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The custom of boxing’s largest superstars combating on Cinco De Mayo weekend continues. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is ready to defend his standing as undisputed tremendous middleweight champion towards John Ryder. The battle will happen on May 6 from Jalisco, Mexico, Alvarez’s hometown, Matchroom Boxing introduced on Tuesday.
After closing out 2021 with a thrashing of Caleb Plant to turn out to be undisputed champion at 168 kilos, Alvarez had a tough 2022. First, Alvarez’s try to maneuver again to mild heavyweight for a second world title win at 175 kilos got here up quick as he was completely outboxed by Dmitry Bivol.
Alvarez returned to tremendous middleweight for his subsequent bout, a trilogy bout with rival Gennady Golovkin. Alvarez managed the unanimous determination win however in far much less spectacular style than many anticipated. Alvarez revealed after the battle that he would require surgical procedure on his wrist, an damage that had bothered him throughout a number of fights. That damage has stored him on the shelf for greater than six months.
Ryder is making his second bid for a world title. In November 2019, Ryder misplaced a call to then-WBA tremendous middleweight champion Callum Smith. Ryder appeared to have accomplished greater than sufficient to have deserved the win, however the controversial scorecards didn’t go his manner.
Ryder has since rattled off 4 consecutive victories, most lately stopping Zach Parker to win the interim WBO championship, inserting him as one in all Alvarez’s necessary challengers.
Alvarez has not fought in Mexico since November 2011, when he retained his WBC junior middleweight championship with a stoppage win over Kermit Cintron. A rematch with Bivol stays one in all Alvarez’s main targets for the tip of the 2023 calendar.
