Jaime Munguia 40-0 (32) overcame an early deficit to score a fifth-round knockout of Jimmy ‘Kilrain’ Kelly 26-3 (10) at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California on Saturday night.
The 25-year-old former WBO super middleweight champion from Mexico struggled in the eraly going with Kelly’s movement and ringcraft. Kelly used clever footwork and feints to set up jabs, left hooks and body shots that kept Munguia guessing.
Kelly brought a similar style to the ring as Dennis ‘Hurricane’ Hogan 34-1 (7), who Munguia defeated by disputed majority decision at 154-pounds in Mexico three years ago.
Brit Kelly, 29, looked sharp and focused as he kept Munguia on the outside, nailing him with accurate shots when he got close and tying him up on the inside. Munguia struggled to cut off the ring but things changed dramatically midway through the fifth.
A short left hook from Munguia caught Kelly on the chin as he was pulling straight back. The force of the blow sent him staggering backwards across the ring on his heels befoe he cam to rest under the bottom rope.
Kelly looked composed as he took the mandatory eight count on his knees but charged right back into combat with the larger, harder punching Munguia. He received a right uppercut for his effort that sent him to the deck again.
Kelly again beat the count but his legs clearly weren’t beneath him. He retreated to the corner where Munguia unloaded a volley of shots that saw the visitor wilt to the canvas. Referee Thomas Taylor applied another count but determined Kelly was in no shape to continue. The official time of the stoppage was 2:57 of round number five.
The fight was contested at a catchweight of 165-pounds.
“I’m ready to go back to 160 [pounds] to fight for a world title or to move up to 168 pounds,” Munguia told broadcaster DAZN’s Chris Mannix. “I’m ready for any challenge.”
Fellow Mexican Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 57-2-2 (39) is the undisputed super middleweight champion of the world. He is coming off a unanimous decision loss to WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in Las Vegas, Nevada in May. Alvarez’s next assignment is a third fight against arch rival and reigning WBA and IBF middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin 42-1-1 (37) on September 17 at a venue to be determined.
The other major name at middleweight is undefeated WBC champion Jermall ‘Hitman’ Charlo 32-0 (22), who is promoted by Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions.
“Show some balls and stop hiding behind Al Haymon and come fight me,” Munguia said.
Kelly was bullish about his chances against Munguia before the fight and he certainly proved his worth even if the result didn’t go his way.
“For people who say I don’t belong here, who say I don’t stand a chance, I say fuck ‘em,” Kelly said at Thursday’s final pre-fight press conference “At the end of the day, it’s me in the ring.”
