Former world title challenger John Ryder, who recently retired, has faced both Canelo Alvarez and Jaime Munguia, making him a unique source of insight.
Ryder, at 35, went head-to-head with Canelo in Mexico in front of a massive crowd, showing resilience despite an early nose injury, eventually losing by unanimous decision in May 2023.
He later fought Munguia in Phoenix, where he was dropped four times and stopped in the ninth round.
Ryder shared his thoughts on the upcoming match between Munguia and Canelo, emphasizing the potential of an exciting battle between these two Mexican fighters.
“I think it’s a great match,” said Ryder. “Munguia has shown improvement under Freddie Roach, and facing Canelo at this stage could be advantageous given his youth and hunger.”
Reflecting on Canelo’s prowess, Ryder acknowledged the champion’s strategic and skillful approach in the ring, highlighting his ring generalship and boxing IQ.
Regarding Munguia, Ryder commended his work rate, power, and determination, noting that his style of throwing punches in batches could pose a challenge for Canelo.
Assessing various aspects of both fighters, Ryder compared their jabs, defense, hand speed, footwork, intelligence, strength, power, chin, and overall skill, ultimately favoring Canelo based on his experience and adaptability.
Despite recognizing Munguia’s potential early success in the fight, Ryder predicted that Canelo’s patience and timing would lead him to victory on points.
The Canelo-Munguia fight will be aired on Amazon Prime Video and DAZN pay-per-view, starting at 8pm ET/5pm PT.
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