Canelo set to fight Ryder in Mexico on Cinco de Mayo
The Mexican superstar will finally face the Brit in his native Guadalajara after years of fighting in the United States.
Many European boxing fans were excited about the possibility of seeing Canelo Álvarez fight in Europe, but the boxing great will finally face John Ryder in Mexico.
Canelo 58-2-2(39) has reached a deal to face the British warrior in Guadalajara on May 6, during the iconic annual Cinco de Mayo celebratory weekend in Mexico, according to RingTV.com.
Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said the location change will mean a big pay cut for Canelo, but it seems it’s something that he is keen to accept to fight in front of his hometown fans.
The venue of the fight will certainly be a big factor for Eddie Reynoso’s pupil, as he will be fighting in Mexico for the first time since 2011 when he defeated Kermit Cintrón by TKO in the fifth round.
It could also be a game-changer for Ryder, who besides fighting the best opponent so far in his career, will need to cope with an all-Mexican atmosphere supporting the local fighter throughout the whole showdown.
Two options to host the Canelo vs Ryder bout
Two stadiums are being discussed as options to hold the bout. One of them is the Akron Stadium, with 46,000 seat capacity, while the other possibility is Estadio Jalisco, which is even bigger, with 55,000 seats.
In any case, what seems sure is that any of those arenas will be filled to the brim to see one of Mexico’s biggest icons in action.
Canelo last defeated Gennady Golovkin in their trilogy fight and required wrist surgery after that. With a potential rematch against Dmitry Bivol scheduled for the second half of the year, he will be looking to get an impressive win against heavy underdog Ryder on May 6.