Super middleweight contender Jaime Munguia could have a fight lined up against Canelo Alvarez in 2024. 

All he has to do is score an impressive win over John Ryder.

Munguia, who is ranked No. 9 by The Ring at 168 pounds, will face Ryder on January 27, Oscar De La Hoya, CEO and Chairman of Golden Boy Promotions announced Saturday night’s DAZN telecast. The 12-round bout will take place at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

DAZN will also stream the fight. 

“Finally,” said De La Hoya in an interview with Chris Mannix. “We got it done. Thank you. Jaime Munguia against Ryder. The guy who went the distance with Canelo (Alvarez). Imagine what Jaime Munguia is thinking. ‘I want to knock out Ryder, what Canelo could not do. That would be a huge statement.”

“(Jaime) is learning, he’s growing, he’s maturing. Jaime Munguia is one of these kids that needed these fights under his belt. He needed that experience. And finally, we have him at that position where he can face anybody in the world. Trust me, when he fights Ryder, it’s going to be a special performance. And then we’ll see who we call out.”

There were rumors in recent weeks of Munguia possibly fighting Edgar Berlanga, also an unbeaten super middleweight. Berlanga is reportedly facing unbeaten Padraig McCrory in February or March.

Recently, there was talk of a possible clash between Munguia and Ring Magazine and undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. That is still a possibility as Cinco De Mayo weekend is almost three and a half months after the January 27 fight date between Munguia and Ryder.

The 27-year-old Munguia (42-0, 33 knockouts), who resides in Tijuana, Mexico, last fought on June 10, dropping Sergiy Derevyanchenko once late en route to a unanimous decision in one of the best fights of 2023. His previous fight took place on November 19 of last year, knocking out Gonzalo Gaston Coria in the third round. 

Munguia is now trained by Freddie Roach after previously working under the tutelage of former multi-division world champion Erik Morales. 

Ryder (32-6, 18 KOs), who resides in London, England, has not fought since the decision loss to Alvarez on May 7 in Zapopan, Mexico, not far from Alvarez’s home of Guadalajara. Despite being knocked down in round five, Ryder fought back, engaging Alvarez in the center of the ring.

The 35-year-old had won his previous four fights since losing by unanimous decision to Callum Smith in November 2019. 

Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at [email protected]

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