Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez vs. John Ryder | DAZN - 6 May 2023

[Ruthless-RKO]

Hearn Will Attempt To Make Canelo vs. Ryder in May at Emirates Stadium

Super middleweight contender John Ryder may have won the lottery on Saturday night at the O2 Arena, when he picked up an upset win over Zach Parker to capture the vacant WBO interim-title.

Ryder, who was the betting underdog, was declared the winner after Parker broke his hand and was unable to continue beyond the fourth round.

The victory made Ryder the mandatory challenger to Mexican superstar Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, who holds the WBO, WBA, WBC, IBF titles at 168-pounds.

Earlier this year, Ryder pulled off another upset with a close twelve round decision over former world champion Daniel Jacobs.

Eddie Hearn, who works with Canelo and promotes Ryder, would love to match them against each other in May of next year at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.

Canelo is looking to stay busy with a possible May bout - before pursuing a rematch with WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in September. According to Hearn, Canelo has expressed real interest in fighting on UK soil.

"I am so pleased for John Ryder. Since he beat Daniel Jacobs, we've been looking for this big fight," Hearn told Matchroom Boxing.

"We didn't expect it to be Zach Parker. He came through and was just too much for Parker, who I think had an injured hand. But he was getting to him and I think he would have stopped him anyway.

"I've already texted [Canelo's trainer and manager] Eddy Reynoso to say 'John Ryder is mandatory, let's go in May at the Emirates'. It would be a dream for Ryder, he deserves it.

"He is a very good fighter and he's the mandatory challenger for Canelo Alvarez. This could be our chance to bring Canelo to the UK, it would be unbelievable. We'll see if we can get it over the line."

[Dioufy]

Looks like Canelo v Lionel Messi 5th May tbh.

[DrDuke]

Objectively the best contender at this weight now. The Charlo and Andrade matchups could be better, but those are bumfighters.

[Deserter]

Got a lot of time for Ryder, proper old-school mentality and can't begrudge him this shot, but do feel it would be a mismatch as he'd be tailor-made for Canelo. Would go out on his shield though.

[dan28uk]

i think canelo would stop ryder around 4-6 he doesn't hit hard enough to hurt canelo i'd love ryder to win though

[DrDuke]

Ryder is very tough, I think Canelo won't stop him. Yet Canelo's defence and countering abilities are good enough to deal with John. Probably it will be a one-sided bout, but who knows, Ryder has several surprisingly good performances.

[Deserter]

Ryder is very tough, I think Canelo won't stop him. Yet Canelo's defence and countering abilities are good enough to deal with John. Probably it will be a one-sided bout, but who knows, Ryder has several surprisingly good performances.

Ryder is tough, but I just think Canelo is heavy handed and will connect a lot, so he'll end up shipping too much punishment. It's about levels.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ryder is very tough, I think Canelo won't stop him. Yet Canelo's defence and countering abilities are good enough to deal with John. Probably it will be a one-sided bout, but who knows, Ryder has several surprisingly good performances.

Ryder is tough, but I just think Canelo is heavy handed and will connect a lot, so he'll end up shipping too much punishment. It's about levels.

On a level of 1-10

10 being Elite.

Where is Canelo and where is Ryder?

Let’s see how many levels between them.

[Deserter]

Ryder is very tough, I think Canelo won't stop him. Yet Canelo's defence and countering abilities are good enough to deal with John. Probably it will be a one-sided bout, but who knows, Ryder has several surprisingly good performances.

Ryder is tough, but I just think Canelo is heavy handed and will connect a lot, so he'll end up shipping too much punishment. It's about levels.

On a level of 1-10

10 being Elite.

Where is Canelo and where is Ryder?

Let’s see how many levels between them.

I'd have Canelo as a 9 and Ryder as a 7 if you want to use that grading system, but we all know that doesn't ever tell the full story, not least because it bypasses the 'styles make fights' truism. How would you mark Inoue vs Butler for example? You could make a case for Inoue being a 9 or a 10 and Butler being a 7, but I think we all know how that is going to play out...
I genuinely hope I'm wrong as Ryder is one of my favourite fighters, but I can see him being hit hard and often, without being able to put a dent in Canelo to dissuade him.

[mickey1975]

No chance of Emirates. I don’t even know why they say it.

[maverick23]

I think they’re being delusional if they think it fills any football stadium in the U.K.

Canelo’s a great fighter but Ryder is still pretty unknown outside of people with a reasonable knowledge of boxing.

Talk of Emirates, Spurs, Wembley is crazy. They’d probably sell out the O2.

Whilst it’d be good to get Canelo over, the money for him is fighting in the US on PPV. Or possibly in the UAE with a big site fee.

[garethhop]

I think they’re being delusional if they think it fills any football stadium in the U.K.

Canelo’s a great fighter but Ryder is still pretty unknown outside of people with a reasonable knowledge of boxing.

Talk of Emirates, Spurs, Wembley is crazy. They’d probably sell out the O2.

Whilst it’d be good to get Canelo over, the money for him is fighting in the US on PPV. Or possibly in the UAE with a big site fee.

Is the money there for a UK time PPV? I doubt it.

I really like Ryder but no interest in watching this fight.

[Spud]

John Ryder has earnt his big chance.

Alas The Cheating Mexican has eaten plenty of beef and will win inside 6 rounds.

[maverick23]

I think they’re being delusional if they think it fills any football stadium in the U.K.

Canelo’s a great fighter but Ryder is still pretty unknown outside of people with a reasonable knowledge of boxing.

Talk of Emirates, Spurs, Wembley is crazy. They’d probably sell out the O2.

Whilst it’d be good to get Canelo over, the money for him is fighting in the US on PPV. Or possibly in the UAE with a big site fee.

Is the money there for a UK time PPV? I doubt it.

I really like Ryder but no interest in watching this fight.

Not a chance. Only way I can see it working with them doing it in the U.K. is having it at 2am and doing it as a US PPV too. Even then Canelo would almost certainly need to take less than recent paydays.

I’d like to see Ryder get a really good payday but I don’t see it as a competitive fight.

[polecateddy]

A bit like Andy Holligan heading to Mexico.

[garethhop]

I think they’re being delusional if they think it fills any football stadium in the U.K.

Canelo’s a great fighter but Ryder is still pretty unknown outside of people with a reasonable knowledge of boxing.

Talk of Emirates, Spurs, Wembley is crazy. They’d probably sell out the O2.

Whilst it’d be good to get Canelo over, the money for him is fighting in the US on PPV. Or possibly in the UAE with a big site fee.

Is the money there for a UK time PPV? I doubt it.

I really like Ryder but no interest in watching this fight.

Not a chance. Only way I can see it working with them doing it in the U.K. is having it at 2am and doing it as a US PPV too. Even then Canelo would almost certainly need to take less than recent paydays.

I’d like to see Ryder get a really good payday but I don’t see it as a competitive fight.

I think you're right but then it has to be an arena show to get licensed which kills the gate revenue.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I think they’re being delusional if they think it fills any football stadium in the U.K.

Canelo’s a great fighter but Ryder is still pretty unknown outside of people with a reasonable knowledge of boxing.

Talk of Emirates, Spurs, Wembley is crazy. They’d probably sell out the O2.

Whilst it’d be good to get Canelo over, the money for him is fighting in the US on PPV. Or possibly in the UAE with a big site fee.

Is the money there for a UK time PPV? I doubt it.

I really like Ryder but no interest in watching this fight.

Not a chance. Only way I can see it working with them doing it in the U.K. is having it at 2am and doing it as a US PPV too. Even then Canelo would almost certainly need to take less than recent paydays.

I’d like to see Ryder get a really good payday but I don’t see it as a competitive fight.

Even then.. DAZN PPV in the US. Against Ryder.

Americans will be like ‘who?’

Just Liam Smith all over again.

That did less than 300k buys and what was HBO.

Will surely be DAZN PPV in the UK.

[dan28uk]

Ryder is tough, but I just think Canelo is heavy handed and will connect a lot, so he'll end up shipping too much punishment. It's about levels.

On a level of 1-10

10 being Elite.

Where is Canelo and where is Ryder?

Let’s see how many levels between them.

I'd have Canelo as a 9 and Ryder as a 7 if you want to use that grading system, but we all know that doesn't ever tell the full story, not least because it bypasses the 'styles make fights' truism. How would you mark Inoue vs Butler for example? You could make a case for Inoue being a 9 or a 10 and Butler being a 7, but I think we all know how that is going to play out...
I genuinely hope I'm wrong as Ryder is one of my favourite fighters, but I can see him being hit hard and often, without being able to put a dent in Canelo to dissuade him.

i say canelo 9/10
ryder 7

[adislav123]

ryder will put up a hell of a fight. slight edge for canelo if he doesn't try to break arms with punches that land where they (normally) don't count and uses his complete arsenal instead with the intent to score. 60/40.

99.9/0.1 if it goes to the judges, literally doesn't matter what actually happens in the ring.

[Boxerbeetle]

Alvarez will batter him.

[KiwiRider]

Got a lot of time for Ryder, proper old-school mentality and can't begrudge him this shot, but do feel it would be a mismatch as he'd be tailor-made for Canelo. Would go out on his shield though.

Agree.
Love a grafter, and Ryder is that. It takes an enormous amount of training and cardio to apply and maintain the pressure he puts on opponents.
And what a treat for British boxing fans if this fight could lure Canelo to the UK, no matter the result

Probably be dirty Saudi though

[a force]

It’s a mismatch stylistically but Ryder more than deserves his shot. I hope he’s getting at least what Callum Smith got because he’s earned it.

[mickey1975]

It’s a mismatch stylistically but Ryder more than deserves his shot. I hope he’s getting at least what Callum Smith got because he’s earned it.

He won’t even get half.

[skanksta]

Is the money there for a UK time PPV? I doubt it.

I really like Ryder but no interest in watching this fight.

Not a chance. Only way I can see it working with them doing it in the U.K. is having it at 2am and doing it as a US PPV too. Even then Canelo would almost certainly need to take less than recent paydays.

I’d like to see Ryder get a really good payday but I don’t see it as a competitive fight.

Even then.. DAZN PPV in the US. Against Ryder.

Americans will be like ‘who?’

Just Liam Smith all over again.

That did less than 300k buys and what was HBO.

Will surely be DAZN PPV in the UK.

Smith had won the Super 6 (or whatever it was) and was clearly the No.1 at the weight with belts and was huuuge compared to Canelo. I know Ryder "beat" Smith (we all know he really did), but Smith had a hell of a lot more name and prestige than The Gorilla does.

[Deserter]

Not a chance. Only way I can see it working with them doing it in the U.K. is having it at 2am and doing it as a US PPV too. Even then Canelo would almost certainly need to take less than recent paydays.

I’d like to see Ryder get a really good payday but I don’t see it as a competitive fight.

Even then.. DAZN PPV in the US. Against Ryder.

Americans will be like ‘who?’

Just Liam Smith all over again.

That did less than 300k buys and what was HBO.

Will surely be DAZN PPV in the UK.

Smith had won the Super 6 (or whatever it was) and was clearly the No.1 at the weight with belts and was huuuge compared to Canelo. I know Ryder "beat" Smith (we all know he really did), but Smith had a hell of a lot more name and prestige than The Gorilla does.

That was Callum, not Liam mate.