Jaime Munguia dropped and stopped a valiant John Ryder inside nine in Phoenix, further strengthening his case as to why he is a worthy Canelo Alvarez opponent. 

Ryder hit the canvas four times before trainer Tony Sims waved the white flag. 

The fight was intense from the opening, with both men planting themselves in position to attack. They did, with Ryder landing a sweet left overhand before Munguia fired back. 

The pair both landed in the second too, but it was Munguia’s ferocious straight right hand that shook things up, sending Ryder to the mat. 

But, a beast of burden, he bounced back up in true Ryder style. 

Boxing is familiar with Ryder’s courageousness, and I’m sure Munguia would have expected no different. 

What he perhaps didn’t expect was an assault on his body in a lively third round for the Brit. 

The difference in speed, however, was telling. Whether Ryder was waiting to counter, or just genuinely hesitant, Munguia would fill those pauses with zipping shots.  

And, in the fourth, it was one of those - more specifically a short left hand - that had Ryder on the deck for the second time. This one wasn’t as hard as the first, but he sure still felt it. 

The fifth and sixth provided heaps of entertainment. Whilst Munguia flexed his attacking muscles, he also had to show some resistance, as Ryder swarmed him with a barrage of shots to the head and body. 

In fact, Ryder most definitely won the sixth.

That wouldn’t be his last portion of success either. A striking left uppercut was the highlight of the seventh, and Munguia looked a touch heavy on the legs. 

It was only a fleeting spell for Ryder, though, as Munguia unleashed a rattling straight right hand to open up the eighth. 

Ryder flew back into the ropes, but would soon fly to the deck after another ear-splitting right came just 20 seconds into the ninth. It was time for Munguia to close the show. 

And he did, as a rising Ryder was met with a volley of punishment that sent him to the floor again. A gutsy warrior, Ryder knows only one thing, and that was to rise until he could no more. 

However, four knockdowns were enough for Tony Sims, who gestured wildly to catch referee Wes Melton’s attention. This fight was over. 

A real statement from Jaime Munguia, who, in doing what Canelo couldn’t, has indicated to the boxing world that he is more than ready to take the next step. 

The Mexican looked like a mettlesome stallion; it was energetic, intense, and authoritative. It looked as if there was no guard in the world that he couldn’t punch his way through. 

So, what happens next?

The May and September dates in Canelo’s PBC contract are, of course, the most sought-after in the book. And a certain David Benavidez is, quite rightly, ahead of Munguia in that particular queue. 

Benavidez himself doesn’t seem to be banking on Canelo, whose reluctancy to fight his fellow countryman opens up options such as David Morrell or even Terence Crawford. 

Perhaps Benavidez and Munguia can throw it down together. I know there won’t be too many objections to that. 

Other than maybe Oscar. 

Either way it will certainly be a huge year for Munguia, and hopefully a huge year for the 168lb division which is in need of a mighty shake up. 

A footnote on Ryder, whose backlog of barbaric battles will no doubt leave him questioning his future in the sport. If it does, then I hope he is remembered how he deserves to be. 

A world champion not in the record books, but in the mind of any sane and sighted British boxing fan. Never ducked a challenge, and never complained whilst doing it. What a bloke. 

Oscar Bevis

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