Boxing
D’Mitrius Ballard on Jaime Munguia fight: 'I've come to conquer the middleweight division'
Watch Munguia vs. Ballard on DAZN (Except Mexico)
American fighter D'Mitrius Ballard has been dreaming of the moment to show why he’s a force to be reckoned with and now the time has come.
On February 19th - in a fight that will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN (except in Mexico) - he will face former Mexican champion Jaime Munguia. However, the only drawback is that it he will be travelling to his opponent's backyard, the Plaza de Toros in Tijuana, México.
"I know that the public will be against me, but I've fought in similar conditions. Not with that magnitude of Tijuana, but I have fought in San Antonio where the Mexicans support their favorite,” Ballard told DAZN News.
“I've tasted that, and even though I know it will be at a very different level, it's required of boxers to go to their opponents' country, beat them and take their belts. It's been proven throughout history, with Errol Spence, Andre Ward, even George Kambosos. I'm ready for the challenge.”
Ballard, who is also known as ‘Big Meech’, is excited about the opportunity. A win against Munguia would see the American take another step towards his goal of becoming a world champion.
He said: "In a lot of fights, I feel like I didn't get to show all the tools that I have, all the skills. I feel I am a complete fighter; I feel I can do anything, and Jaime Munguia is the perfect opponent for me to show my skills and bring out the talent I have.
"I'm preparing to be dominant, give a good performance over 12 rounds and if there is any chance to take it out of the judges' hands, I will definitely take advantage, but I'm also looking forward to going all 12 rounds and coming out victorious."
Boasting a 21-0-1 record, Ballard doesn’t feel any pressure when it comes to maintaining his unbeaten streak against an opponent who more often than not, finishes fighters inside the distance.
"The zero in my record, it's not pressure. This is from a boxer matter, a warrior, this is what we want to do, we want to face the best competition to prove we are the best and the only way to do that is to beat the best. That's the risk of war,” said the 28-year-old.
“Anything can happen in a boxing ring. We know the dangers, the risk of going into a ring and losing that zero on the record, getting knocked out or you can lose, so many things can happen but for me it's just motivation, it makes me very happy.
"I want to show them with this fight that I am elite, that I belong there. I’ve come to conquer the middleweight division.
“My biggest aspiration is to be champion in this division, to unify and then to be undisputed champion. Those are my dreams and aspirations and that night with Jaime Munguía I will begin that road."
