Jaime Munguia finally turned in the performance needed to force the big names to take note, as he knocked John Ryder down four times on route to defending his WBC Silver super middleweight title in a ninth round win at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Saturday.
Ryder (32-7, 18 KOs) was coming off a spirited, but wide points loss to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in May 2023 and viewed at least by Golden Boy Promotions as the perfect benchmark for Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs) who is part of the chasing pack to face Alvarez next.
Ryder began well, forcing Munguia onto the back foot in a cagey first frame, but the undefeated Mexican exploded into life in the second, decking Ryder with a meaty right hand.
The Brit resumed, and fought fire with fire, with Munguia unable to finish the job.
‘The Gorilla’ had a much better third, capitalising on sloppiness from the 27-year-old, and although he made a decent start to the fourth, the Londoner was down once more from a rapid counter straight left hand.
It was more of a flash knockdown, and Munguia remained patient, but the 35-year-old southpaw had a solid sixth, with his workrate keeping him in the fight.
The challenger kept the momentum going in round seven, landing with several right hands, but the former world champion picked up the pace in the eighth, wobbling Ryder with a right of his own, and a round later, a raking right hand dropped him for a third time. This time it was a heavier knockdown, and although Ryder beat the count, he was swiftly over again, and it took his corner to throw the towel in to force a conclusion.
Munguia welcomed an all-Mexican clash with undisputed super middleweight champion, Canelo who is yet to announced his opponent for his traditional Cinco De Mayo date.
“It would be a great fight amongst Mexicans,” he told DAZN post-fight.
“And if Canelo gave us the chance, it would be an honour to be in the same ring as him.”
After scoring a third knockdown, @jaimeMunguia15 closes the show 🙌#MunguiaRyder pic.twitter.com/tztOaQsGLA
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) January 28, 2024
Collazo retains world title
Oscar Collazo defended his WBO minimumweight title for the second time, scoring a third round stoppage of Reyneris Gutierrez.
Puerto Rico-based, Collazo (9-0, 7 KOs) was tested in the first two rounds, but a flurry of hard shots forced Gutierrez (10-2, 2 KOs) to the canvas in round three, and after barely beating the count, a follow-up attack from the 27-year-old southpaw forced the referee to jump in.
Fulghum overcomes Fox
Darius Fulghum went the distance for the first time as a professional, taking the WBA Intercontinental super middleweight title with a majority decision win against Alantez Fox (28-6-1, 13 KOs).
It was a scrappy affair, but one that Fulghum (10-0, 9 KOs) largely dominated, and one judge scored the fight a 95-95 draw, overruled by scores of 100-90 and 98-92 by the remaining judges in Texan’s favour.
Could feel the body shot from Darius Fulghum through the television screen 😲#MunguiaRyder pic.twitter.com/EGWz0wKDkg
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) January 28, 2024
Fundora secures controversial world title win against Cruz
Gabriela Fundora controversially retained her IBF flyweight title, as she stopped Christina Cruz in the tenth and final round of their contest.
Fundora (13-0, 6 KOs) made a slow start, but rallied after halfway, and after Cruz (6-1) was hit on the back of the head in the last frame, she turned away, and as the champion kept attacking, the referee waved the fight off.
#ANDSTILL, the IBF Flyweight Champ, @GabrielaFundor3 with the TKO win 🙌
The action continues on the #MunguiaRyder main card, LIVE on https://t.co/FoiaUucafv 🥊 pic.twitter.com/EUC1fS2Bd6
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) January 28, 2024
Remaining Undercard
Alan David Picasso remained undefeated, with the super bantamweight taking a clear points win over ten against Erik Ruiz (17-10-1, 7 KOs). Picasso (27-0-1, 15 KOs) ran out the winner by scores of 98-92×2, and 99-91.
Daniel Garcia (8-0, 6 KOs) scored a highlight-reel first round knockout against Daniel Lugo (4-2, 1 KO) in their super featherweight clash, and Jonathan Canas (3-0, 2 KOs) needed less than a round to see off Kameeko Hall (0-4) at lightweight.
WOW! 😮
A highlight reel KO by Daniel Garcia 🙌
Now we head to the #MunguiaRyder main card as it begins at 6 PM MT/ 8 ET/ 1 AM GMT, LIVE on https://t.co/FoiaUucI53 🥊 pic.twitter.com/yNwAVzQ2ju
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) January 28, 2024
Gregory Morales (16-1, 9 KOs) won on the scorecards over eight rounds at featherweight against Ronal Ron (14-5, 11 KOs), and the highly-touted Gael Cabrera (4-0, 2 KOs) scored two knockdowns on route to a unanimous decision win over four rounds at bantamweight against Miguel Ceballos (2-1, 2 KOs).
