A potential all-Mexican showdown between Jose Armando Resendiz and Jaime Munguia has hit a major snag, leaving boxing fans disappointed.
The highly anticipated clash, which was set to take place on May 2, has been confirmed as no longer happening. This news comes as a surprise, especially since both boxers were in talks for a highly attractive matchup that would have been a thrilling addition to the Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez-David Benavidez undercard at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
However, it seems that Munguia, from Tijuana, priced himself out of the fight, leading to his removal from the equation. Attempts to reach out to representatives from both parties and Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) for further clarification have gone unanswered as of publication.
But here's where it gets interesting... Rumors are now swirling that Resendiz, with an impressive record of 16-2 (11 KOs), might be headed for a different, equally intriguing matchup - a face-off with former two-division champion Jermall Charlo, who boasts an impressive 34-0 (23 KOs) record.
This potential matchup carries a lot of weight, as both boxers shared the ring on May 31, 2025, during a PBC on Prime Video event at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Vegas. Charlo made a triumphant return to the ring after an 18-month absence, securing a sixth-round technical knockout against Thomas "Cornflake" LaManna. Meanwhile, Resendiz pulled off an upset for the ages, defeating Caleb Plant in a 12-round decision to claim the main event victory and a secondary version of the WBA 168lbs title.
Since then, Resendiz has been upgraded to full titleholder status, following the retirement of Terence "Bud" Crawford. Crawford was the recognized lineal, Ring, and undisputed super middleweight champion after his upset win over Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in September 2024.
On paper, a Resendiz-Charlo matchup seems like a straightforward arrangement, given that both fighters are under the PBC banner. However, there's a potential hurdle: determining whether Resendiz is contractually obligated to make a mandatory title defense.
Enter Bektemir Melikuziev, the WBA's No. 1 contender, who solidified his position with a narrow but well-deserved unanimous decision over Darius Fulghum just one night before Resendiz's victory over Plant. Melikuziev, from Uzbekistan, dropped the previously unbeaten Fulghum in the final round, securing a win mere hours and miles away from Resendiz's career-defining moment.
The timing of Melikuziev's victory, coupled with his upcoming fight against Sena Agbeko this Saturday on the Mario Barrios-Ryan Garcia DAZN pay-per-view undercard at T-Mobile Arena, could work in Resendiz's favor. PBC officials could potentially appeal to the WBA to sanction the Resendiz-Charlo fight, with the winner facing Melikuziev later this year.
So, what do you think? Is a Resendiz-Charlo matchup the way to go, or should Resendiz honor a potential mandatory defense? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
For more boxing news and insights, follow Jake Donovan, an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024 and news editor for the final nine years. You can find him on X at https://x.com/JakeNDaBox and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jakendabox_.
