by Steve Kim

Currently Jaime Munguia is the WBO 154-pound titlist. Back on May 12th the hard-hitting Mexican stopped Sadam Ali in four rounds to take the belt. This weekend from Las Vegas he faces Liam Smith in his first title defense.

Last week at a media day at the Westside Boxing Club in Los Angeles he was asked about unification bouts with the likes of WBC belt-holder Jermell Charlo and IBF/WBA/IBO champion, Jarrett Hurd.

"Absolutely, I would love to unify my title with any of those, Charlo or Hurd - but I prefer the fight with Hurd," Munguia said through his promoter, Fernando Beltran, to BoxingScene.com.

He explained - "With Hurd it would be a much better fight because he comes forward and Charlo moves a lot. He only wants to be moving in the ring."

Hurd is recovering from a recent injury and likely won't fight again until the final quarter of the year. He was last seen in action back in April, securing a career defining decision win in his unification with Erislandy Lara in Las Vegas.

Munguia (29-0, 25 KO's) is still just 21 years old and his handlers may want to wait on such a daunting assignment.

His trainer, Robert Alcazar told BoxingScene.com - "Right now, what I'm doing with him is I have him under construction. He's making progress every day. When the time comes for that question to be answered, only time will tell and of course his team around him, his promoter, we're going to make that decision when we let him fight the big guys."

Munguia made a big statement in May, when he came in on late notice and blew away Sadam Ali in four rounds to capture the WBO world title at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York.

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.