Jaime Munguía has 30 days to sign a deal with mandatory challenger Bektemir Melikuziev, and nobody watching the WBA’s circus at 168 pounds should hold their breath. For the last year, the sanctioning body has treated its own rules like optional suggestions, handing out soft exceptions while Melikuziev rots on the shelf for nearly 18 months waiting for the title shot he already earned.

ESPN’s Salvador Rodríguez reported Saturday that the two camps have a 30 day window to reach terms before the WBA orders a purse bid with a 60 percent split for Munguía and 40 percent for Melikuziev. That threat is completely toothless, because Munguía already blew past an October deadline once and got rewarded with a lucrative voluntary stroll against Nikita Zon instead of getting stripped.

Munguía won the WBA belt back on May 2 in Las Vegas with a unanimous decision over José Armando Reséndiz. His initial mandatory period expired on August 30, and the WBA Championship Committee waited until September 21 to officially order the Melikuziev fight with an October 21 deadline. Nine days after that deadline passed without a deal, the WBA caved and let Munguía take the Zon fight in Riyadh two weeks ago.

Melikuziev got pushed aside so Munguía could collect an easy payday in Saudi Arabia, all under the promise that the Uzbek southpaw would be next. Now the 30 day clock is ticking again, and there is zero guarantee Munguía will not look for another exit ramp or drag out negotiations until a purse bid forces his hand.

Meanwhile, the rest of the super middleweight division is stuck in traffic. Diego Pacheco and Darius Fulghum meet Saturday night in Carson, California, in a WBA eliminator that feels almost pointless right now. Whoever wins that fight is walking straight into a brick wall of sanctioning body delays. Even if Munguía and Melikuziev sign contracts tomorrow, a fight date still has to be locked in for early 2027, meaning the Carson winner will be lucky to get his shot before next summer.

Nobody knows that frustration better than Fulghum. Melikuziev edged him out 114 to 112 on all three scorecards in a Las Vegas eliminator back in May 2025, and Melikuziev still has not gotten his crack at the title. If Fulghum pulls off the upset in Carson and Melikuziev somehow topples Munguía, we could see a rematch for the belt. For Pacheco, winning Saturday just puts him at the back of a very slow line.

Munguía knows what is waiting for him if he actually steps into the ring with Melikuziev. Melikuziev is a heavy handed, relentless pressure fighter who punishes the body and suffocates opponents on the inside. After going twelve rounds with Zon, Munguía cannot afford to sleepwalk through camp if this bout finally gets across the finish line.

The WBA claims its order governs the title picture after Saturday night, but until Munguía and Melikuziev are both standing in the ring, fans should keep their expectations low.