Jaime Munguia and John Ryder pose in entrance of (L-R) Fernando Beltran, Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins. Photograph by Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy
Jaime Munguia’s four-year, nine-fight stint with hall-of-fame fighter-turned-trainer Erik Morales got here to an finish shortly after Munguia went tooth and nail to outlive a scintillating slugfest towards Sergiy Derevyanchenko final summer season.
The rationale for the separation?
It was merely defined that Morales might not decide to coaching Munguia full-time as a consequence of his aspirations of changing into the Mayor of Tijuana.
So the Mexican native Munguia moved to Tinseltown as an alternative, making the almost three-hour drive throughout the border to Hollywood, California at hand the teaching keys of his profession to hall-of-fame coach Freddie Roach.
Munguia (42-0, 33 KOs) and Roach at the moment are able to make their debut as a duo on Saturday after they tackle John Ryder (32-6, 18 KOs) on the Footprint Middle in Phoenix. The battle will headline a Golden Boy Promotions card on DAZN.
Munguia and Roach are promising to do what Canelo Alvarez couldn’t throughout his conflict towards Ryder in Could – to attain a stoppage win towards the Brit. They hope their efficiency is prolific sufficient to get Alvarez’s consideration to arrange an all-Mexico conflict for the undisputed tremendous middleweight title.
“I truthfully really feel like I can knock John Ryder out. That’s what we’re working towards,” Munguia stated throughout a exercise on the newly constructed Golden Boy Boxing Health club forward of the showdown towards Munguia.
Roach took it a step additional and stated Munguia would knock out Ryder inside eight rounds.
The proclamation will be thought of simpler stated than carried out for Munguia, particularly for the reason that 27-year-old Munguia nonetheless hasn’t overcome defensive deficiencies which have put him in harmful dances with the judges.
Derevyanchenko took Munguia to deep waters and if it weren’t for a final-round knockdown, Munguia wouldn’t have gained the tit-for-tat tilt.
Jaime Munguia and Sergey Derevyanchenko waged conflict for 12 rounds in a battle of the yr candidate. Photograph by Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy Promotions
Roach has entered the equation to assist clear up the issues which have been plaguing Munguia.
“From the primary day he got here into the gymnasium till now, he has labored arduous. He offers one hundred pc day-after-day,” stated Roach. “He hits arduous. He positively has good energy … Sparring companions concern him. He likes to work.”
Munguia co-promoter Oscar De La Hoya was skilled by Roach throughout his heyday, and the corridor of famer and six-division champion says Roach is a welcome addition to Munguia’s crew.
“Freddie will get you in tip-top form. When you thought Jaime Munguia was already in good condition in his earlier fights, wait till you see his conditioning towards Ryder,” stated De La Hoya.
“Extra importantly, I feel the protection and jab output from Munguia is what I’m going to be on the lookout for due to Freddie. I feel Freddie goes to take him and push these limits. Freddie is aware of how vital that jab is.”
Munguia stated Morales taught method whereas Roach is preaching aggressiveness; he’s seeking to tie the 2 collectively to kind a greater steadiness.
The hard-charging southpaw Ryder is actually no rollover who’s designed to make Munguia look good.
Ryder revived his profession with a resurgent 2022 marketing campaign that includes resounding wins towards Daniel Jacobs and Zach Parker. The victories helped arrange the rugged veteran with the Alvarez battle. Many believed Ryder can be outmatched and make Alvarez appear to be his outdated dominant self, however the Brit survived a knockdown and damaged nostril to look respectable by successful a few late rounds in Alvarez’s homecoming battle in Jalisco, Mexico.
Canelo Alvarez and John Ryder engaged in a bloody, 12-round slugfest. (Photograph by Hector Vivas/Getty Pictures)
“I wish to go in there and make a press release towards Mungia. I’m right here for a great time, not a very long time,” stated Ryder. “I’m a distinct fighter now from after I fought Canelo. I imagine I discovered loads about myself. I want I might have had that kind of battle 10 years in the past. You study loads about your self, your needs, and the way deep the hearth burns. However, I’m right here now and the hearth continues to be churning.”
Munguia co-promoter Fernando Beltran of Zanfer Promotions believes Ryder was overly cautious towards Alvarez and gained’t observe the identical battle stream as a consequence of Munguia’s susceptible efficiency towards Derevyanchenko.
“Jaime’s not going to have a lot respect from Ryder and I feel it’s going to be a canine battle, a great battle,” stated Beltran. “They are going to see Jaime is on the degree of any fighter at 168 kilos.”
Munguia’s middleweight run from 2020 to 2022 towards gatekeepers didn’t characteristic a title shot, and desired fights towards the likes of Jermall Charlo, Gennadiy Golovkin, and Erislandy Lara evaded him.
Following the momentum-building win towards Derevyanchenko, Golden Boy has grandiose plans to propel the previous 154-pound beltholder and The Ring’s No. 9-rated fighter Munguia to main matchups transferring ahead.
“It’s been somewhat troublesome to get him the large battle, however I feel it is a step in the appropriate course,” stated Golden Boy president Eric Gomez. “This can be a actual battle. John Ryder is a really powerful fighter and style-wise clever it’s going to be an excellent battle.
“It could possibly be a really huge yr for Munguia. Take into consideration all the fighters at tremendous middleweight. On the prime of the meals chain is Canelo, and we might love to do this battle if Canelo offers us the chance. Munguia is open to combating all the finest ones at 168 kilos.”
The cream of the crop at tremendous middleweight options the likes of David Benavidez, Christian Mbilli, Caleb Plant, David Morrell, Erik Bazinyan, Vladimir Shishkin, Diego Pacheco, and Edgar Berlanga.
Alvarez nonetheless stays the king of the hill.
Munguia maintains his respect for Alvarez and isn’t publicly pounding the desk by calling out his famous person countryman although he admits conversations between each camps for a possible conflict have already kicked off.
However he’ll pounce on the pitting as soon as given the chance.
“I really feel just like the followers will get to get pleasure from one among my finest performances but towards Ryder,” stated Munguia. “I wish to battle the very best at 168 kilos.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports activities journalist, author, and broadcast reporter. He’s additionally a member of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America and the MMA Journalists Affiliation. He will be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, by way of e-mail at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com, or through www.ManoukAkopyan.com.
