Former WBO junior middleweight champion Jaime Munguia 37-0 (30) methodically broke down and stopped Kamil Szeremeta 21-2 (4) in the sixth round of their 12-round contest at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas on Saturday night.
It was target practice for the 24-year-old Mexican, who landed at will on the late replacement who stepped in for Maciej Sulecki 29-2 (11). According to CompuBox, Munguia landed an average of 30 of 73 punches per round, including a career-high 53 punches in round six.
It was this onslaught that prompted Sulecki’s corner to withdraw their fighter on his stool at the halfway mark of the fight.
“I was surprised at his ability to take punishment,” Munguia said.
“He has all my respect because he could take a lot of punishment. I was really trying to work my offense in this fight and try different things. Then I began to pressure him and change the distance at which I fought.”
In other action, super middleweight Gabriel Rosado 26-13-1 (15) proved that experience counts when he knocked out previously undefeated prospect Bektemir ‘Bek the Bully’ Melikuziev 7-1 (6) with a single right hand in the third round.
Melikuziev, who had only been past the fourth round once, started fast as expected and bludgeoned Rosado to the canvas in the first.
The Philly veteran survived and was judicious with his punches in the second, looking to find his range and rhythm against the powerful Uzbek southpaw.
While Rosado was making his adjustments, Melikuziev kept ploughing forward, stepping onto a perfectly timed right hand to the temple in the third.
Melikuziev pitched face-first to the canvas and although he made it to his feet, he was in no state to continue. Referee Rocky Burke waved off the fight at the 1:12 mark.
“I knew I would have to dig deep,” said Rosado, who was 2-4-1 in his past seven fights going back five years. “I had more experience than he, but he’s very strong and throws heavy shots.
“I was trying to time him, but he caught me with the body shot. He didn’t drop me, but I took a knee to recover. And then I got the win.”
Munguia said he would like to face Rosado next is he can’t land an immediate world title shot.
“Hopefully, I can fight for a world title at the end of this year. If not, I would like to fight Gabriel Rosado,” Munguia said.
In the main support bout Marlen Esparza 10-1 (1) recovered from a first-round knockdown to claim the WBC flyweight title from Ibeth Zamora Silva 32-7 (12) by unanimous decision with scores of 97-92, 95-94 and 96-94.
The new champion won the belt with the cleaner punching, landing 48% of her power shots according to CompuBox. They combined to throw 1295 punches including 172 in the last round.
