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Steve KimESPN
Former WBO junior middleweight titlist Jaime Munguia will face Tureano Johnson on Friday, Oct. 30 at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California, according to Golden Boy Promotions.
“It’s a great honor to be returning during these tough times,” said Munguia, who won the 154-pound title in 2018 against Sadam Ali and defended it five times before moving up in weight. “I hope to deliver excitement and entertainment to the fans as the world slowly makes its way back to normalcy. At the same time, I have been training and improving my skills with my team at the Ceremonial Center in Otomi [Mexico] and I will show that Jaime Munguia is ready for the best in the division.”
Johnson (21-2-1, 15 KOs) is a seasoned veteran whose only losses have come to Curtis Stevens and Sergiy Derevyanchenko. In his most recent bout in July 2019, Johnson stopped the previously undefeated Jason Quigley in the ninth round.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to fight Jaime Munguia,” Johnson said. “The setbacks I’ve had in my career have only made me stronger. Munguia is a tough, undefeated fighter, but I will hand him his first defeat as I pursue my quest to be the middleweight champion of the world.”
Munguia (35-0, 28 KOs), 23, will be making his second appearance as a middleweight after stopping Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan in Round 11 in January.
“Jaime Munguia has all the qualities to become Mexico’s biggest boxing superstar,” said Oscar De La Hoya, the founder of Golden Boy Promotions, which is promoting the event. “He’s tough, charismatic and has the physique to win world titles at middleweight and super middleweight after a successful reign at 154.
“However, Tureano Johnson is coming off an impressive knockout win against Jason Quigley in which he handed him his first loss, something he wants to do against Munguia as well. This is a veritable crossroads fight, and the winner will cement his case for a [middleweight] world title opportunity and be a threat to any of the champions [in the division].”
The event will be closed off to the public to follow California’s state restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.