John Ryder admits he’s keen on a rematch with Billy Joe Saunders, providing he beats Jaime Munguia on Saturday.
Ryder looks to bounce back from defeat to Canelo Alvarez in May, when he challenges another Mexican, Munguia for his WBC Silver super middleweight crown in Phoenix, live on DAZN.
‘The Gorilla’ suffered his first professional loss to Saunders in 2013 in a British and Commonwealth middleweight title clash and insists he’d be open to running it back with the 34-year-old, who hasn’t fought since a punishing defeat to the aforementioned Alvarez in May 2021.
“That’s one I’d love to go back over,” Ryder told Boxing Social.
“What was it, 2013 we done it?
“I don’t know what Billy Joe is doing.
“He was hinting about a comeback last December.
“I like Billy Joe. I’ve got a lot of time for Billy Joe.
“We get on. There’s no bad blood there.
“Listen, if it makes money, it makes sense.”
Ryder became the eighth Brit to fall victim to Canelo, who retained his undisputed super middleweight crown, dropping the Islington southpaw on route to a unanimous decision win in his hometown of Guadalajara.
Victory for the 35-year-old against the unbeaten Munguia would edge him towards a third world title attempt and a possible rematch with Alvarez or a potential showdown with David Benavidez, who holds the WBC interim super middleweight title.
“I know obviously Canelo’s got his dates that he fights per year,” he added.
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“It would be great to get back in line for a shot at Canelo, but that’s not everything.
“I just want to be involved in the biggest and best fights I can be and that’s starting with beating Jaime Munguia [on] January 27th.”
Munguia, a former world champion at super welterweight, fights for the first time since a fight of the year contender with Sergiy Derevyanchenko in June and will have Hall of Fame trainer, Freddie Roach in his corner for the first time in what will be his 43rd professional fight.
The 27-year-old is hopeful of securing an all-Mexican showdown with Alvarez, with the latter still yet to announce his opponent for his usual Cinco de Mayo date.
