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Ryder: "I Relish Facing The King In The Lion’s Den"
John Ryder is embracing the challenge of fighting Canelo
Alvarez in his Guadalajara home – and says it’s only right
to face the Mexican king in his backyard as he looks to
defeat the undisputed Super-Middleweight champion at the
Estadio Akron on Saturday night, live on DAZN and DAZN PPV.
Ryder (32-5-1 18 KOs) takes on the biggest challenge of his
12 year career in facing the pound-for-pound king in Mexico,
and in doing so, meets a champion that’s eager to put on a
dazzling display on an historic occasion, with the 32 year
old fighting at home for the first time in over 11 and a
half years .
‘The Gorilla’ landed the WBO interim title in his last fight
when Zach Parker retired on his stool after four rounds of
their clash in London, England in November.
That win for the 34 year old followed a career-best victory
earlier in 2022 over former Middleweight ruler and old
Canelo foe Daniel Jacobs, with Ryder having also tackled
three other Britons who have taken on the Mexican king,
challenging Callum Smith for the Super-Middleweight World
crown after fights with Billy Joe Saunders and Rocky
Fielding.
Ryder completed his camp in Los Angeles before arriving in
the capital of Jalisco, and the Londoner has enjoyed the
hospitality to date in a state that is celebrating 200 years
of independence – but the challenger knows that will turn
into hostility on Saturday night – and he’s relishing the
chance to ruin the party and be the second King from the UK
to be crowned on the day.
“I know it’s going to be hostile; I am prepared for it,”
said Ryder. “I think to go and fight a champion, you should
go to their backyard to take their titles and that’s what I
am doing. Most fighters have gone to Vegas or Texas to fight
him, but I’m in Guadalajara in the Lion’s Den.
“I think that the pressure is on him. It’s been a long time
since he boxed here and who expects anything of me? No one.
People think I am here for the paycheck, I am not, I am here
to show that dreams can come true. I’ve worked hard to get
here, and I deserve to be here.
“I think it is a good time to fight him, he has a lot of
miles on the clock. Last year he had the Bivol defeat, I
found it strange that he went back to Light-Heavyweight, and
then he went back to 168 and while I don’t think it was a
bad performance, I think people were expecting him to stop
him and put the final nail in the coffin of the trilogy and
he didn’t, although he did win comfortably. Obviously, he’s
had the surgery on his hand and maybe there’s question marks
on wear and tear, but I want the best version of him because
I will give the best version of me.
“I have to embrace the moment. After 12 rounds, my hand will
be raised, and the new, from Islington, London, UK,
undisputed World Super-Middleweight champion, John Ryder.
It’s a dream opportunity and I don’t plan to waste it.
“To prepare for him, you have to take him off his pedestal
initially as he is who he is, but you won’t be able to get
Canelo in to spar to prepare for Canelo. You work with what
you can get which we have. Tony Sims is a great trainer and
a real boxing historian, but it’s all very modern in my camp
too. It’s been a different camp as I stayed with Joe Cordina
for three weeks was fantastic, it’s one big family and he’s
like a brother. He regained his World title so now it’s down
to me.
“I have always believed that I was destined for bigger
things. My career has always been a work in progress. I’ve
got good people around me, familiar faces, and there’s
nothing new here, I’m not in the main fight hotel so
everything is a bit calmer, it’s nice and we’ll dial in when
we need to.”
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