PHOENIX: Jaime Munguia looked sensational Saturday during a knockout win over John Ryder at the Footprint Center in Phoenix.
ProBox TV has spent a lot of time with Golden Boy Promotions, and Munguia, in recent weeks and it has been clear that this match in particular, against a fighter whom Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez fought over 12 rounds winning by decision, is an audition for Canelo himself.
Those close to Munguia are confident they already have Canelo's attention, aligning with ProBox TV's sources out of Mexico who, late last year, told us that Canelo has been "quietly negotiating" with Munguia's representatives.
Premier Boxing Champions, a US fight firm that Al Haymon founded in 2015, is one bout into a three-fight deal with Canelo and a ProBox TV source with knowledge of PBC's strategy for the fighter said the remaining matches on the contract would likely be Jermall Charlo and then David Benavidez.
But, still, Munguia can live and hope.
On Saturday, he did more than that as he slugged away, battered Ryder's face, dropped him twice within the first four rounds, confounded him with flurries and accuracy, and gave him more hell than Ryder went through when the Brit boxed the pound-for-pound star in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Here's the first knockdown:
Down goes Ryder in the second from a series of punches by @JaimeMunguia 💪#MunguiaRyder is LIVE on https://t.co/FoiaUucafv 🥊 pic.twitter.com/MfviBtck18
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) January 28, 2024
Here's the second knockdown:
Knockdown No. 2 in the fight for @JaimeMunguia15 🥊
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) January 28, 2024
Can John Ryder come back?
Find out on https://t.co/FoiaUucafv#MunguiaRyder pic.twitter.com/XeZS7PXC2W
Ryder had his chances but never truly looked competitive. He countered Munguia, landed his own thudding blows time and time again.
And though Munguia seemed to take a few rounds off in the middle stages of the contest, he returned with vengeance in rounds eight and especially in the ninth, to score two more knockdowns in that round alone, forcing Ryder's head cornerman Tony Sims to throw in the white towel.
Here's the finish:
After scoring a third knockdown, @jaimeMunguia15 closes the show 🙌#MunguiaRyder pic.twitter.com/tztOaQsGLA
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) January 28, 2024
"This is the result of hard work," Munguia said after his win, through a translator. "We're ready for 168-pounds."
He praised Ryder as "a great fighter" but said that he's "ready to keep going" for greater challenges in the super middleweight division.
"I'm ready for my next fight," Munguia said. "We don't know what's next but we want the best of the best at 168."
The Phoenix crowd had been lively through the night, sending Mexican waves through the arena, drinking, and dancing, but there was no doubt that the biggest pop of the night was when Munguia walked to the ring, each and every time he sent Ryder to the canvas, when he waved the Mexican flag in the ring after his win, and especially when DAZN broadcaster Chris Mannix name-dropped Canelo as a possible opponent.
"It would be an honor" to fight him, Munguia said.
