Jaime Munguia’s reign as the WBA super-middleweight world champion could soon be coming to an end after the Mexican star reportedly sought a step-aside agreement to bypass his ordered mandatory defence.
Munguia captured the WBA 168lb strap on May 2 with a one-sided unanimous decision victory over Armando Reséndiz in Las Vegas.
The sanctioning body formally instructed him last month to face its number one ranked challenger, the heavy-handed Uzbek Bektemir Melikuziev.
Rather than looking to strike a deal ahead of the October 21 negotiation deadline, Munguia’s team is instead understood to be pursuing a voluntary bout against Venezuela’s Keiber Gonzalez.
The move has drawn a public response from Melikuziev, who has openly accused Munguia of disrespecting the sport and demanded he either fight or vacate the title immediately.
“The purse is not important, I am ready to fight for free. But please stop disrespecting me and and the rules of the game!
“Jaime Munguia, I was the mandatory for the title before you fought for it. You became the champion, respect me just like I would respect you or any other boxer if I was the champion, respect the WBA, respect the fans, they want to see real fight with real competition, not just a fight where everybody knows the outcome before the fight happens!”
If it wasn’t clear enough, Uzbek reporter Jalol Akhmedov has reiterated the stance.
Munguia team has offered step aside price for Bekʼs team and they denied it. Bek is only willing to get his title fight. In short, fight or vacate. No other options 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YjNPnsfWAZ
— Jalol Akhmedov | Sports blog 🇺🇿 (@JalolAkhmedov) October 8, 2026
Official news on the matter is expected soon. Should the Mexican champion decide to vacate, he will be the second to do so in the super-middleweight anks recently.
Former WBO champion Hamzah Sheeraz recently opted to relinquish his belt rather than facing mandatory challenger Janibek Alimkhanuly, despite the Brit’s promoter Queensberry winning the purse bid for the fight.
The IBF belt will be defended by Osleys Iglesias tonight, and the WBC is set to be contested between champion Christian Mbilli and challenger Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez later this month.
