The pattern for several recent fighters who’ve lost to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has been to disappear and rest on that career-best payday.

That just isn’t in Jaime Munguia’s DNA.

This weekend will mark the fourth fight of 2024 for the former WBO junior middleweight titlist, who is now The Ring’s No. 1 super middleweight contender. Munguia (44-1, 35 knockouts) heads home for his final fight of the year, versus unbeaten Bruno Surace (25-0-2, 4 KOs).

Their scheduled 10-round bout tops a show that will air live on ESPN+ this Saturday, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET from Estadio Caliente in Tijuana, Mexico.

“It was very important for me to fight again this year, and in Tijuana,” Munguia told The Ring. “I am very happy to return home. It fills me with joy to deliver a big show for my fans and remain active.”

The opportunity is just two fights removed from a May 4 unanimous decision defeat to Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Alvarez retained his Ring and undisputed super middleweight championship, while Munguia was floored for the first time in addition to suffering his lone defeat.

Rather than dwell, the 28-year-old contender opted to immediately return to the ring. He dealt the first defeat to Canada’s Erik Bazinyan (32-0-1, 23 KOs at the time), The Ring’s No. 9 super middleweight, on Sept. 20 in Glendale, Arizona. Munguia scored a tenth-round knockout, to go with his ninth-round stoppage of John Ryder (32-7, 18 KOs) on Jan. 27 in Phoenix.

For the second straight fight, Munguia now has the chance to bump off another unbeaten fighter. Such a feat will cap his most active campaign since 2018, when he won his first major title.

“That is good motivation–to beat an undefeated fighter and keep proving myself at this weight,” stated Munguia. “I don’t need any specific reason to train hard but facing an undefeated fighter certainly adds to it. I felt that way for my last fight. It’s all part of growing into this division, becoming a full super middleweight. I felt strong in that fight and when I stopped John Ryder.

“Even against Canelo, it didn’t turn out the way we wanted but it was still a great experience, and I feel great at this weight. I paid attention to the mistakes I made, and we worked hard to correct those mistakes. The only way to show that improvement is by getting in the ring. So why not do that as often as possible?”