Cinco de Mayo! Canelo Retains Title in Mexico with John Ryder in His Hometown For 12 Rounds
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Zapopan, Mexico (May 7th, 2023)– In November 2011, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez stopped Kermit Cintron in the fifth round to retain his World Boxing Association World Super Welterweight title. Nearly 12 years later, Alvarez, 59-2-2 with 39 knockouts, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, dropped challenger John Ryder in the fifth round en-route to a 12 round decision unanimous victory to retain his undisputed World Super Middleweight title over game challenger John Ryder, 32-6 with 18 knockouts, Islington, London, United Kingdom, in the main event, on Friday night, May 5, 2023, in Estadio Akron, Zapopan, Mexico.
Despite the Cinco de Mayo holiday weekend festivities, Canelo could not knock out the game Ryder, who continued battling Canelo in center ring throughout, using good head and foot movement, and countering Canelo well during heated exchanges. Canelo started slow, but eventually outpunched Ryder 81 to 41 midway at some point, and Ryder’s nose looked pretty busted up, with Ryder’s corner in a frenzy with cotton swaps up his nose to stem the bleeding.
Nose aside, Ryder flashed a second wind in the second half of the bout. Despite losing five or six of the first eight rounds on points, Ryder appeared to win the final four rounds on solid counterpunching and aggression. The scoring of the three judges at ringside did not reflex the competitiveness of the bout. Ryder did not travel to Mexico looking to win by decision, and none of the spectators present nor the television audience expected him to get the scorecards. Rather, Ryder, like Canelo, came into Zapopan in excellent condition and form, did his best, gave his all, and Canelo, in the end, could not do anything with him. Can David Benavidez do better?
Canelo’s work rate, combined with the lone knockdown, earned him the win, but the cards appeared closer. Ryder looked in trouble several times in the early rounds, but weathered the storm, and gave Canelo a good run for his money in the later championship rounds. The script stated Ryder would fold, but Ryder, in the tradition of Rocky Balboa, hung tough, exchanged smoke in center ring, and would not go. Canelo had a real challenger, the sort of challenge Canelo needed to cement his reputation as the overall best fighter in the world, including Tank Davis. Canelo will either defend next against Benavidez, or maneuver for a 175 pound rematch with Dmitry Bivol later in 2023.
Result: Aul Alvarez Win 12 John Ryder, Super Middleweights
Alvarez Retains WBC, WBA Super, WBO and IBF World Super Middleweight Titles
Scoring: 120-107, 118-109, 118-109 for Alvarez.
Ryder was knocked down in round five. Clean bout. Referee: Michael Griffin
Estadio Akron Undercard Results
Julio Cesar Martin TKO 11 Ronal Batista, Super Flyweights (1:00)
Martinez retains WBC World Flyweight title. Referee: Celestino Ruiz
Gabriel Valenzuela WI Split Decision 10 Steve Spark, Super Lightweights
Valenzuela wins WBA Inter-Continental Super Lightweight title
Oleksandr Gvozdyk TKO 6 Ricardo Bolotniks, Light Heavyweights (1:56)
Nathan Rodriguez Win Majority Decision 10 Alexander Mejia, Featherweights
Rodriguez retains WBC Fecarbox Featherweight title
Larry King KTO 2 Elio Rafael, Super Middleweights
Jonathan Suarez Win 6 Johan Arreguin, Super Featherweights
Jesus Lario (Pro Debut) Win 4 Damian Efrain De La Torre Nunez, Light Flyweights
Is Canelo ready for Bivol? Comment below…
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