Jaime Munguia and John Ryder pose in front of (from left) Fernando Beltrán, Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins. Photo by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy
Jaime Munguia’s partnership with Erik Morales ended after Munguia narrowly survived an exchange with Sergiy Derevyanchenko last summer. The separation was attributed to Morales’ mayoral ambitions in Tijuana, leaving Munguia in search of a new trainer. Munguia then turned to Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, and the duo is set to debut against John Ryder at Footprint Center in Phoenix. The match will headline DAZN’s Golden Boy promotional card.
Munguia and Roach are aiming for a knockout victory against Ryder, hoping to catch the attention of Canelo Alvarez and set up an all-Mexican showdown for the undisputed super middleweight title.
Expressing confidence in his ability to knock out Ryder, Munguia emphasized their goal during training at the Golden Boy Boxing Gym. Roach went further, predicting a knockout within eight rounds. While Munguia’s defensive vulnerabilities have been a concern, Roach’s entry into the equation aims to address these issues.
Jaime Munguia and Sergey Derevyanchenko battled it out over 12 rounds in what was a Fight of the Year contender. Photo courtesy of Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy Promotions
Munguia’s team, including his co-promoter Oscar De La Hoya, has lauded Roach’s impact on his training, emphasizing the focus on conditioning and defensive improvements.
Although Ryder presents a formidable challenge, Munguia’s camp asserts his readiness and determination, aiming to prove his standing in the 168-pound division and position himself for significant future bouts.
The super middleweight division features top-tier fighters like David Benavidez, Caleb Plant, and Canelo Alvarez, who remains the division’s dominant force. Munguia is eyeing a potential clash with Alvarez, expressing readiness to perform at his best in the super middleweight category.
Manouk Akopian, a sports journalist and member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association, contributed to this report.
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