ONTARIO, Calif. – Jaime Munguia needed a knockdown to swing a fight his way and to earn a hard-fought win.

Munguia rallied to drop Sergiy Derevyanchenko in the final round to win a close 12-round unanimous decision before a raucous and partisan crowd at the Toyota Arena.

The 25-year-old Munguia, who resides in Tijuana, Mexico, improved to 42-0, 33 knockouts.

Even though the fight was fought at 168 pounds, the Munguia-Derevyanchenko fight was a clash of fighters ranked in the top 10 by The Ring at 160 pounds. Munguia and Derevyanchenko are ranked No. 3 and 6, respectively.

Midway through the opening round, both stood and traded in the center of the ring. Derevyanchenko connected with a right cross flush to the chin of Munguia. Derevyanchenko was again able to land a right cross to the head of Munguia later in the round.

Both had their moments during the second round. The shorter Derevyanchenko attempted to jab his way in through Munguia’s guard, which worked as, with about a minute left in the round, Derevyanchenko pinned Munguia against a corner, letting his hands go, connecting with a handful of punches to the head.

Derevyanchenko continued to connect with lead and counter left hooks to the head of Munguia during the first half of the fight.

Both fighters had their moments in a hellacious fifth round. Munguia stunned Derevyanchenko with a right to the head, but Derevyanchenko hurt Munguia with several hooks and crosses to the head, resulting in one of the better rounds of the year.

👀🍿 ROUND 5 LADIES AND GENTLEMAN!!! GIVE IT UP FOR THIS BACK-AND-FORTH ACTION because it is just…chef’s kiss!!!!#MunguiaDerevyanchenko | LIVE on DAZN pic.twitter.com/aJ0axkxmyW

— Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyBoxing) June 11, 2023

The pace of the fight slowed during the sixth and seventh rounds, as Derevyanchenko stalked Munguia, but Munguia attempted to counter, particularly with hooks to the head and body of Derevyanchenko. Both connected with left hooks to the head, but Derevyanchenko’s left was more effective, snapping back the head of Munguia

After Munguia landed a few right hands, a series of combinations by Derevyanchenko seemed to stun Munguia in the eighth round.

Derevyanchenko was effective in varying his offense during the ninth round, mixing in lead right hands to the head of Munguia, who was fighting more off his back foot during the 10th round.

Sensing he was down on the scorecards going into the championship rounds, Munguia increased his punch output, catching Derevyanchenko with a right cross in the 11th round. He also began focusing his attack to the body.

Munguia hit paydirt in the final round, as a well-placed left hook to the body dropped Derevyanchenko to one knee. Derevyanchenko was able to beat the count, but kept his distance away from the aggressive Munguia, who attempted to attack Derevyanchenko’s body again. Derevyanchenko fought in spurts, but continued to keep his distance as the bell sounded to end the round.

DOWN GOES DEREVYANCHENKO!!#MunguiaDerevyanchenko | LIVE on DAZN pic.twitter.com/UyjIJ5KVn8

— Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyBoxing) June 11, 2023

“I give credit to my corner who told me to make the necessary adjustments I needed,” said Munguia after the fight. “I started to attack the body.”

Munguia did announce after the fight he was staying at 168 pounds. He is willing to face the best fighters at 168 pounds, but after acknowledging Derevyanchenko was able to outbox him during phases of the fight, Munguia is willing to make the necessary adjustments to get better in the gym.

“I learned a lot,” said Munguia, who is trained by Erik Morales. “There’s a few details I need to work on. We need to look for big fights at 168 pounds. I want to face all the champions.”

“I feel good. I feel great,” said Derevyanchenko, who has now lost four of his last five bouts. “He punches me in the stomach. This was a great fight.”

Derevyanchenko, who is from Crimea, Ukraine and now resides in Brooklyn, New York, falls to 14-5, 10 KOs.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at [email protected]

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