Matchroom Promoter, Eddie Hearn, has admitted that John Ryder might be fighting Canelo Alvarez at the perfect time, following a difficult twelve months for the undisputed super-middleweight champion.
Eighteen months ago, Alvarez was recognised by many in boxing as the pound-for-pound number one. However, a first defeat in eight years against Dmitry Bivol, and a lacklustre performance against an ageing Gennady Golovkin has left fans questioning how much longer the Mexican can remain at the top of the sport.
Alvarez’s argument for below-par performances was an injury to his wrist, which he has since undergone surgery on, but the pressure is well and truly on Canelo as he looks to prove that he is still the face of boxing.
By contrast, his opponent, John Ryder, is a fighter on the up, after securing career-best wins over Daniel Jacobs and Zach Parker in successive fights.
In an interview with Seconds Out, Hearn recognised that this is the best time for Ryder to take on Canelo.
“It is a good time to fight Saul, because he is coming in off the surgery.
You don’t know if he is coming towards the back end of his career, he says not. He [Ryder] is also fighting in Guadalajara, in front of 50,000 people, so he is right up against it, but as I said, John will give it everything.”
Despite Hearn’s concerns for his poster boy, Canelo will still be a heavy favourite going into the fight, which has drawn criticism from his former promoter, Oscar De La Hoya.
The 50-year-old matchmaker claimed that fighting British opponents, such as Ryder, will not add to Alvarez’s legacy and that he should be facing people who will give him a tougher test.
Canelo will make his comeback against Ryder on the weekend of Cinco De Mayo, stepping into the ring on May 6th in Guadalajara, with the event being available to stream on DAZN.