Fight Week: Canelo Alvarez set for Mexican homecoming against John Ryder

FIGHT WEEK

Undisputed 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez is set to defend his titles against John Ryder Saturday near the Mexican star’s hometown of Guadalajara.

CANELO ALVAREZ (58-2-2, 39 KOS)
VS. JOHN RYDER (32-5, 18 KOS)

• When: Saturday, May 6
• Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
• Where: Estadio Akron, Zapopan, Mexico
• TV/Stream: Pay-per-view
• Division: Super middleweight (168 pounds)
• At stake: Alvarez’s IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO titles
• Pound-for-pound ranking: Alvarez No. 8
• Odds: Alvarez 11-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
• Also on the card: Julio Cesar Martinez vs. Ronal Batista, flyweights (for Martrinez’s WBC title); Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela vs. Steve Spark, junior welterweights; Oleksandr Gvozdyk vs. Ricards Bolotniks, light heavyweights; Nathan Devon Rodriguez vs. Alexander Mejia, featherweights
• Prediction: Alvarez KO 8
• Background: Canelo Alvarez’s next fight is more of a homecoming than a competitive matchup. At least that’s how it’s being perceived by many. The 32-year-old former pound-for-pound king has endured a rough stretch over the past year. He was soundly outpointed in his attempt to take Dmitry Bivol’s 175-pound title last May, looked so-so in a unanimous-decision victory in his third fight with faded rival Gennadiy Golovkin in September and then had surgery to repair a nagging left wrist injury that might’ve played a role in his subpar performances. The wrist reportedly has healed and Alvarez is prepared to give fans a good show in his first fight in his native country since 2011. He also wants to begin the process of rebuilding his reputation. If things go well Saturday, he wants to challenge Bivol again in his next fight. Ryder, a 34-year-old from London, is a solid fighter. He gained respect for a solid performance in defeat against then-beltholder Callum Smith in November 2019. He has since reeled off four consecutive victories, including a split decision over former 160-pound champ Daniel Jacobs in February of last year. Ryder last fought in November, when he stopped previously unbeaten Zach Parker in four rounds. Parker evidently suffered a hand injury.

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

TUESDAY

• Joey Dawejko vs. Colby Madison, heavyweights, Philadelphia (BXNGTV)
• Elijah Williams vs. Marklin Bailey, welterweights, Nashville (FITE)

WEDNESDAY

• Fernando Angel Molina vs. Kevin Piedrahita, lightweights, Guadalajara, Mexico (ProBox TV)

FRIDAY

• Mauro Forte vs. Francesco Grandelli, featherweights, Tivoli, Italy (ESPN+)

SATURDAY

• Sulaiman Segawa vs. Misael Lopez, featherweights, Washington, D.C. (BXNGTV)