RYDER TOUGHS OUT 12 WITH CANELO
Canelo Alvarez’s long-awaited homecoming ended in victory as he dropped John Ryder twice en route to a win in Guadalajara.
However, it was a story not best relayed by the history books. 120-107 and 118-109 (twice) are scorecards which indicate the clear gulf in class, but mask a courageous performance from Ryder.
For the full 36 minutes, he stood resolute, going toe-to-toe with the world’s best.
It was the perfect example of how not to let an opportunity pass you by. This was the pinnacle for Ryder. It simply cannot and will not get bigger. Of course, he walks away without the reward, but he can walk away with his head held high.
Canelo once again showed why he is the sport of boxing.
50,000 came to get a glimpse of brilliance. A number that by the ridiculous standards of Canelo Alvarez has become fairly unremarkable.
They may not have got the finish they wanted. But, even with suggestions of a decline, they got to witness the effortless brilliance that he brings to the squared circle.
From minute one he established his dominance by taking centre ring. This was his house, and he was acting like it.
Ryder, unbowed by the swarm of Mexicans begging for his slaughter, did well to keep Canelo out of range - something made more difficult by the phone box sized ring.
But in round three, a right-hand bust Ryder’s nose. A cruel hindrance at the best of times, let alone when faced with one Canelo Alvarez.
Things weren’t to get any better, as now painted in his own blood, Ryder hit the deck in round five. It was a one-two typical of the Mexican. Ryder managed to rise on the count of nine and saw through to the bell.
Canelo poured on the action as the rounds continued, but Ryder stood firm, even managing to slip some of the champion’s shots and land with the uppercut.
Canelo was clearly searching for the right-hand finish, but Ryder’s high left-hand nullified the shot and there were minor hints of frustration. It was frustration that would continue right until the once inconceivable final bell.
Draped in his country’s colours and, perhaps pretty aptly, wearing a crown, Canelo raised aloft his super-middleweight titles to close the curtain on the homecoming.
It wasn’t the best Canelo, it wasn’t the worst Canelo, and that gives us the talking point ahead of what is likely next - a HUGE rematch with Dmitry Bivol.
For Ryder, this was a fight that was once so far out of sight, even despite the fact he should have sat as a world champion after that night in Liverpool.
Four years later, and he can finally reap the rewards. Sometimes boxing works in good ways, too.
Joshua Buatsi returned after a year out of the ring with a points win over Pawel Stepien in Birmingham. It wasn’t much to shout about, and perhaps sits as good reasoning as to why a fight with Bivol was avoided last year.
It was very one-paced, but that was all that was needed to breeze through a fairly uneventful 10 rounds.
Buatsi did call for the big names at 175, many of whom will fear little based on that particular showing. However, if he is to save the best Buatsi for the biggest nights, then he will be a welcome addition to an already very hot world scene.
Oscar Bevis