HAMZAH SHEERAZ’S manager, Spencer Brown, has named Jaime Munguia as a potential opponent for his client’s expected return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, early next year.
The Goldstar Promotions founder told Boxing News earlier today that several more names, including Callum Simpson and Diego Pacheco, were previously discussed as possible options for Sheeraz, 22-0-1 (18 KOs).
With Pacheco now gearing up to face Kevin Lele Sadjo on December 13, though, it would appear that Munguia, 45-2 (35 KOs), and Simpson have emerged as the more likely candidates.
Munguia, in particular, makes for an interesting addiction to the conversation, especially when considering his failed Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) test earlier this year.
As it happened, the former world super-welterweight champion tested positive for exogenous testosterone, a banned substance, shortly after his wide unanimous decision victory over Bruno Surace in May.
But while both his A and B-sample tests offered the exact same result, it was later revealed that the high-volume puncher had ultimately swerved any form of punishment.
This was because the British Boxing Board of Control – the governing body that oversaw his win over Surace – decided to accept ‘accidental exposure’ as the explanation for his failed tests.
As a result, it would seem there is nothing to stop Munguia from returning to action in February, which is when Brown believes that Sheeraz will enter his next outing.
The super-middleweight contender comes off an emphatic fourth-round finish over Edgar Berlanga this past July, allowing him to blast his way onto the world scene at 168lbs.
As of now, Sheeraz is the WBC’s number-two ranked contender – just one place in front of Munguia – while Christian Mbilli still holds the sanctioning body’s ‘interim’ belt.
