Munguia and Ryder to Face Off in Super Middleweight Showdown on Jan 27th Phoenix

Jaime Munguia's Path to Divisional Domination Begins with Clash Against John Ryder

Jaime Munguia, the unbeaten former WBO junior middleweight champion turned super middleweight contender, is gearing up to face England's John Ryder in a headline bout on January 27 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, set to be broadcast on DAZN.

This pivotal fight marks the start of Munguia's journey towards the top of the division. While there's been chatter about a potential showdown with fellow unbeaten Edgar Berlanga, Munguia's primary focus remains on asserting his WBO mandatory challenger status to potentially face Mexico's reigning champion, Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, for an undisputed title clash.

The WBO cautioned Golden Boy, Munguia's promotional company, that the mandatory fight won't be ordered until the end of 2024 at the earliest. Therefore, to stay in contention, Munguia needs to stay active. His upcoming battle with Ryder, who has experience at the top level despite a winless year, aims to keep Munguia sharp and in the mix.

Ryder faced Alvarez in a challenging bout last year and also secured an interim title win against Zach Parker. On the other hand, Munguia's noteworthy victory against Sergiy Derevyanchenko in a thrilling twelve-round unanimous decision showcased his potential in the super middleweight landscape.

Despite Munguia's efforts to secure higher-profile opponents like Berlanga, talks didn't progress sufficiently for a match this year. However, Munguia remains committed to elevating the level of his competition as he aims for the top spot in the division.