John Ryder fancies his chances against another great fighter, Jaime Munguia, at Phoenix’s Footprint Center. This showdown, set for January 27 and streamed globally on DAZN, has Ryder pointing out the chinks in the armor of the undefeated Mexican.
Ryder (32-6, 18 KOs) is riding the wave back into the ring after his valiant showdown with Canelo Alvarez in Guadalajara, Mexico last September. There, in front of a 60,000-strong crowd, the Brit charmed the masses with his bold display against the undisputed 168lb monarch. Now, Ryder’s setting his sights on Phoenix, where he’ll lock horns with another Mexican sensation, the former Super-Welterweight king and current WBC Silver Super-Middleweight champion, Munguia (42-0, 33 KOs).
At 27, Munguia has already left fight fans spellbound, particularly with his last tussle in Ontario, California—a true rollercoaster against the gritty Sergiy Derevyanchenko. The bout, which almost scraped the sky, ended with Munguia flooring Derevyanchenko in the 12th round. Ryder, however, believes that this very fight exposed Munguia’s weaknesses—flaws he’s ready to leverage for a stunning win on American soil.
“Jaime snagged fight of the year last year, and I’m betting this clash could be a shoo-in for 2024’s best,” Ryder quips. “With his spotless 42-0 record and the Canelo fight baiting him, he’s under the gun. But hey, I’ve danced with Canelo; now it’s Munguia’s turn to sweat. I don’t see another Canelo face-off in my cards, even if I topple Munguia, but I’m here for the biggest and most exciting fights possible.”
Ryder adds with a smirk, “I respect Munguia. His record’s not just fluff, though he’s been nimbly steered. His last brawl with Sergiy? Showed he’s not invincible. He’s switched to Freddie Roach, which could be a hit or miss. He loves to throw punches with wicked intent, but that’s when I plan to strike.”
“Sergiy almost had him; it was a nail-biter to the end,” Ryder recalls. “Now, I’m just crossing my fingers for a fair fight and a lucky roll of the dice.”