Unbeaten #1 WBO and #2 WBC super middleweight contender Jaime Munguia is hoping to score a knockout of John Ryder in their twelve-round headliner clash this month on DAZN on January 27th at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
(Photo Credit: Golden Boy Promotions / Cris Esqueda)
The 27-year-old Munguia needs a knockout of Ryder 32-6, 18 KOs) to increase his chances of getting selected by superstar Canelo Alvarez for his next title defense of his undisputed super middleweight championship on May 5th.
Munguia’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, wants him to knock out the 35-year-old Ryder to do something that Canelo failed to do in his fight against him last May.
Canelo had to go the full twelve rounds to win a unanimous decision, and it wasn’t as easy a fight as many had thought it would be.
It questions whether even an impressive KO for Munguia will get him the Canelo fight because he’s not popular with the U.S public, and it won’t do much for Canelo to waste one of his Mexican holidays fighting someone who doesn’t resonate with the American fans.
This fight might interest fans in Mexico, as Munguia has wide support over there, but not in the United States, where fans have noticed that he’s NEVER fought the best at any point in his ten-year pro career.
In Munguia’s last fight in June, he came close to losing to 38-year-old Sergiy Derevyanchenko and needed a twelfth-round knockdown to prevent him from losing.
That performance from Munguia showed his level, making it clear that Golden Boy must keep him far, far away from the likes of David Morrell Jr. and David Benavidez, two fighters that would feast on the easy-to-hit former WBO 154-lb champion.
If Canelo has any lingering bitter feelings towards his former promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, he could choose not to take the fight with Munguia since he promotes the unbeaten Mexican fighter.
Freddie Roach now trains Munguia in Los Angeles, and he feels he’s improved his game. “This has been one of the best training camps I have had,” Munguia said. “I honestly feel like I can knock John Ryder out.
“I want to go in there and make a statement,” said Ryder. “I’m a different fighter now from when I fought Canelo. I believe I learned a lot about myself. I wish I could have had that type of fight 10-years ago.”
