Bektemir Melikuziev Calls for WBA to Strip Munguia Over Mandatory Snub

Bektemir Melikuziev accused Jaime Munguia of declining the ordered WBA super‑middleweight championship bout, posting on Instagram Thursday morning that he had yielded on preparation, drug‑testing procedures, and compensation to obtain his mandatory opportunity.

The dispute emerged ahead of word of Munguia’s planned October 31 clash with Nikita Zon on the Canelo Alvarez–Christian Mbilli card in Riyadh. Melikuziev questions how the champion’s team can advance a different opponent when the challenger has already conceded every demand.

“I agreed to fight Jaime Munguia on short notice, without a proper training camp. I agreed to fight without VADA testing, even though we have always insisted on it. I even agreed to accept the lowest possible purse or no purse at all,” Melikuziev wrote on Instagram.

While Melikuziev’s concessions may demonstrate good faith on his side, they do not constitute a ratified contract, posing a challenge for Munguia’s camp to justify selecting Nikita Zon over a pending obligation.

“We made every concession possible to make this fight happen. And yet, my team has now informed me that Munguia is still refusing to fight me.”

Melikuziev presses one central point: “So I have one simple question: Why hasn’t a purse bid been ordered? And if the champion refuses to fulfill his mandatory obligation, why hasn’t he therefore stood stripped?”

With the WBA granting both camps until October 21 to negotiate, that window remains open—but Melikuziev urges the commission to intervene when Munguia insists on declining the mandatory defense while courting another contender.

“Stop acting as if there is no mandatory and no rules,” Melikuziev wrote.

Later on Thursday, the WBA responded that it would not sanction the Munguia‑Zon pairing and confirmed Melikuziev as the official challenger.

Miu­guia further maintains that he demanded greater monetary compensation to face Melikuziev and even proposed moving the bout to Uzbekistan with supplemental funding—details he presents as his version of the events.

From Munguia’s perspective, agreeing to the scheduling of Zon does not erase the mandated obligation. Melikuziev declares that he has eliminated every obstacle on his side, leaving Munguia’s staff to decide whatever responsibility remains on theirs.

Source link