By Miguel Rivera
Mexican promoter Fernando Beltran endorsed the idea of Jaime Munguia going to 160 pounds in 2019, and he predicted that next year his name will be heard alongside the division's greats at middleweight.
Munguia returns to the ring this Saturday to make a mandatory defense of the WBO junior middleweight title against Dennis Hogan at the Arena Monterrey in Mexico. The card will be distributed by streaming service DAZN.
The 154-pound champion feels ready to invade the middleweight division after making his fifth defense.
"We have a great enthusiasm with Munguía, we are happy to bring a great show to the fans of Mexico and that DAZN once again crosses borders to bring Mexico to the whole world," Beltran told ESPN Deportes.
"This will be the second mandatory fight that the WBO places on Munguia in less than a year and it's going to be an interesting fight. We are confident that Munguía will win as he always does.
Regarding the plans with Munguía, Beltrán states that he would like him to make this defense and then one more, and then one more and then go to 160 pounds, where there will be interesting fight that could define the rest of his career.
"I would like him to make five defenses, this is the fourth with Hogan. What is a fact is that this year he will rise a division not only because we understand that he is struggling to make 154 pounds, but because at 160 pounds are the biggest names like Canelo Alvarez, Gennady Golovkin and Daniel Jacobs and we want to be with them in 2020," said Beltran.
About regarding the support that DAZN has given to the boxing events in Mexico, Beltran said that it's a sign that boxing has no borders.
"There is nothing that separates us, we are happy because this is our second card from Mexico with them and thanks to that we continue to draw talent and that is also reflected in good numbers with TV Azteca week by week," Beltran said.
