Top Rank Boxing Returns to Arizona with Jaime Munguia Headlining
Following the excitement of last weekend’s Canelo Alvarez-Edgar Berlanga pay-per-view, Top Rank Boxing on ESPN aims to capitalize on the buzz with a live event at Glendale’s Desert Diamond Arena on Friday. Jaime Munguia, a fan favorite, will headline the card as he takes on Canadian super middleweight contender Erik Bazinyan.
Munguia, hailing from Tijuana, Mexico, brings an impressive 43-1 record to the Phoenix area, with his only defeat coming against Alvarez earlier this year. Local fans are expected to pack the arena to see him in action once again.
Ahead of the fight, Munguia expressed his gratitude to the Phoenix crowd. “I’m thankful to all the people of Phoenix, the Arizona fans, and everyone who came out to support me,” he told The Arizona Republic. “The energy here is incredible, and I can’t wait to fight in front of this amazing crowd.”
The Friday night event is expected to draw a crowd of up to 10,000, with many more tuning in on ESPN and ESPN+. In addition, Top Rank Boxing announced plans to return to the area in December for another major event, further boosting the Arizona Boxing & MMA Commission’s reputation. The Commission recently received the Commission of the Year award from the North American Boxing Federation (NABF), with executive director Danny Vella earning the Executive of the Year title.
Up-and-coming fighter Emiliano Fernando Vargas, who will compete on the undercard before Munguia, expressed his pride in seeing Canelo Alvarez fight last week as a fellow Mexican. Vargas, a 20-year-old Las Vegas native with a 3-0 record at Desert Diamond Arena, said he looks forward to channeling that energy into his own performance. “It was inspiring watching Alvarez, and I’m excited to show the same spirit in my fight,” he said.
Richard Torrez Jr., now co-featured after the cancellation of the original bout, hopes the momentum from the Alvarez fight will carry over into Friday’s event. “Having someone like Munguia who just fought Canelo on the card definitely adds excitement,” Torrez noted. “Arizona fans always show up, and I’m thrilled to put on a great performance.”
Undercard Highlights:
- Charly Suarez Wins WBO International Title: Filipino boxer Charly Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs) claimed a third-round TKO over Texas’ Jorge Castañeda, securing the WBO International junior lightweight title. Suarez controlled the fight from the start, rocking Castañeda with powerful blows before finishing him in the third round.
- Upset by Ricardo Fernandez: In the night’s first surprise, Ricardo Fernandez of Bolivia, who fights out of Spain, delivered a knockout punch in the fifth round, stunning previously undefeated prospect Alan Garcia. Fernandez’s right hook sent Garcia through the ropes, and he was unable to recover before the count of 10.
- DJ Zamora’s Hard-Fought Win: Las Vegas’ DJ Zamora faced a tough battle against Argentina’s Gerardo Antonio Perez in an eight-round junior lightweight contest. Although the bout lacked significant action, Zamora (14-0) earned a unanimous decision. Despite the loss, Perez was proud to go the distance with the young contender, who is steadily working his way up the rankings.
Early Fight Results:
- Jorge Garcia Perez Stops Ilias Essaoudi: The early crowd witnessed Jorge Garcia Perez, a junior middleweight from Los Mochis, Mexico, secure a first-round TKO against Ilias Essaoudi. Perez improved his record to 31-4 with 26 knockouts after landing a solid left to the ribs.
- Steven “Kid Dynamite” Navarro Impresses: Navarro, a 20-year-old from Inglewood, California, electrified the crowd with his mariachi music entrance and then put on a dominant performance against Oscar Arroyo Jr. Navarro knocked down Arroyo in the first round and eventually stopped the fight in the third round, showcasing his fast hands and explosive power.
- Sebastian Hernandez Secures Early Victory: Tijuana’s Sebastian Hernandez extended his undefeated streak to 17-0 with a fourth-round technical knockout against Yonfrez Parejo in the event’s opening bout.
Main Event Details:
The main card, featuring Jaime Munguia vs. Erik Bazinyan, is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. Phoenix time on Friday, Sept. 20. Depending on the duration of the preceding fights, the ring walks for the main event are expected around 8:40 p.m. The entire event kicks off with the first bell at 2:50 p.m., with seven bouts scheduled before the ESPN broadcast begins.
