Canelo Alvarez’s next fight is the one we expected.
The undisputed 168-pound champion will defend his title against British tennis player John Ryder in a pay-per-view match on May 6 at Akron Stadium near Guadalajara, Mexico. incense of Alvarez, it was announced Tuesday.
The match will be Alvarez’s first in his hometown since he stopped Kermit Cintron in 2011 in Mexico City. This will be his first time in Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, since he KO Luciano Cuello in 2010.
“I feel very happy to be back in May because follow me [wrist] I’m not sure when I’ll be back,” Alvarez said. “Being back in the ring and back fighting in Jalisco, my hometown, makes me especially happy. And in John Ryder, I’m facing a very competitive fighter.”
Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) won the last of the big four when he stopped Caleb Plant after 11 rounds in November 2021.
Then came a disaster for one of the sport’s biggest stars, a decisive failure in Dmitry Bivol’s attempt to claim the 175-pound title last May. It was his first defeat since he lost to Floyd Mayweather in 2013.
He recovered by overcoming rival Gennadiy Golovkin in their third match in September, after which Alvarez underwent surgery on his injured left wrist.
Ryder (32-5 18 KOs) is a mandatory WBO opponent. The 34-year-old Londoner has won four straight matches since being eliminated by Callum Smith in 2019, including a split decision against Daniel Jacobs last February.
He followed up the win over Jacobs by stopping Zach Parker after four innings in November, although Parker had to retire with a broken arm.
Alvarez easily overtakes Smith in 2020.
“There is no denying that Canelo is one of the greats, and I have great respect for what he has achieved in the sport, but I fully believe that now is the time for me to fulfill my dream of becoming one. become a world champion,” Ryder said.
“I didn’t go there for the holidays. For me, this is purely business and I’m completely focused on going into his backyard in Guadalajara on May 6 and bringing those belts with me back to the UK.”
