FIGHT WEEK
Jaime Munguia will face another tough test when he takes on veteran John Ryder on Saturday in Phoenix. On Tuesday, in Japan, 108-pound champ Kenshiro Teraji will defend against Carlos Canizales.
KENSHIRO TERAJI (22-1, 14 KOs)
VS. CARLOS CANIZALES (26-1-1, 19 KOs)
- Date: Tuesday, Jan. 23
- Time: 4 a.m. ET / 1 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
- Where: Edion Arena, Osaka, Japan
- TV/Stream: ESPN+
- Division: Junior flyweight (108 pounds)
- At stake: Teraji’s WBA and WBC titles
- Odds: Teraji 6-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
- Also on the card: Artem Dalakian vs. Seigo Yuri Akui, flyweights (for Dalakian’s title)
- Prediction: Teraji KO 10
- Background: Teraji is a two-time 108-pound champion who will be taking part in his 15th title fight in 24 career bouts when he faces Canizales in the early morning hours U.S. time. The 32-year-old resident of Kyoto has been perfect since his upset knockout loss to countryman Masamichi Yabuki in 2021, which cost him his WBC title. He rebounded to knock out Yabuki in three rounds in the rematch to regain his belt in 2022, stop Hiroto Kyoguchi in seven to become a unified champion later that year, stop Anthony Olascuago in nine rounds in April of last year and KO former beltholder Hekkie Budler in nine last September. Teraji, who has fought his entire career at 108 pounds, has said he will consider moving up to 112 if he doesn’t get another title-unification bout. He has expressed interest in challenging 112-pound titleholder “Bam” Rodriguez. Canizales is a 30-year-old former title challenger from Venezuela. He was stopped in six rounds by then-WBA betlholder Esteban Bermudez in 2021 in Mexico, after which he has beaten four consecutive second-tier opponents. Also on the card, WBA 112-pound titleholder Artem Dalakian (22-0, 15 KOs) is scheduled to defend his belt against mandatory challenger Seigo Yuri Akui (18-2-1, 11 KOs).
JAIME MUNGUIA (42-0, 33 KOs)
VS. JOHN RYDER (32-6, 18 KOs)
- Date: Saturday, Jan. 27
- Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
- Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix
- TV/Stream: DAZN
- Division: Super middleweight (168 pounds)
- At stake: No major titles
- Odds: Munguia 3-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
- Also on the card: Gabriela Fundora vs. Christina Cruz, flyweights (for Fundora’s IBF title); Alan Picasso Romero vs. Erik Ruiz, junior featherweights
- Prediction: Munguia UD
- Background: Munguia has set his sights on undisputed 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez but must overcome a second consecutive legitimate threat first. The 27-year-old Mexican, a former 154-pound beltholder, had to dig deep to pull out a unanimous, but close decision over skillful veteran Sergey Derevyanchenko in his debut as a full-fledged 168-pounder last June. He put Derevyanchenko down with a body shot in Round 12 to clinch the decision. Munguia has described the victory as the most important of his decade-long career. Next up for him is Ryder, a rugged, experienced southpaw from London who has failed in two bids to win a major title. He lost a disputed decision to then super middleweight champ Callum Smith in 2019, which enhanced Ryder’s reputation, and he gave a gutty performance in a unanimous-decision setback against Alvarez last May. He also outpointed Daniel Jacobs between those title fights, his most impressive victory. Also on the card Saturday, IBF 112-pound titleholder Gabriela Fundora (12-0, 5 KOs) will make the first defense of her belt against Christina Cruz (6-0, 0 KOs).
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
THURSDAY
- Erik Bazinyan vs. Billi Facundo Godoy, super middleweights, Montreal (ESPN+)
SATURDAY
- Lewis Crocker vs. Jose Felix, welterweights, Belfast, Northern Ireland (DAZN)
- Omar Trinidad vs. Jose Perez, featherweights, Commerce, California (UFC Fight Pass)
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