On May 6, the undisputed super middleweight champion (up to 76.2 kg) Mexican Canelo Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) will defend his titles against the mandatory challenger from Britain, the “interim” WBO champion John Ryder (31-5, 17 KOs) . With a high probability, the event will take place in Canelo’s homeland, where he has not competed since 2011.
Former champion and boxing analyst Timothy Bradley thinks Alvarez is just the right thing to get his career back on track.
“I really think Canelo Alvarez needs it. If you go back to his last fight against Golovkin… Some would say that he entered the ring with an injury. But that’s no excuse that it wasn’t his best performance, Timothy says. He seems to have lost his passion for boxing. And therefore, returning to where it all began is a good way to raise morale. I firmly believe that Canelo is on his way to retirement. And now he’s on the decline because of the way he fights.”
“It doesn’t look like he enjoys (boxing). What happens outside the ring, like golf, family and business, is more important to him. It happens to a fighter,” Bradley said. “So I’m glad Canelo is doing it because he needs it. After all, Ryder is not the one with whom you can play. Yes, he is an underdog, but not without a chance. He will come out to fight and will not be a cakewalk for Canelo.”
Ryder, by the way, is determined to shock the world.