BOXING
Place your bets: Who will win the fight between Canelo Álvarez and John Ryder?
‘Canelo’ will be looking to record an impressive win in front of his fans, while Ryder is willing to make history and take all the belts from his opponent.
A big weekend of celebrations is expected in Mexico, as besides being a special date, the Cinco de Mayo weekend will also bring some excitement for boxing fans.
Saúl Álvarez returns to the ring after his points-decision win over Gennady Golovkin in their trilogy fight last September and after undergoing a hand surgery that kept him inactive for some weeks.
Now, back in the boxing spotlight, Álvarez is ready to take on John Ryder in front of thousands of Mexican fans at Akron Stadium, who will try to guide their boxer to another victory.
However, The Gorilla seems determined to make history in enemy territory. He knows the pressure is on Canelo’s side, as the Mexican is the big favorite and is putting all his belts on the line.
Canelo vs Ryder: prediction
The undisputed super middleweight champion is the massive favorite going into the fight against Ryder, as he has an impressive record of 58 wins and only two losses.
Moreover, he will be fighting in his hometown on an iconic date for Mexicans and will be willing to prove a point to those who are saying that Álvarez’s best days are behind him.
Canelo knows that a victory will allow him to plan another big fight against Dmitry Bivol or a Latino mega bout against David Benavidez.
As for Ryder, he has very little to lose in this fight. If he ends up being defeated, it will be against the best boxer he has ever faced and if he wins, he will get all the boxing world’s attention and will be able to make lots of money by fighting Álvarez again or stepping into the ring against other big names.
The British boxer (32-5) is probably in the best shape of his life, as his best wins took place last year when he defeated former world champion Daniel Jacobs via a split decision and undefeated fellow countryman Zack Parker, who was forced to stop fighting before the beginning of the fifth round after injuring his hand when he was behind the scorecards.
Although Ryder’s hunger and determination could give Canelo some problems early, Álvarez is expected to take control of the fight to ultimately get the win via a knockout in the mid-rounds.