of Hermosillo, Sonora,
Mexico faced Guadalajara’s Miguel Mateos (12-5, 7KOs) in
a 6-round featherweight fight. Both fighters were
willing participants as they both took turns throwing
combination at each other to the applause and cheers of
the crowd. The fight went the distance with Olivo
winning the fight via unanimous decision with scores of
60-54 from all three judges.
Also, part of the non-broadcasted fight card Jorge
“Chino” Garcia (23-3, 19 KOs) of Los Mochis, Mexico,
defeated Sinaloa’s Jesus “Dengue” Nunez Rodriguez
(19-9-2, 13 KOs) via a debilitating body shot in the
third round. The fight was originally scheduled to be a
an 8-round super welterweight fight
Argi Cortes (22-2-2, 10 KOs) of Mexico City defeated
Mario Andrade (16-15-7, 5 KOs) via unanimous decision in
a lively 6-round flyweight fight.
In the second fight of the night the undefeated Evan
Sanchez (10-0, 6 KOs) of Parlier, California, defeated
Abraham “Pitbull” Juarez (19-9, 8 KOs) of Mexico City,
Mexico. The scheduled 6-round super welterweight event
went the distance with Sanchez declared the victor via
unanimous decision.
Opening up the night of boxing at Plaza Monumental de
Playas, Monterrey’s Arely “Ametralladora” Mucino
(31-3-2, 11KOs) took on Marisol Sanchez (12-5, 5 KOs) of
Chiapas, Mexico, in an scheduled 8-round flyweight
fight. Muncino charged at Sanchez early, hurting her in
the second round and winning in the second round by
technical knockout.
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