David Benavidez, the interim WBC super middleweight champion, did not find Jaime Munguia’s ninth-round TKO win over John Ryder impressive. Benavidez expressed his belief that he expected an “easy” fight against Munguia, stating, “It’s a victory.”
It seems unlikely that Munguia’s performance will provoke Benavidez into accepting a fight against him.
In a recent interview, Munguia stated that he has no plans to fight elite super-middleweight boxers such as Benavidez or David Morrell if a match against Canelo Alvarez in May falls through.
Benavidez’s Remarks
“This is an easy knockout. That’s why they fooled me,” said David Benavidez, indicating his belief that Munguia’s win was not as challenging as portrayed. Munguia insists it was an easy win.
It is reasonable to assume that Munguia may avoid a potential fight with Benavidez in favor of pursuing a lucrative match with Canelo Alvarez.
Some speculate that Munguia’s career strategy involves facing lesser opponents to build a strong record and attract Canelo for a significant payday.
If Munguia wishes to prove Benavidez wrong, he should accept the challenge and demonstrate that he is not an opponent who can be easily defeated, contrary to Benavidez’s claims.
Opting to face Ryder over Benavidez may be viewed as a weaker choice, given the notable difference in skill level between the two fighters. Even if Ryder were younger, he would not be on par with the “Mexican Monster”.
Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) would be eager to face Munguia if he goes on to fight Canelo Alvarez on May 4 on Amazon Prime PPV. Having overcome challenges by defeating Demetrius Andrade and Caleb Plant, he is prepared for victory in 2023.
In contrast, Munguia’s path to a potential match with Canelo included victories over 35-year-old Ryder and 38-year-old Sergiy Derevyanchenko, who are not considered on the same level as Plant or Andrade.
Munguia’s Statement
Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs) showcased his skills, dominating the veteran Ryder throughout the fight, knocking him down four times and compelling his corner to throw in the towel in the ninth round, resulting in a TKO victory.
Ryder struggled in the ninth round and appeared to require assistance. Despite his efforts, Ryder lacked the power, size, and ring intelligence needed to defeat Munguia, contributing to Munguia’s stellar performance.
