On Saturday night, December 14th, boxing fans were left speechless as Jaime Munguia faced a shocking defeat in Tijuana, Mexico. The former champion, fighting in front of a passionate hometown crowd, was unexpectedly knocked out in the sixth round by Bruno Surace, an underdog from France. The upset has already been dubbed one of the most surprising moments in boxing this year.
Munguia, 28, came into the fight as a heavy favorite and a top-ranked contender at super middleweight, hoping to rebuild his momentum after a tough year. The fight seemed to be following the script early on, with Munguia dropping Surace in the second round with a sharp left hook. The crowd at Estadio Caliente erupted, sensing an early finish.
UPSET ALERT. UPSET ALERT.
SURACE JUST KO’D MUNGUIA 🤯 pic.twitter.com/cvw8hC89oQ
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) December 15, 2024
But Surace, now 26-0-2 (5 KOs), showed resilience far beyond his reputation. Fighting outside of France for the first time, the 26-year-old weathered the storm and bided his time. Then, in the sixth round, with Munguia leaving his guard open while pressing for another big shot, Surace unleashed a perfectly-timed right hand that sent Munguia crumbling to the canvas.
The referee counted Munguia out at 2:36 of the round. While the count may have seemed brisk to some, it was clear Munguia was in no shape to continue.
The loss marks a significant turning point for Munguia, whose record now stands at 44-2 (35 KOs). It’s his second defeat in just seven months, following a decision loss to Canelo Alvarez in May. Once seen as a rising star, Munguia now faces uncertainty about his future in the sport.
For Surace, the victory opens new doors. A rematch with Munguia seems likely, given the dramatic nature of the upset, but Surace’s options have expanded significantly after such a defining win.
This unexpected result has shaken up the super middleweight division. Munguia now faces important decisions about his career, while Surace’s victory has given him new opportunities to pursue. One thing is clear, this fight will be remembered as a defining moment for both boxers.
