JAIME MUNGUÍA VS. JOHN RYDER FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE

MUNGUÍA VS. RYDER SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT FIGHT WILL BE EXCLUSIVELY LIVE WORLDWIDE ON DAZN FROM FOOTPRINT CENTER ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 2024

Mandatory Credit: Golden Boy Promotions / Cris Esqueda

PHOENIX, AZ (January 25, 2024): In the lead up to what has the potential to become a Fight of the Year candidate, undefeated, former World Champion Jaime Munguía (42-0, 33 KOs) and former Interim World Champion John “The Gorilla” Ryder (32-6, 18 KOs) of the U.K hosted a press conference today ahead of their 12-round super middleweight clash for the WBC Silver Title. The event is presented in association with Zanfer Boxing and Matchroom Boxing, live from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday, January 27 and broadcast worldwide on DAZN beginning at 6:00 p.m. MST/ 5:00 p.m. PST.

In the co-main event, presented in association with Miguel Cotto Promotions, Villalba, Puerto Rico’s history-making Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo (8-0, 6 KOs) will defend his WBO Minimumweight World Championship title against Reyneris Gutierrez (10-1, 2 KOs) of Matagalpa, Nicaragua in a 12-round fight. Also on the DAZN Broadcast, knockout superstar in-the-making Darius “DFG” Fulghum (9-0, 9 KOs) will be defending his WBA Continental USA Super Middleweight Title against the crafty Alantez “SlyAza” Fox (28-5-1, 13 KOs) in a 10-round contest. Co-promoted with Sampson Boxing, IBF Female Flyweight World Champion Gabriela “Sweet Poison” Fundora (12-0, 5 KOs) of Coachella Valley, California will defend her newly minted hardware in a 10-round combat against Christina Cruz (6-0, 0 KOs) of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Opening the DAZN broadcast, Mexico City’s David Picasso Romero (26-0-1, 15 KOs) will participate in a 10-round super bantamweight fight against Erik Ruiz (17-9-1, 7 KOs) of Oxnard, California.

On the preliminary card that will stream live on Golden Boy Boxing’s YouTube, Daniel “Junebug” Garcia (7-0, 5 KOs) of Denver, Colorado will participate in a six-round lightweight match against Phoenix, Arizona’s Daniel Lugo (4-1, 1 KOs). Gregory Morales (15-1, 9 KOs) of San Antonio, Texas will challenge Ronal Ron (14-4, 11 KOs) of Chino Hills, California in an eight-round super bantamweight fight. In a four-round bantamweight, former Mexican Olympian Gael “El Terror” Cabrera (3-0, 2 KOs) will measure up against Miguel Ceballos (2-0, 2 KOs) of Peoria, Arizona . Opening the fight night festivities with a four-round bantamweight fight, Johnny “Sugarcane” Cañas (2-0, 2 KOs) of Santa Ana, California will face Kameeko Hall (0-3) of Brunswick, Georgia.

Here is what some of today’s participants had to say:

JAIME MUNGUÍA, FORMER WBO WORLD SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION:

«Good afternoon to all. First of all, and again, thank you to Oscar De La Hoya, Fernando Beltran and Eddie Hearn. I want to thank everybody for being here, and thanks to Freddie Roach and Wildcard Boxing Gym. This was a great camp for all of us. It’s going to help me keep moving forward to achieve my goals. I know that John Ryder is a tough fighter. He has lost and he has won close fights, but I’m ready. I’m ready to do this on Saturday. Y que viva Mexico!»

JOHN RYDER, FORMER WBO INTERIM SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION:

«Firstly, thank you to Eddie and Matchroom, and Oscar, Golden Boy and Zanfer for making this happen. It’s been a fight long in the pipeline and I’m glad we’re fighting. It’s a fight I feel like I needed since the Canelo defeat, and I want to continue operating at the level I’ve been operating at. This is the fight to kick me on, and push me in my career.»

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS:

«I said it three weeks ago, and I’ll say it again. The future is today for a bunch of Golden Boy fighters. This Saturday, the whole world stands in front of Jaime Munguia. If he can win: championship fights, PPV stardom and a place on the pound for pound list are all in reach. And right behind him, the same situation is there for Vergil Ortiz, Ryan Garcia, William Zepeda and many more in the Golden Boy stable.»

FERNANDO BELTRAN, CEO AND PRESIDENT OF ZANFER BOXING:

«John Ryder is a great fighter. He always comes forward and doesn’t go backwards. I’m very happy to be involved. I really believe that the real winner is going to be the audience watching the fight. They are the real winners.»

EDDIE HEARN, CHAIRMAN OF MATCHROOM SPORT:

«Congratulations to Oscar, Bernard, Golden Boy and DAZN, who I believe are now established as the global home of boxing. Now this Saturday, we have a big fight card in Belfast in Northern Ireland and then you’ll be switching over to here in Phoenix, Arizona for a ‘Fight of the Year’ contender with Jaime Munguia against John Ryder. When you look at the schedule, DAZN is constantly delivering worldwide, and is unrivaled second to none.»