From The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, WBO Jr. Middleweight champion Jaime Munguia makes his first defense of his title against former 154-pound titlist Liam “Beefy” Smith. Munguia secured his first ever world title with a TKO victory over former Welterweight champion Sadam Ali.
Munguia will look to prove he is a force to be reckoned with, while Smith eyes a chance to become a world champion once again. Smith’s only loss is to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and believes he has all the tools necessary to ground the heavy-handed Mexican.
Also featured on the Golden Boy card is WBA Super Featherweight champion, Alberto Machado, as he takes on the undefeated Rafael Mensah.
The main event bout is scheduled for 12 rounds and the telecast begins at 10 p.m. EST, on HBO.
Read on to see how the Round By Round Boxing staff see this fight playing out.
Round By Round Boxing Staff Predictions - 2020
| Name | Win | Loss | Total Fights | Win Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Burgos | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0.5 |
| Hans Themistode | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0.66666666666667 |
| R.L. Woodson | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0.8 |
| Robert Contreras | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
Jaime Munguia vs. Liam Smith
Ty Paul, Staff Writer
Jaime Munguia is a bull. He replaced Liam Smith weeks before pummeling Sadam Ali to take his WBO Jr. Middleweight crown.
He’ll pummel Smith too. Munguia’s last six opponents haven’t made it past the 4th round.
Prediction: Munguia
Joshua Diaz, Staff Writer
Jaimie Mungia is too big, and his power punching will prove to be too much for Liam Smith. Munguia stops Smith via vicious KO.
Prediction: Munguia
R.L. Woodson, Staff Writer
We’re still learning about this young champion in Jaime Munguia, who burst onto the scene by breaking down Sadam Ali, shortly after he was denied the opportunity to replace Saul Alvarez for the scheduled rematch with Gennady Golovkin.
Liam Smith was stopped by Alvarez in the ninth round of their September 2016 bout. Beefy went down multiple times before a body shot left him crumpled on the canvas. I’ll take Munguia with his good size, solid power along with his exuberance to stop Smith late.
We don’t know if Munguia is elite, but I don’t know if Smith’s the right opponent to expose him as a one-hit wonder.
Prediction: Munguia
Peter Nieves, Senior Writer
Jaime Munguia still has a lot to prove to consider himself amongst the best but based on everything I saw when he defeated Sadam Ali, I think this kid is the real deal.
Liam Smith is a solid boxer and his only loss is to an elite fighter in Canelo Alvarez.
Smith wasn’t able to keep up with the power of that Mexican and I feel that will inevitably be the case again with Munguia. I see Munguia continuing to make a statement and finishes Smith within six.
Prediction: Munguia
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Jaime Munguia is too big and too strong for Liam Smith. Smith is serviceable so he should be able to last a few rounds before Munguia sends him packing back across the pond.
Prediction: Munguia
Photos by Hogan Photos/Golden Boy Promotions
