Bektemir Melikuziev Tells Jaime Munguia to Defend or Vacate the WBA Title
Mandatory challenger Bektemir Melikuziev is done waiting as reports surface that Munguia may vacate his WBA super middleweight belt.
Bektemir Melikuziev has had enough of waiting. The WBA mandatory challenger is demanding Jaime Munguia either defend his super middleweight title or give it up.
"Fight me, or give up the title," Melikuziev said, per Boxing News 24. "I earned my opportunity. I waited long enough."
Melikuziev earned his mandatory position by defeating Darius Fulghum and previously stepped aside under a promoter agreement with the understanding he would eventually get his shot. That patience is running out.
Reports have surfaced that Munguia's camp is considering vacating the belt rather than facing Melikuziev, though no formal announcement has been made. Munguia won the WBA super middleweight title by defeating Armando Resendiz in May 2026.
The WBA has given both sides until October 21 to reach a deal. If negotiations fail, the sanctioning body could order a purse bid. Golden Boy Promotions has connections to both fighters, which could simplify or complicate the process depending on how you look at it.
Melikuziev presents a genuine tactical challenge. The Uzbek southpaw brings heavy hands and a relentless body attack that has troubled everyone he's shared the ring with. If Munguia's team is truly weighing a vacate, that tells you something about how seriously they take the threat.
If Munguia vacates, that's a terrible look. You don't win a belt in May and duck the mandatory four months later. I don't care what bigger fight his team thinks is out there. You earned the title, now defend it.
Melikuziev is a real problem at 168. The guy is a southpaw with legit power who attacks the body like he's trying to fold you in half. He stepped aside once already on a promise. Making him step aside again, or worse, vacating to avoid him, would be one of the ugliest moves in boxing this year.
The October 21 deadline is coming fast. My guess is Munguia's team is trying to leverage a bigger payday somewhere else and using the vacate threat as negotiating pressure. But if they actually go through with it, Melikuziev should get that belt and Munguia's reputation takes a hit he can't punch his way out of.
