‘Upset of the year’: ‘50-to-1’ underdog KO's ex-world champion Jaime Munguia, rocks boxing world

The boxing world has seen a “real life Rocky” after one of the biggest upsets the sport has seen “in the last 50 years”.

Jaime Munguia was expected to walk over Surace. Photo: YouTube

The boxing world has been rocked after super middleweight contender Jaime Munguia’s Tijuana homecoming ended with the first knockout loss of his career to unknown Frenchman Bruno Surace.

The 44-2-0 Munguia, who was ranked the No. 1 contender under The Ring Magazine rankings for the super middleweight title behind only former undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez, was dominating the fight, having already claimed a round 2 knockdown.

Watch selected NRL, AFL, SSN games plus every F1 qualifying session and race live in 4K on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

Fighting Surace, who was 25-0-2 but had never fought outside France, Munguia was showing his clash.

But in boxing, a punch can change everything.

In the sixth round, Surace stunned the boxing world, unloading a heavy right hand which rocked Munguia.

Knocked down, the Mexican did get to his feet but the referee waved it off after a stumble from the 28-year-old.

A former junior middleweight world champion, Munguia’s only previous loss had come in a 12 round unanimous points decision loss to Alvarez in May this year for the undisputed super middleweight title and he was returning home after four fights in the US.

What a punch. Photo: YouTube

The commentators and fans were blown away.

“Oh my goodness, he does not beat the count,” one said.

“Bruno Surace has knocked out Jaime Munguia, oh my goodness. What an upset in Tijuana.”

The other commentator asked: “Can you believe this?

“We’ve got to tip our hat to this young man who is coming out here, coming across the world to fight the man in his home town and scores a one-punch come-from-behind, knockout of the year, upset of the year, one-punch, full 10-count. Unbelievable.”

Boxing reporter Dan Rafael suggested the odds for the fight were as wide as 50-to-1, although others said it was 35-to-1 — regardless, they were long odds for the Frenchman.

Rafael described Surace as “an obscure fighter from France”, pointing out that in his 27 fights before the Munguia victory, he’d had only four KO's.

He also tweeted: “OMG!!!!!!!!!! UPSET OF THE YEAR!!!!!!! Bruno Surace, losing every round and was down in 2nd round, lands CLEAN right hand on the chin and erases Munguia, who is counted out in rd 6!!!!!!! REAL LIFE ROCKY! Surace had only 4 KO's in 27 fights coming in!!!!

“Munguia has been down only once before against Canelo. Obscure French guy with 4 previous KO's in 27 fights ruins him with one punch. Whoa.”

Munguia's corner couldn't believe it. Photo: YouTube

Surace couldn't believe it. Photo: YouTube

Inside Boxing Live’s Dan Canobbio wrote: “Bruno Surace had only 4 knockouts in his 25 fights. Jaime Munguia had never been stopped in his 40+ fights. Boxing!”

Professional bettor MagicM wrote: “Munguia getting knocked out as a (-3000) fav in f**king Tijuana by a French kid with 4 KOs in 27 career fights is the upset of the decade.

“Dude sniped him flat with the 1-2 like the f**king white Tommy Hearns.

“What the flying f**k.”

The Villain Boxing account even asked “Is this one of the biggest upsets in the last 50 years?”

Surace even seemed surprised that he could come away with the W.

“I know that he is an excellent boxer. So, we worked on our counter punches,” Surace said. “He is a true warrior. I want to thank him for the opportunity. This was a big experience for me.

“Middleweight is my true weight class. But we’ll see if (a rematch) can happen.”

The loss is a potentially huge setback for Munguia, who was ranked No. 2 in the WBC, No. 3 in the WBO, No. 4 in the WBA and No. 5 in the IBF.

Originally published as ‘Upset of the year’: ‘50-to-1’ underdog KO's ex-world champion Jaime Munguia, rocks boxing world