John “The Gorilla” Ryder (32-6, 18 KOs) hopes to put himself in position for another massive fight by defeating Jaime Munguia (42-0, 33 KOs) on January 27th.
(Photo credit: Golden Boy Promotions)
Ryder came up short in his last fight, losing to undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez last year in May in Mexico, but he impressed a lot of fans with the toughness that he showed and the way he pushed Alvarez.
The Golden Boy-promoted former WBO junior middleweight champion Munguia and Ryder will meet in a 12-round contest at 168, live on DAZN at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Tactics, Trainer Twists, and Time in the Ring
“I think we got to mix it up. He’s a big-volume puncher. We got to get in there, push him back, and make him feel uncomfortable,” said John Ryder to Fight Hub TV about his January 27th fight against Jaime Munguia.
Ryder will need to adopt the aggressive style that Sergiy Derevanchenko utilized against Munguia for him to have a chance of winning this fight. Just hanging back and letting Munguia take the lead won’t work for him because the Mexican star does well when facing opposition that fights passively.
“It’ll be interesting to see what tactics he takes now being trained by Freddie [Roach] and if he’s changed up at all,” said Ryder. “He’s not so old. Freddie might be trying to implement new things. He might resort back to his old self, but if you’re going to do that, what’s the point of changing trainer?
“It takes time. You do need three or four fights to adjust, I feel. Other people are quick to adapt, but I think we’ll see on January 27th on what he’s got now,” Ryder said.
It’s not likely that Munguia will be much different under the new coach, Freddie Roach, than he was with his previous trainer, Erik Morales.
Ryder’s Quest for Redemption and Big Names
I’m buzzing. 2023 was a big year for me. I didn’t win the fight [against Canelo Alvarez], but I won the fight. I won the hearts of a lot of fans,” said Ryder.
“Jaime Munguia is another undefeated name, a big name in the States, and a big opportunity for me so I can show what I can do. If I want to have these big nights in boxing, I’ve got to go do a job on Jaime Munguia,” said Ryder.
