Lists are compiled around the world at this time of year and Bruno Surace finds himself at the top of many of them.
This isn’t a Christmas list, or a list of who’s naughty or who’s nice, but in the annual reviews list, where the unknown Frenchman now undisputedly owns the upset of the year.
The man from Marseille used a powerful right hand to knock out Jaime Munguia, one of the best super middleweights in the world, in a shocking performance in Tijuana, Mexico, on Saturday. One blow ended their match.
After 2 minutes and 36 seconds of the sixth round, Surace completed the impossible task. The visitors struggled on the scoreboard and lost in the second round, but they turned things around. He joins Canelo Alvarez as the only men to defeat Munguia in 46 attempts, with Surace stopping Munguia and Canelo (Canelo) made his decision earlier this year.
“Saturday night was an incredible night. As a kid, I always wanted to box on the big stage and this is the first time in my career in a big stadium in the home of boxing…Mexico is the land of many great boxers, in [Julio Cesar Chavez Snr]it’s a very important night,” an elated Surase told BoxingScene.
Surace had only scored five games in 26 wins (two draws), but he not only has the upset leader of the year, but also has a strong contender for knockout of the year.
“I didn’t realize when I was throwing the punch. [it was all over]but when I saw him fall, I saw his eyes [go blank]and then he didn’t get up. I knew he wouldn’t stand up.
“This is a win for me, my family and friends and the friends who support me. I’m not thinking about the people who don’t believe in me. My main thoughts are about the people who do believe in me.”
Surace was supposed to be a good fight for Munguia, the first of the year following wins by John Ryder and Erik Bazinyan Four games. The WBC just ordered him to fight Christian Mbili in a knockout bout next year, but Surace knows he will play a role in those negotiations. He also knew how unexpected his victory was.
“I’m very confident,” the 26-year-old explained. “You know, I fight with a will to win. I know I’m the underdog, but I come with a will to win, and I’m full of confidence.
“I know it’s a big, big frustration and we searched through all the frustrations over the past few years, 2020, 2021 with my friends… I think this is one of the biggest frustrations.”
Talk continues to an immediate rematch. However, Soulace immediately stated in the ring afterwards that he wasn’t even really a 168-pounder and that he would most likely be heading back south. But with so many big-name opportunities available to super mid-sized companies, this may not be financially prudent.
“I’ll wait and see what opportunities come up, but my natural weight class is middleweight,” he added.
“We are discussing [about a return]. We talk about the rematch, so we’ll keep that in mind and it’ll be fun.
“You know, every fighter wants to fight Canelo, and so do I. I want to fight him because he’s one of the best boxers of all time, and of course, I want to fight him.”
The roles of the loser and the dead are distinct. With one carrying the weight of expectation on his shoulders, the other surrounded by air and opportunity, Soulas felt the weightlessness of both having nothing to prove and nothing to lose. Instead, he fights knowing that one shot can change everything.
“I know this fight can change my life, so when I throw the punch, I keep in mind that it can change my life, so I’m 100 percent focused and motivated,” Soares explained.
“The pressure is only on his shoulders because this is in his backyard, in his country. He’s the man, the pressure is only on his shoulders. The only pressure on me is to be great, so I’m cool.”
Before flying back to France, Soulasse said it was time to rest, enjoy time with loved ones and sit back and wait for all the annual lists of disturbing events to be rolled out, with his name at the top.
“I’m going to spend Christmas with my family and take a break,” he said. “It’s going to be a standard Christmas. A very classic Christmas.”
There is no doubt that this will also be a very happy event for the Surace family.
