Jaime Munguia and John Ryder both weighed in at 167.8 lbs on Friday at their weigh-in for Saturday night’s twelve-round headliner on DAZN at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
This is a must-win fight for both fighters, as they’re looking to win the Canelo Alvarez sweepstakes to fight the undisputed super middleweight champion.
#1 WBO, #2 WBC Munguia (42-0, 33 KOs) is the favorite, and the one that has the youth, power, and work rate to win on Saturday, but Ryder is proven of the two against world-class competition.
Ryder: The Underdog with Fire in His Belly
‘The Gorilla’ Ryder (32-6, 18 KOs) is not intimidated by Munguia and is unconcerned about fighting in front of a hostile crowd in Phoenix on Saturday night. He plans on winning to keep his career moving along the tracks and get the rematch against Canelo.
It would be a massive blow to promoter Oscar De La Hoya and his Golden Boy company if Ryder defeats Munguia on Saturday night because they’ve poured money into the Mexican fighter, matching him with utter care for the past ten years, all for the purpose of getting the Canelo fight.
If Munguia loses, this would be a lesson to promoters that they can’t protect fighters forever for the sake of landing one big payday.
John Ryder: “I come to fight; I come to bring the heat. I think they’re going to be in for a treat,” said Ryder to DAZN Boxing about his fight this Saturday against Munguia.
“It doesn’t matter,” Ryder when told that not many fans will be backing him on Saturday night at the Footprint Center in Phoenix. “I think it’s deep inside. Keep going and keep achieving things and just be a motivation for my kids.
“No, I wouldn’t be surprised. That’s the plan, right? Cause an upset and keep this train chugging,” Ryder said when asked about his thoughts on potentially causing an upset against the favorite Munguia.
Jaime Munguia: “I feel good. It was a great camp. Once I rehydrate, I’ll be ready for tomorrow. It’s going to be a great, great fight. It was a tough camp. Freddie [Roach] knows how to work me hard. With Freddie, we’re ready. He got us ready, and we’re ready for tomorrow.
“We’ll be looking for the knockout. If it comes, it comes. If it doesn’t, we’re ready for a long and good fight. This is my year.”
