By Ben Jacobs

Since his world title win over Sadam Ali in May there has been somewhat of a Mungíamania surrounding the young Tijuana native.

The power punching World Boxing Organization [WBO] champion spoke to BoxingScene.com last week and said he relishes the change of lifestyle.

“There’s a bit more pressure now but it is nice to be recognised and have people tell you nice things,” he said via telephone. 

“It’s a lot of responsibility now, not only being a world champion but also the eyes of the boxing world are on you, everyone wants to see you.  It gives me the motivation to get better and train harder.”

Speculation as to whom Munguía will fight later this year is rife but it is likely that he will make the first defence of his belt next month against former champion Liam Smith.  Should he be successful, the 21-year-old wants to begin a process of unifying the belts at junior middleweight.

“I want to unify in this division first, I want to fight Jarrett Hurd and Jermell Charlo but I will go up to middleweight maybe in a year or so.  I’ll be at this weight as long as my body can handle it!  It wouldn’t be impossible even to make welterweight, but it would be an unnecessary exertion on my body.  We’re thinking about 154lbs and then after that 160lbs.”

Charlo, the World Boxing Council [WBC] champion recently made comments to the media that Munguía was too green and makes lots of mistakes, but Jaime was in no mood to bite back.

“I really respect Jermell Charlo, he’s a great champion.  For me he’s one of the best in the weight class.  What can I say about his comments?  We’ll see in the ring, that’s where one speaks.  I want to fight him, and it would be a great fight.

“The best at the weight are Charlo and Hurd,” he opined. 

“You’ve also got Kell Brook and Brian Castaño, so there is a long list of good fighters at super welterweight.  I want to fight one of them this year after the Smith fight, I’d love that.  I want to unify all the titles really, all four belts.

“I think Kell Brook is a very good boxer, if I fought him it would be great - I can beat him and it would be a good experience for my career.”

Back in Mexico, talk is already brewing that Munguía could at some point face off with fellow countryman Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez, but the level-headed newly crowned champion quelled that possibility from happening for the moment.

“I’m still very young and I can improve, I will maybe get a bit stronger.  I don’t see myself fighting ‘Canelo’ this year or anytime soon but fights between two Mexicans are always attractive and it would be a big fight if it did happen.  I don’t know him personally, but I have followed him of course.”

Not looking beyond next month’s reported bout against Liverpool’s Smith, Munguía promised that the watching public in the United Kingdom as well as around the world can expect another explosive performance.

“We’re going to be looking for the knockout again and put on a good show for the fans.  That’s what I like the most, for the fans to enjoy it and like my style of fighting.  Thanks to everyone who has been supporting me since the start and who are supporting me now.  I promise the Liam Smith fight will be a great fight.”