Foto: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Jaime Munguia wants another shot at becoming a two-division world champion, but he’ll have to get past an undefeated puncher first.
Munguia (43-1, 34 KOs) will face Erik Bazinyan (32-0-1, 23 KOs) in the 12-round main event on Friday night at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
“I am very excited to be back in this important and patriotic month for my country. It is an honor to have my first fight with Top Rank.”
“I’m excited to be back working with my old team. I’m excited to be back in Big Bear. It’s been a great preparation. It’s been one of the best preparations of my career and we’re going to have a great fight.”
Following his January stoppage win over British veteran John Ryder at the Footprint Center, Munguia will return to the Phoenix area. In May, he made an unsuccessful bid for the undisputed crown against fellow countryman Canelo Alvarez.
“We’ve had a tough time since last year. We’ve had great fights against great fighters. We’ve been on great stages as well. That’s helped us gain a lot of confidence. We’re learning more with each camp and we’ll apply all the experience we’ve learned.”
“It’s a very important fight. He’s an aggressive fighter who puts on a great show for the crowd. I know it will be a tough fight, but I’m going to go in with my hand held high,” he said.
In the eight-round heavyweight co-feature, Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. (10-0, 10 KOs) will battle Philadelphia-born veteran Joey Dawejko (28-11-4, 16 KOs).
“It’s hard to say I haven’t recognized {the knockout streak}, but it’s not something I seek out. Now that I’ve grown up around amateurs and pros, I’ve realized that the more you seek it out, the less likely it is to happen.”
“I think there are fireworks going off. I’m really excited for Friday night because I think he’s going to come and fight. He’s ready to show himself to the crowd and to me as well. I think it’s going to be a really cool battle. I don’t think we’re going to take too many steps back. “I’m excited to put on a show in Arizona,” Torrez Jr. added.
Junior welterweight prospect Emiliano Fernando Vargas (11-0, 9 KOs) will open ESPN’s three-fight telecast in an eight-round bout against Irish upset contender Larry Fryers (13-6-1, 5 KOs).
“I know Larry Fryers is coming to fight. He’s a fighter. He’s also fighting for his dreams, just like me. On Friday, I hope to put on a show. I’ve had some of my best performances here in Glendale, Arizona. I hope to keep doing the same and show the world that ‘The General’ is here to stay.”
“Every fighter brings out a different side of me. He’s a hard-hitting fighter. He goes on the attack. He’s strong. He’s an Irish fighter. They go on the attack like the Mexicans. So he’s going to give it his all, I’m going to give it my all and it’s going to be a great show for all the beautiful fans.”
Munguia-Bazinyan, Torrez-Dawejko and Vargas-Fryers will stream live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.
The ESPN+-streamed preliminary card begins at 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT and includes a 10-round junior lightweight clash between undefeated Filipino Charly Suarez (17-0, 9 KOs) and Texas-born puncher Jorge Castaneda (17-3, 13 KOs).
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Eye of the Tiger, Zanfer Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions, tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster.com.
Friday, September 20th
ESPN, ESPN Deportes y ESPN+ (10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT)
Jaime Munguia vs. Jaime Munguia Erik Bazinyan, 12 rounds, supermiddleweight
Richard Torrez Jr. vs. Joey Dawejko, 8 rounds, heavyweight
Emiliano Fernando Vargas vs. Larry Fryers, 8 rounds, peso welter junior
ESPN+ (6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT)
Charly Suárez vs. Jorge Castañeda, 10 rounds, vacant WBO International junior lightweight title
Alan García vs. Ricardo Fernández, 8 rounds, junior welterweight
DJ Zamora vs. Gerardo Antonio Perez, 8 rounds, junior lightweight
Steven Navarro vs. Oscar Arroyo, 6 rounds, junior bantamweight
Jorge García Pérez vs. Ilias Essaoudi, 10 rounds, super welterweight
Sebastian Hernandez vs. Yonfrez Parejo, 8 rounds, super pluma
