Who is the Person? Regular contender John Ryder predicts Canelo Alvarez vs. Jaime Munguia

Recently retired former world title contender John Ryder is one of only two men (the other being Liam Smith) to have faced Canelo Alvarez and Jaime Munguia.

The 35-year-old Brit traveled to Mexico to face Canelo in front of more than 50,000 fans and stood tall despite an injury to his nose and went on a 12-round unanimous decision losing streak in May 2023.

His next fight took place six months later in Phoenix where he faced Munguia. While he made a strong effort, he was knocked down four times and stopped in nine rounds.

That win led to Munguia getting a shot at Canelo, the current Ring super middleweight champion. After sharing the ring with two men, Ryder is well placed to offer some insight.

“I think it's a great fight,” Ryder told The Ring. “I know people are a little disappointed, aren't they?” [David] Benavidez and I think a lot of fans will be but I think for the fans of the Mexican fight you haven't changed much, you have two Mexican fighters against each other in a fight that will be the Fight of The Year. It's a shame it's not in a place like Azteca.”

As Ryder points out, while most wish the man in the other corner is Benavidez, this should still be interesting and exciting because of how much better Munguia has gotten lately, while at the same time we may see some erosion in Canelo.

“I think you've seen the improvement from Jaime Munguia under Freddie Roach,” he said. “I think if you look at his career from the time he fought [Sergiy] When Derevyanchenko boxed me, I think the improvement was huge. It's not that I underestimated him, I knew he would improve but I didn't realize how quickly he would use it in his game plan. He's not a finished article, I'm sure.

“This is the best time for him to fight Canelo; he is young, fresh, hungry and Canelo is getting bigger by the day.”

After spending 36 minutes with Canelo, he appreciates what makes boxing's biggest star so fun.

“His ring generalship is evident; he knows every inch of that ring,” he explained. “He is very confident and patient. You know his own ability, he's four or five steps ahead of you, maybe five or six.

Jaime Munguia (left) and John Ryder (right) during their fight on January 27, 2024 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ. Photo by Ed Mulholland/Matchroom

“You know he's going to throw that jab and he's going to throw a counter back but he's not going to be there for that, he's just going to run away and throw something to set it up again or do it. reset. His boxing IQ is up there.

“There will be no beating when Mnguia is there, he is raw like that. He will throw three and four and you can throw him back three and four, it will be a chin battle.”

Meanwhile, Ryder says Munguia's undefeated youth and determination should not be extinguished.

“He has an excellent level of work and seems to keep going through the rounds,” he said. “He's got a high volume and he punches hard with both hands, it's loud with both hands.

“Since Canelo is a guy who likes to shoot you, he will want to take you out there with the big gun, and I would say that Munguia is an accumulation boxer, he throws punches in bunches, he likes to combine them. up sometimes. Survival of the fittest and got the best chin. He is young, he is hungry and so far it has fed him well.”

Ryder breaks down each fighter into 10 key categories:

JAB

Canelo: “I would say Canelo because the jab is there but he is not there to fight it.” Although Munguia is playing and will be sent back. Canelo is gone and he has a few steps ahead of you. It's not always an affective jab, it's not like a hard jab, it's not like a flick but it's there to move or stop other things.

Canelo Alvarez and John Ryder engaged in a bloody, 12-round slugfest. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

PROTECTION

Canelo: “Wow, really Canelo, you can trade with Munguia all night and there were times when I traded and he beat me but he's there to be beaten. Defensively he is unheard of, he has taken it mostly from the gloves or the chin. He will eat shots for fun. The amount of punches he uses to defend himself. Very hard to beat [Canelo] it is clean. He has perfected it for many years. Perhaps one of the best lessons has been fighting [Floyd] Mayweather and taking that.”

HAND FAST

Munguia: “Both have good hand speed, Munguia has a little shot, maybe he is young or Canelo is patient. I would like Munguia at hand speed.”

THE GAME

Canelo: “Certainly Canelo has the best footwork, the most calculated, the smartest movement, the crossing steps. Canelo will put you under pressure without throwing a stone in the wall with his smart movement, his smart footwork.”

SMARTEST

Canelo: “I think Canelo is head and shoulders above. Not to take anything away from Munguia, he is still working but I think that over the years Canelo has proven his IQ by coming from behind against players like Amir Khan and many others who fight well.”

VERY POWERFUL

Munguia: “It's difficult but since my nose started early, it was difficult for me to stop anything close but Canelo was not physically strong, obviously he could punch a strong punch but I felt like I could have stayed with him again. walking around, I would have had a lot more success but obviously I couldn't do that. He has that low center of gravity and uses his mind well; he gets down a lot and explodes with shots. He will slide something to finish something and counter it and when he loads the gun you know he is not short due to his accuracy and timing. [Munguia] he is strong, gangly and alert, he is not very strong but he uses it well. I will probably like Munguia to get the strength from within.”

POWER

Canelo: “My version that put Canelo in the box was not the version that put God in the box. The Canelo fight took a toll on me over time. It's usually true that you're inside and taking a shot. I think the strength of the real fight should be with Canelo. “

CHIN

“I think that's the problem with Munguia, you can get shot in the chin a lot before you start losing it and it defeats you. In time that could be his downfall. At this point I don't think I've put Canelo in and I don't think I've put Munguia in. It's a real 50/50 on the chin.”

SKILLS

Canelo: “The games we can go through, it's Canelo. He gets along with big and small men, we've seen him go through the weight class and he has great boxing skills.”

EVERYTHING IS GOOD

Canelo: “I think Canelo, I have to like him. No disrespect to Munguia, I think he's improved a lot under Freddie Roach in a short period of time and if he can improve in my fight like he did in the Derevyanchenko fight then this could be a really interesting fight. Right now I'd like Canelo, he's been to the well a lot of times and I think he's seen players like Munguia a lot before, and Munguia will know he's going to do a tough job tonight with Canelo.”

When all is said and done, Ryder believes in the tried and tested Canelo.

“I think Munguia will have his first success in the fight, the first three or four rounds, I think he will lead well but I think Canelo's time and patience will take the second half of the fight,” he said. . “I don't think Canelo will knock him out, but I think he will beat Munguia on points.”

Canelo-Munguia will air on Amazon Prime Video and DAZN Pay-Per-View, with the event beginning at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT.

Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at [email protected].

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