WBA orders Jaime Munguia to face mandatory challenger Bektemir Melikuziev

The WBA has ordered super-middleweight champion Jaime Munguia to defend his title against mandatory challenger Bektemir Melikuziev, giving the fighters’ teams until October 21 to reach an agreement.

If terms are not agreed by the deadline, or either side refuses to negotiate, the WBA Championship Committee can send the bout to a purse bid.

The committee issued its resolution on September 21 after ruling that Munguia’s 120-day mandatory defence period had expired on August 30. Under the WBA’s championship regulations, the Mexican must next face the organisation’s No. 1-ranked contender.

Munguia won the belt with a unanimous decision over Jose Armando Resendiz at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 2. The WBA also cited a rule which prevents a champion from facing anyone other than the official mandatory challenger during the final 60 days of the mandatory defence period.

The order follows public complaints from Melikuziev, who believes his title opportunity has been delayed for more than a year. His frustration grew when Munguia was linked with a possible voluntary defence against alternative opposition on the October 31 card headlined by Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli in Saudi Arabia.

“I earned my position as the mandatory challenger inside the ring. I was guaranteed this fight,” Melikuziev told The Ring. He later added: “I feel like they are simply ignoring my existence.”

Melikuziev secured his position through two WBA eliminators, defeating David Stevens in November 2024 before outpointing Darius Fulghum on May 30, 2025. He dropped Fulghum in the final round and subsequently rose to No. 1 in the sanctioning body’s super-middleweight rankings.

The title changed hands around him during that period. Resendiz upset Caleb Plant to win the interim belt one day after Melikuziev defeated Fulghum, then was elevated to full champion following Terence Crawford’s retirement.

Munguia was permitted to challenge Resendiz despite Melikuziev already being ranked No. 1 and recognised as the official challenger. Melikuziev said he agreed not to obstruct that fight after receiving assurances that he would be given the next opportunity.

The 30-year-old Uzbek has sought to protect his position since Munguia defeated Resendiz. His only bout since the Fulghum victory was a seventh-round stoppage of Sena Agbeko in February.

A silver medallist at the 2016 Olympics, Melikuziev rebuilt after suffering a knockout defeat by Gabriel Rosado in 2021. He comfortably outpointed Rosado in their April 2023 rematch before his victories over Stevens and Fulghum moved him to the front of the WBA queue.

Munguia’s return to world-title level followed a turbulent run of his own. He lost on points to Canelo Alvarez in May 2024 and was then knocked out by Bruno Surace that December. Munguia avenged the Surace defeat on points in May 2025 before beating Resendiz for the WBA championship in May this year.

Munguia and Melikuziev now have until October 21 to settle terms for the mandatory defence. Should negotiations fail, the WBA can determine the promotional rights through a purse bid.