Jaime Munguia\u2019s reign as the WBA super-middleweight world champion could soon be coming to an end after the Mexican star reportedly sought a step-aside agreement to bypass his ordered mandatory defence.<\/p>\n
\u200bMunguia<\/a> captured the WBA 168lb strap on May 2 with a one-sided unanimous decision victory over Armando Res\u00e9ndiz in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n The sanctioning body formally instructed him last month to face its number one ranked challenger, the heavy-handed Uzbek Bektemir Melikuziev.<\/p>\n \u200bRather than looking to strike a deal ahead of the October 21 negotiation deadline, Munguia\u2019s team is instead understood to be pursuing a voluntary bout against Venezuela\u2019s Keiber Gonzalez.<\/p>\n The move has drawn a public response from Melikuziev, who has openly accused Munguia of disrespecting the sport and demanded he either fight or vacate the title immediately.<\/p>\n \u201cThe purse is not important, I am ready to fight for free. But please stop disrespecting me and and the rules of the game!<\/p>\n \u201cJaime Munguia, I was the mandatory for the title before you fought for it. You became the champion, respect me just like I would respect you or any other boxer if I was the champion, respect the WBA, respect the fans, they want to see real fight with real competition, not just a fight where everybody knows the outcome before the fight happens!\u201d<\/p>\n If it wasn\u2019t clear enough, Uzbek reporter Jalol Akhmedov has reiterated the stance.<\/p>\n Munguia team has offered step aside price for Bek\u02bcs team and they denied it. Bek is only willing to get his title fight. In short, fight or vacate. No other options \ud83d\udd25 pic.twitter.com\/YjNPnsfWAZ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jalol Akhmedov | Sports blog \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddff (@JalolAkhmedov) October 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Official news on the matter is expected soon. Should the Mexican champion decide to vacate, he will be the second to do so in the super-middleweight anks recently.<\/p>\n