Jaime Munguia suffered the most significant shocker of the year in 2024 when he was upset by unknown Frenchman Bruno Surace with a one-punch knockout.

What was supposed to be a successful homecoming in Tijuana, Mexico, evolved into a turbulent experience as Munguia stomached the second loss of his career just seven months after a spirited effort and defeat against Canelo Alvarez.

Munguia (44-2, 35 KOs) must now pick up the pieces on May 3 when he faces Surace (26-0-2, 5 KOs) in a rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as the co-main event for the undisputed super middleweight bout between Alvarez and William Scull. The event will air live on DAZN PPV.

To prepare for the occasion, Munguia joined forces with Team Canelo and handed the coaching keys of his career to Alvarez’s lifetime confidant and trainer, Eddy Reynoso.

“The change in training camp has been really good. I am really happy with Eddy,” Munguia told The Ring in an interview through a Spanish translator. “They've been really good to me and my surroundings. We are working on pretty much everything on defense and offense. Working alongside one of the best fighters in the world makes you push harder. You learn a lot of stuff just by watching Canelo. You need to grow and to find someone to push you, and I think it's been the right decision to go with Eddy, and they are going to see it on fight night.”

Surace was universally expected to be no more than a winter tune-up for Munguia. The bout looked to be following that exact script early on as Munguia dropped the massive underdog and career-long middleweight with a brutal left hook in the second round. Munguia controlled the action from there until everything changed in the sixth when Surace uncorked a thunderous right hand that ended Munguia’s night. The light-hitting Surace only connected with 19 punches all night but the final one proved the old adage that everyone has a puncher’s chance.

“I was winning the fight and got a bit relaxed and distracted,” said Munguia. “I thought I had a really good chance of knocking him out in the second round and I think I got a little bit confident, but not in a bad way. I wanted to give a show to the people, entertain them, and say thanks. But I got caught with the punch. In the rematch, if I have the chance to knock him out, I will do it. We're going to make the necessary changes to win the fight.”

With a hearty laugh, Munguia said he can’t remember if Surace’s hellacious punch was the hardest one he’d ever been hit with.

“It wasn't easy [mentally, emotionally, psychologically],” said Munguia. “It was kind of hard. But I need to find the positive out of every situation and with the work I have been doing daily, I am confident that I will win the rematch.

“I think I need to do what I was doing in the first rounds, work hard, and concentrate. I am sure the knockout is going to come. The best is yet to come. We are going to overcome this and come back stronger than ever.”