Friday Recap: Jaime Munguia Body Blasts Take Down Erik Bazinyan In Ten

Super middleweight Jaime Munguia started his next win streak, coming back just after Mexican Independence Day with a strong performance off of his Cinco de Mayo loss to Canelo Álvarez in the Top Rank Boxing main event at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

Munguia of Tijuana, Mexico (44-1, 35 KOs) stopped previously unbeaten contender Erik Bazinyan of Laval, Quebec (32-1-1, 23 KOs) with an impressive barrage of punches, causing Bazinyan to drop and be counted out by referee Thomas Taylor at 2:36 of round ten.

Erik Bazinyan said after the fight he didn't remember the knockout. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

“It was a fight that I have to do intelligently,” Munguia explained after the win. “He's strong. He hits hard as well, so we had to break him down and be careful with the shots to the body. And then in the tenth round, that's when I decided to come out with everything, and that's how we got the knockout.”

Bazinyan's Boxing Skills Gave Him Early Edge

Erik Bazinyan won the early rounds against Jaime Munguia. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

Bazinyan’s jab gave Munguia problems as expected. He did his best to move and outbox Munguia, winning him the early rounds on the scorecard. Bazinyan said the fight was going great, and he was feeling comfortable, sure he was winning.

“I felt he was very frustrated with my jab, right hand, my counters, and he was getting like tired.”

But Munguia’s investment to the body of Bazinyan paid major dividends in the second half of the fight.

Munguia landed two swift body shots in the sixth round, drawing Bazinyan close with feints to allow him to land his punches. Seeing success, Munguia stepped him the offense. Bazinyan was visibly slowed down, but though he recovered, the road to victory became clear.

Trainer Marc Ramsey told Bazinyan he gave Munguia the round. “Remember what I told you about this fight? Your jab and your right! We go back to the same tactic.”

Later, Munguia said Bazinyan “never hurt me. He hits hard. I could tell that he had a hard punch, but at no point did he hurt me.”

Munguia's Investment To the Body Pays Off

Jaime Munguia was able to turn the fight in his favor behind his body punching. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

In round seven, Munguia landed a combination right hook and a left hook as Bazinyan was looking for the uppercut. It backed Bazinyan into the ropes halfway through the round. Bazinyan recovered well, and Munguia had to pause to cause his breath. Bazinyan responded with straight rights to the chin, taking advantage of the opening. The pair traded shots to end the round, thrilling the Arizona fans.

Bazinyan was still in the fight, scoring with snapping jabs but slowing down as Munguia increased his work rate. Any early ground gained by Bazinyan was slipping away.

Munguia said trainer Erik Morales told him to take off the ninth round, “and we would come with everything” in the following round. The plan worked. Munguia hurt Bazinyan with a hard left hook and unloaded on him, dropping him after a dozen hard shots to end his night.

Bazinyan: ‘I Don't Remember What Happened'

Bazinyan said he has no recollection of the knockout. “I think he wasn't comfortable with my counter punches and my jab. I. And just all of a sudden I got hit, and I don't remember what happened, like I was on the floor,” explained Bazinyan.

“I told him it was a good fight, to keep working hard,” said Munguia of Bazinyan after the win. “I told him to keep moving forward and that he's very strong.”

After his first loss, a disappointed Bazinyan said he showed the world he has the heart of a champion.

“I'm not scared of anyone. He was the more experienced fighter, and I'll be back stronger. I showed everyone that I can be an elite and deliver a great fight.

“I put on a hell of a show, and I'll take it as a man and big experience. I'll work hard, and I'll come back stronger to fight another elite fighter, you know, because I think I’ve got everything to fight guys like this.”

Who's Next In Line for Jaime Munguia?

“It was a great experience. And what I want to do is continue giving great fights for the people,” said Munguia. Who might that be against? Asked about Caleb Plant, Edgar Berlanga, and Christian Mbili, Munguia singled out Berlanga and Plant. But the true firefight is with Mbili, a stablemate of Bazinyan who provided valuable ring intelligence Saturday to his team.

Bazinyan stepped up and performed well. Although disappointed, he introduced himself to American fans and will be a worthy opponent for anyone.

Torrez Jr. Delivers In DQ Over Dawejko

Richard Torrez Jr. blasted Joey Dawejko with hooks and uppercuts, sending Dawejko's mouthpiece flying five times. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. of Tulare, California (11-0, 10 KOs) picked apart Philadelphia veteran Joey Dawejko (28-12-4, 16 KOs) with speed and a high work rate, causing Dawejko to be disqualified after losing his mouthpiece five times in five rounds, three of those in the fourth round as Torrez Jr. took Dawejko to school.

Referee Wes Melton repeatedly warned Dawejko he would dock him a point. He docked him two points in the fourth round. Torrez Jr. kept up his attack with smart bodywork followed by hooks and uppercuts, bloodying Dawejko’s nose.

When Torrez Jr. blasted Dawejko with a brutal uppercut and sent the mouthpiece flying for the fifth time, Melton had enough and called an end to the bout at 2:02 of the round.

At least Joey Dawejko got some visibility for his roofing business with the sponsorship patch on his trunks. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

“Joey was a vet. He didn’t give up. The mouthpiece came out a little too much. That’s a veteran move. He put up a good fight, but we were able to show more boxing ability,” said Torrez Jr.

Torrez Jr.’s impressive stamina and conditioning allow him to constantly move in the ring. His twitchy attack and movement to throw punches at angles help negate any disadvantage as a more undersized heavyweight, although Torrez Jr. weighed in just a dozen pounds under Dawejko.

Torrez Jr. also drills his footwork, taking tap dancing classes and playing tennis to improve his movement.

Richard Torrez Jr. uses the skills he's developed to overcome any size disadvantage. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

Torrez Jr. agreed his conditioning is an asset. “That’s me, my camp, running springs, doing miles and miles and miles, my dad yelling at me all the time. That’s conditioning.”

Torrez Jr. landed 85 punches to just 15 for Dawejko, Although Dawejko has seen better days, he posed a threat with his punching power, and he landed two left hooks that snapped Torrez Jr.’s head around. His chin is solid, and he wasn’t seriously rattled.

Emiliano Vargas Stops Larry Flyers

Emiliano Vargas delivered five rounds of offensive punishment before he could get tough Larry Fryers to yield on Friday. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

The DNA of undefeated junior welterweight Emiliano Fernando Vargas of Las Vegas (12-0, 10 KOs) is undeniable. The youngest fighting son of former world champion Fernando Vargas, age 20, stepped up against determined Larry Fryers of Ireland (13-7-1, 5 KOs). Vargas handled Fryers with ease, stopping him in the fifth round.

“Larry Fryers is a hell of a fighter. They’re just like Mexicans, they have their beans on toast. It’s an honor to share the ring with him. He’s a strong, touch fighter. I had to adapt and find a way to win,” said Vargas.

Vargas came on strong at the opening bell, finding an easy target in Fryers. But Fryers is fighting for his family and his livelihood, coming off 15 months out of the ring following a car accident and four surgeries. He would not go easily.

The left hook dropped Larry Fryers, giving Emiliano Vargas the fifth-round TKO win. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

Vargas dialed his attack back, tempering the pace and working on his skills while drilling Fryers with body shots. A punch caused a cut on Fryers in the third round. A well-placed body shot early in the fourth round caused Fryers to wince. Vargas continued to take his time dishing out the punishment. Fryers kept fighting back as referee Raul Caiz Jr. hovered nearby.

Fryers made it into the fifth round. Vargas dug to both sides of the body, then landed the hard left hook, sending Fryers flying across the ring onto the canvas. That was enough for Caiz Jr., who immediately waived off the fight to save Fryers for another day. The time of the finish was 1:23 of round five.

Father and trainer Fernando Vargas said of his son’s performance, “He had a tough guy in front of him. He didn’t come to lay down. He worked different angles. He turned southpaw. He did great!”

Prospects like Emiliano Vargas need opponents like Larry Fryers to test their skills. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

Young fighters like Vargas need guys like Fryers to make them work for their wins early in their career. Fryers pointed out to ESPN’s Mark Kriegel before the fight that without tough opposition, there are no fights like Gatti vs Ward.

Undercard Results Include Upset Of the Year

Ricardo Fernandez of Spain had just one knockout win in 28 fights before he drilled Alan Garcia for a spectacular upset win. Photo: Mikey William, Top Rank Boxing

In one of 2024's biggest upsets, 15-to-1 underdog Ricardo Fernandez of Spain (16-13, 2 KOs) surprised everyone watching with a world-class knockout victory over heavily favored Alan “Kid Kansas” Garcia (14-1, 11 KOs). It was the promising lightweight prospect’s first loss.

Despite having a single knockout win in 28 fights, Fernandez caught Garcia by surprise when he left himself open, landing a spectacular right hook. Garcia dropped to the canvas and wasn't going to beat the count. Garcia's trainer, Gloria Alvarado, gasped from the corner where ESPN cameras were on her as the punch landed.

Fernandez had not won a single round from any of the three judges when he scored his knockout victory.

Super flyweight Steven Navarro kept the buzz about his future going with a knockout win over Oscar Arroyo. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

Flashy super flyweight prospect Steven Navarro of Los Angeles (4-0, 3 KOs) over Oscar Arroyo of Nicaragua (3-3, 2 KOs). Navarro was in command the entire fight. As he poured on the offense in the third round, he fired off a straight left and uppercut, followed by left hooks. The final right hook snapping Arroyo’s head back finally prompted the referee to stop the fight.

Charly Suarez remained undefeated, winning against Jorge Casteneda. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

2016 Philippines Olympic team member Charly Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs) delivered a strong performance with a third round TKO win over Jorge Castañeda of Laredo, Texas (17-4, 13 KOs). Time of the referee stoppage was 2:22. Suarez scored a knockdown  Suarez now holds the WBO International Junior Lightweight title.

Jorge Garcia Perez needed less than half a round to take out Ilias Essaoudi with a vicious body shot. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

Jorge Garcia Perez of Mexico (31-4, 26 KOs) needed just 46 seconds to land a right hook to the body for the knockout win over Ilias Essaoudi of Germany (22-3, 15 KOs). After Perez landed the punch, Essaoudi grabbed and covered his rib cage with his right hand, and Perez followed up with multiple hard shots, including a nasty right hook to close the deal.