Jaime Munguía Survives Sixth-Round Scare to Retain WBA Title Against Nikita Zon

Jaime Munguía retained his WBA super middleweight title Saturday, surviving a dangerous sixth round before defeating Nikita Zon by unanimous decision in Riyadh. The judges scored the 12-round fight 117–111, 117–111 and 116–112.

Zon’s awkward southpaw attacks troubled the champion early. Munguía began finding firmer answers in the fourth round and hurt the challenger with a right hand late in the fifth, but the Russian stayed upright and turned the next round into the fight’s most difficult stretch for Munguía.

Zon trapped Munguía against the ropes in the sixth and landed repeated clean punches as referee Tony Weeks watched closely. Munguía survived without a stoppage and responded before the bell, then increasingly controlled the second half as Zon’s output declined, BoxingScene reported. A left uppercut had started Zon’s attack. Later, Munguía hurt the challenger to the body in the eighth round as the pace slowed.

The challenger had never fought beyond eight rounds. He continued through the closing stages, but could not reproduce his earlier success. Munguía’s body punching and forward pressure helped him finish more strongly and keep the belt, according to Fightnews.

The contest had required special permission from the WBA because Bektemir Melikuziev held the mandatory challenger’s position. In its October 30 announcement, the sanctioning body said Munguía’s and Melikuziev’s teams had agreed to let the Zon fight proceed.

That authorization applied specifically to this defense. Melikuziev retained his mandatory status and his right to challenge for the championship, the WBA said. Saturday’s result therefore leaves Munguía with the title while preserving the existing challenger’s position.

Munguía improved to 47–2 with 35 knockouts, while Zon fell to 12–1–1 with 10 stoppages. The Russian challenger completed the full distance, but his sixth-round opportunity did not produce the upset.