WBO junior middleweight champion Jaime Munguia had a breakthrough 2018 and will continue to keep himself active with a title defense in January 2019.
The Mexican champion appeared on ESPN Deportes, the network's Spanish-language branch and talked about what his plans are for his next title defense. Munguia revealed that he will be fighting undefeated Japanese boxer Takeshi Inoue on January 26, 2019.
"It will be on January 26 against Takeshi Inoue and probably will be either in Texas or California, I still don't know. We hope that in December we the details. I think he is a good opponent, unbeaten, Japanese and we know the Japanese always give it their all, just like us Mexicans, we put our lives on the line. We have to be careful with him, but we have been studying him and believe I can win," Munguia said.
The card would likely also include a WBA "regular" featherweight title fight between titleholder Jesus Rojas and Can Xu as it was previously reported that the fight has been signed. Neither fight has yet to be officially announced.
Munguia has been one of boxing's most active world champions throughout 2018. Munguia originally won the world title when he defeated Sadam Ali back in May. Munguia followed it up with title defenses against Liam Smith and Brandon Cook.
Inoue is one of the top junior middleweight contenders in the WBO rankings. The 28-year-old Inoue, ranked No. 3 by the WBO and No. 14 by the WBA, is coming off a close unanimous decision win over Yuki Nonaka back in April.
