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Former WBO junior middleweight champion Jaime Munguia 38-0 (30) is looking forward to fight in Tijuana once again when he takes on undefeated D’Mitrius Ballard 21-0-1 (13) in a 12-round middleweight bout at the Playas Plaza Monumental on Saturday 19 February.
The 25-year-old Mexican has not fought in his hometown in almost five years, before he won his first world championship at 154-pounds.
“I feel very proud to be fighting here in this city and thank the fans that have supported me throughout my career,” Munguia said told Fightnews.
Munguia is expected a tough fight from Ballard, 28, who hails from Temple Hills in Maryland. It will be just his second pro bout outside of the United States after previously securing a win in Canada more than five years ago.
“I have seen him fight. He is complicated, he fights the typical American style, flashy, elusive, strong. He is undefeated,” Munguia said.
“His style is complicated because he slips and dips his shoulder. A good counter puncher but we should be able to defeat him.”
Munguia has been training for the bout at the Otomi Ceremonial Center in the Temoaya mountains with his coach Erik Morales.
“This is the sixth time I train here in Otomi. I have had great work. Erik and I are coming with the perfect strategy,” Munguia said.
“It’s great training here, I am very focused here, it’s secluded and there are no distractions. Now it’s just putting in the work.”
Ballard is expecting a hostile reception in Tijuana but says he is well prepared.
“I know that the public will be against me, but I’ve fought in similar conditions. Not with that magnitude of Tijuana, but I have fought in San Antonio where the Mexicans support their favorite,” Ballard told DAZN News last month.
“I’ve tasted that, and even though I know it will be at a very different level, it’s required of boxers to go to their opponents’ country, beat them and take their belts. It’s been proven throughout history, with Errol Spence, Andre Ward, even George Kambosos. I’m ready for the challenge.”
Ballard believe the fight is coming at the right time for him.
“In a lot of fights, I feel like I didn’t get to show all the tools that I have, all the skills,” he said. “I feel I am a complete fighter; I feel I can do anything, and Jaime Munguia is the perfect opponent for me to show my skills and bring out the talent I have.
“I’m preparing to be dominant, give a good performance over 12 rounds and if there is any chance to take it out of the judges’ hands, I will definitely take advantage, but I’m also looking forward to going all 12 rounds and coming out victorious.
“Anything can happen in a boxing ring. We know the dangers, the risk of going into a ring and losing that zero on the record, getting knocked out or you can lose, so many things can happen but for me it’s just motivation, it makes me very happy.
“I want to show them with this fight that I am elite, that I belong there. I’ve come to conquer the middleweight division.
“My biggest aspiration is to be champion in this division, to unify and then to be undisputed champion. Those are my dreams and aspirations and that night with Jaime Munguía I will begin that road.”
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