Bektemir Melikuziev Urges WBA to Act on Munguia's Title Defense

Melikuziev's Accusations Against Munguia

Bektemir Melikuziev has accused Jaime Munguia of avoiding their mandated WBA super middleweight title fight. In an Instagram post, Melikuziev stated that he had made various concessions regarding preparation, drug testing, and payment to secure his mandatory shot. This claim surfaced just before Munguia's announcement of a fight against Nikita Zon on October 31.

Questions for Munguia's Team

Melikuziev's statements raise concerns for Munguia's camp regarding the delay in fulfilling the mandatory defense. He expressed his willingness to fight on short notice, without a proper training camp, and without VADA testing, which he typically insists upon. He even indicated a readiness to accept a minimal or no purse for the bout. Melikuziev questioned why a purse bid has not been ordered and why Munguia has not been stripped of his title if he is indeed refusing to defend it.

WBA's Response to the Situation

The WBA has given both teams until October 21 to negotiate, meaning the deadline is still active. However, Melikuziev is urging the organization to take action if Munguia continues to pursue a different opponent. He emphasized the need for the WBA to enforce its rules regarding mandatory defenses. Following Melikuziev's comments, the WBA confirmed that it had not approved the Munguia-Zon matchup and reiterated Melikuziev's status as the official challenger.

Melikuziev also claimed that Munguia requested a higher purse to face him and suggested holding the fight in Uzbekistan with additional financial backing. The ongoing negotiations remain unresolved as Melikuziev asserts he has removed all obstacles on his end.