Payday! Canelo Alvarez vs. John Ryder

Background: Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Estadio Akron Chivas Stadium, in Zapopan, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, it’s Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez vs. John “The Gorilla” Ryder, Super Middleweights (DAZN). Dudes are fighting for – they can’t make this crap up - the Puebla Jalisco Mayo belt devised especially for this match.

Background: It’s Cinco de Mayo, Canelo needs an opponent for the big national holiday, he owes his Mexican fans a fight in Mexico – definitely more than fair and a good idea – and John Ryder is ‘it.’ He’s only making two million according to Sports Payouts, which after frightening revisions of the British Tax code, means he’ll net probably under a million. Not enough. Not fair. 

Ryder has five defeats, including a kayo loss. The danger of Alvarez fighting a stiff is that unless he looks tremendous, people will say he’s slipping. People would be right. I think even in Mexico, fans would have preferred a more live underdog. If you’re a betting man – bet huge amounts for tiny returns on the redhead. 

Ryder, a fierce looking bloke from Islington, North London, has tree trunk-like legs that don’t move well and is a sitting duck. This is one tough nut – I can see him working with Michael Caine’s Jack Carter if that movie required another maniac. In ‘real’ life he’s a well-spoken, very pleasant guy. Ryder however, is basing his hopes on Alvarez having slipped. That’s no way for a professional boxer to operate.

Fighters Grades: (Speed, Power, Defense, Reach, Age, Stamina, Experience)

John Ryder: C- C D B C- C B Total: C (2.1)

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez: A B+ B+B- C+ A A Total: B+ (3.4)

Reality Check: Left-handed Ryder did beat Daniel Jacobs on a split decision. He had lots of moments against Billy Joe Saunders. He’s a thorough pro and is a fair judge of distance and has decent head movement.

On the ‘minus’ side of things, he’s stiff and fights absurdly upright at times, but also switches into a frontal, head-down crouch. Obviously, both are Boxing 101 ‘don’ts.’ He doesn’t have a signature punch and throws roundhouse shots from both sides. Is front-foot heavy. ‘

Ryder is a pot-shotter. Forget visions of Roy Jones Jr., pot-shotting! Ryder waits for any perceived opening,  then rushes in head-down (ouch) to throw roundhouse punches – and occasionally decent uppercuts with both hands.

Saul Alvarez. We all know him. Has all the punches, good power, incredible experience, and a fantastic chin. Can make adjustments – proof of a fine fighter. Brainy in/out of the ring.

Saul’s negatives are that blessed as he is with amazing hand speed, his slow feet have kept him far from any all-time great lists – mine, anyway. Also, he does NOT sellout when the issue is close. Nor will his corner, particularly his brother, part of that corner, ever tell him: “Bivol has won most of the rounds. You’re way behind. Sell out.”

Canelo did try to impose himself a few times against Bivol, felt that for-real power, and retreated, dancing backward as he did in the first Golovkin fight. When a fighter with slow feet is dancing – he’s accepted defeat. 

Alvarez is the best-marketed fighter besides Mayweather, in history, perhaps. A charming, very smart, tough guy, now fully bi-lingual, which is dang cool. What we hear from Canelo in English as he taunts people who want to fight him, is “Pay Day! Pay Day!” That’s what Saul yells at various dudes who desperately want that payday and it never gets old!

The unfortunate thing is Ryder is not getting a good payday; not being paid what he deserves in a promotion of this magnitude. Ryder is a very tough professional with small or no dreams of entering anyone’s Top 20. He’s old. His number is up.

Fight and Prediction: A Canelo decision win will have dudes like “Boo-Boo” Andrade (who deserves boos) Benavidez, the already knocked out, Caleb Plant – and unlimited others, just about soiling themselves. They want that Dia De Paga, that Canelo payday.

A thumping knockout is important for Alvarez. If he looks his age – he should take his enormous fortune, his fancy show horses, incredible cars, and Art Deco swimming pool - and get the hell out of the sport, smarts intact. To say he’s done well in boxing is like saying Newton was pretty good with gravity. There’s nothing left. He can’t beat Bivol at any weight. He owes the sport nothing.

Guaranteed, DAZN will make a mountain out of this molehill. Guaranteed their crew (Mr. Mannix in particular) will talk ceaselessly about things like the weather or food in Mexico, at the exact moment the fight gets exciting.

John Raspanti – Editor. Do you see the outcome any differently?

Editor: It might not make it to round nine.

Canelo Alvarez TKO John Ryder, 9.