The storyline practically wrote itself. Two young, hungry, up-and-coming fighters with a ton to give and even more to prove? It was perfect. The natural rivalry shared between Puerto Rican and Mexican fighters added more fuel to the fire. There was no need to sell fans on an Edgar Berlanga vs. Jaime Munguia showdown. Simply put, they were destined to get it on.
Although the timing seemed right, Eddie Hearn, Berlanga’s current promoter, recently told everyone that was foaming at the mouth to see them fight, to settle down and have a bit more patience. While Berlanga brazenly called him out following his win over Jason Quigley, there seems to be a few more wrinkles that Berlanga wants to iron out in his game before he makes that leap.
“I don’t think this year no,” Hearn told J Calderon Boxing Talk. “I think he might fight him in the spring of next year. I think he feels and his team feel that they want one more fight before Munguia. I expect to see him back in the ring probably early next year.”
Losing out on a Berlanga fight won’t make Munguia (42-0, 33 KOs) happy but he does have a pretty good consolation prize currently being worked on.
John Ryder’s name picked up a lot of attention over the past 18 months. That’s what happens when you beat the likes of Daniel Jacobs, and Zach Parker while giving Canelo Alvarez a few issues in the ring.
Ryder (32-6, 18 KOs) now wants all the big names and the gigantic paydays that come along with it. He’s already mentioned fights against Gennadiy Golovkin, David Benavidez and of course Munguia, as bouts he would love to have.
The first two aren’t particularly likely but according to Hearn, Ryder might get his Munguia wish.
“It looks like Munguia might fight John Ryder actually.”