Jaime Munguia made about as strong a case as he could’ve presented Saturday night to fight Canelo Alvarez next.
Munguia dropped John Ryder four times and knocked out the typically durable British southpaw in the ninth round of their 12-round super middleweight match at Footprint Center in Phoenix. Ryder, who was stopped for just the second time in 13 years as a pro, went the distance with Alvarez in his previous fight – a 12-round, unanimous-decision defeat last May 6 at Akron Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico.
Munguia dropped Ryder once in the second round, again in the fourth round and twice during the ninth round. Tony Sims, Ryder’s trainer, passionately pled with unaware referee Wes Melton to stop the action after the fourth knockdown, which eventually happened at 1:25 of the ninth round in the main event of DAZN’s five-fight stream.
Tijuana’s Munguia hopes his impressive victory over an established super middleweight contender and an Alvarez conquest earns him a shot at the Guadalajara native’s IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO 168-pound crowns May 4. Alvarez will return to the ring that night, but if he fights Munguia it would require Munguia’s co-promoter and Alvarez’s former promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, to work with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions, with which Alvarez has a three-fight agreement.
“It would be a great fight among Mexicans,” Munguia told DAZN’s Chris Mannix, according to his translator. “And if Canelo gives us the chance, it will be an honor to be in the same ring as him.”
The 27-year-old Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs), who went off as at least a 5-1 favorite according to most sportsbooks, impressed in his debut with renowned trainer Freddie Roach in his corner. The former WBO junior middleweight champion got off to a strong start, dropped Ryder twice within the first four rounds, withstood Ryder’s rally after the fifth round and displayed patience before eventually ending their fight in the ninth round.
“Last time I was just throwing punches like crazy,” Munguia said of his brutal battle with Sergiy Derevyanchenko last June 10 at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. “But this time my timing was better. My timing was perfect. Ryder was a great fighter, but we’re ready to keep on going.”
London’s Ryder (32-7, 18 KOs) lost inside the distance for the first time since England’s Nick Blackwell stopped him in the seventh round of their May 2015 fight at O2 Arena in London. Ryder was winning that bout before referee Howard Foster halted the action late in the seventh round, when Ryder remained on his feet.
The 35-year-old Ryder might retire after suffering a second straight defeat.
The hard-hitting Munguia floored Ryder for the third time in their bout when he landed a right hand that sent Ryder to the canvas just 21 seconds into the ninth round. The courageous Ryder got up again, but another right by Munguia knocked him down for the fourth time with 2:15 to go in the ninth round.
Sims instructed Melton to stop the fight soon thereafter, though it took Melton some time to notice. Munguia landed several additional hard shots before Melton became aware of Sims standing on the ring apron.
In the round before their fight was stopped, Munguia nailed Ryder with a right hand that affected him with just over two minutes remaining in the eighth round. Another right by Munguia knocked Ryder into the ropes several seconds later.
A resilient Ryder recovered and backed up Munguia later in the eighth round. He landed a straight left that moved Munguia backward with just over 20 seconds left in the eighth round.
Ryder’s left uppercut connected with just over 1:10 to go in the seventh round. Ryder landed several right hooks in the opening minute of the seventh round.
Ryder utilized his hard jab during a successful sixth round and backed up Munguia at times.
Munguia blasted Ryder with a right hand that connected with just under 30 seconds to go in the fifth round. Ryder took that shot well, but it demonstrated Munguia’s ability to continue catching him cleanly.
Ryder’s right to the body landed just after the midway mark of the fifth round. Ryder’s right hook landed up top about 15 seconds later.
Munguia knocked Ryder to the canvas for the second time in their fight, with 15 seconds to go in the fourth round. A short left by Munguia knocked Ryder to the seat of his trunks, but just as he did during the second round, Ryder reached his feet right away.
A right hand by Munguia knocked Ryder into the ropes just before the halfway point of the fourth round.
A straight left by Ryder connected with just over 1:40 to go in the third round. Ryder went down with just over a minute remaining, but Melton correctly ruled that Munguia pushed him to the canvas.
A straight right by Munguia sent Ryder to the canvas, through the bottom two ropes, with 1:54 to go in the second round. A stunned Ryder reached his feet quickly, by the time Melton counted to four, and took Munguia’s power better for the remainder of the second round.
Ryder’s overhand left landed with just over 1:20 on the clock in the first round. Ryder made Munguia miss with most of his punches in the opening round.
(photos by Ed Mulholland)
By Keith Idec