By: Sean Crose
At 35 years of age, and with a file of 32-6, former Canelo Alvarez opponent John Ryder aimed for a ultimate probability at greatness Saturday night time when he stepped into the ring at Phoenix’ Footprint Heart to face Jaime Munguia in a scheduled 12 spherical tremendous middleweight affair. The grizzled Ryder, nevertheless, was not the favourite strolling in on Saturday. Certainly, it had been indicated that the gutsy Englishman was merely introduced in to be a showcase opponent for the 27 yr previous, 42-0 Munguia. Not like Ryder, Munguia had as soon as held a world title whereas by no means having tasted defeat.
There have been questions concerning Munguia’s profession selections, nevertheless, one being why at this level in his profession he was nonetheless going through the likes a Ryder, who was seen as a talented, serviceable particular person who had nonetheless by no means hung out within the highlight. Moreover, Munguia had come inside a figurative hair’s breadth from shedding his final combat, a 2023 warfare with Sergiy Derevyanchenko. In different phrases, the previous WBO junior middleweight champion had one thing to show on Saturday, specifically that he was prepared to maneuver on to A-list opposition. He could properly have ended up convincing some folks that he was.
The primary spherical was intense, with every man positioning himself to strike successfully whereas the ten thousand individuals within the viewers made positive the ambiance was electrical. Each fighters had been in a position to land, although Munguia could have been extra energetic. A thunderous Munguia mixture within the second did one thing Canelo couldn’t – put Ryder on the mat. Ryder beat the depend and went on to combat gamely. Maybe surprisingly, Ryder went on to have a robust third for himself. He was clearly not as quick as Munguia, however he was in a position to work the physique properly.
Munguia scored a flash knockdown on the finish of the fourth. Once more, Ryder beat the depend, however Munguia’s energy was the separating issue at that time within the combat. What’s extra, Ryder was being a bit too affected person as he waited for the chance to counterpunch. The fifth spherical of what was undoubtedly an entertaining affair noticed every man land properly. Munguia, nevertheless, was proving that he was in a position to take up Ryder’s punishment heading into the midpoint of the combat. Nonetheless, Ryder could have received the sixth by means of clear, stable punching.
Munguia seemed as if he is perhaps beginning to gasoline out within the seventh. Ryder was in a position to proceed to land clear whereas Munguia remained much less energetic than he had been all through the combat up till then. With that being mentioned, it seemed like Ryder was about to be stopped within the first half of the eighth. Impressively, nevertheless, Ryder survived the onslaught and carried out fairly properly within the spherical’s second half. An absolute freight practice of a pressure proper put Ryder down for the third time early within the ninth. Ryder once more received up, however Munguia put him proper again down. But, to his everlasting credit score, Ryder as soon as extra received up.
This time, Munguia was not going to let his man get away. Ryder’s nook stopped the combat whereas Munguia hammered away on their man. “Ryder was an awesome fighter, however we’re able to carry on going,” Munguia mentioned afterward. “I really feel nice, I’m motivated for the subsequent combat.” When requested if he wished to combat tremendous middleweight king Canelo, Munguia responded politely within the affirmative. “If Canelo offers us an opportunity, it will be an honor to be in the identical ring as him,” he mentioned.
*Photograph: Golden Boy Promotions
