WBC Special Preview: #CaneloRyder

WBC STATISTICS

WBC Super Middleweight World Championship

May 6, 2023 / Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico / Estadio Akron

CANELO PROMOTIONS & CLASE Y TALENTO, PRESENT:

SAÚL “Canelo” ÁLVAREZ (Mexico)

WBC Super Middleweight World Champion, 5th Title Defense / Undiputed 168 Lbs. Champion

Age: 32 / Date of birth: July 18, 1990

Residence: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico / Birthplace: Juanacatlán, Jalisco, Mexico

Record: 58-2-2, 39 KOs / Total rounds: 460 / World championship fights: 19-2-1, 11 KOs

Height: 5’8” – 173cm / Reach: 70.5” – 179cm / Stance: Right-handed

Manager, trainer: Edison “Eddy” Reynoso

JOHN “The Gorilla” RYDER (United Kingdom)

WBO Interim Super Middleweight Champion

Age: 34 / Date of birth: July 19, 1988

Residence, birthplace: Islington, London, England, United Kingdom

Record: 32-5, 18 KOs / Total rounds: 233

Height: 5’9” – 175cm / Reach: 72” – 183cm / Stance: Left-handed

Manager: Eddie Hearn / Trainer: Tony Sims

WBC SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONS

1. Ray Leonard (US)                             1988 – 1990
2. Mauro Galvano (Italy)                        1990 – 1992
3. Nigel Benn (GB)                                1992 – 1996
4. Thulane Malinga (S. Afr)                    1996
5. Vincenzo Nardiello (Ita)                     1996
6. Robin Reid (GB)                                1996 – 1997
7. Thulane Malinga (S. Afr) *                  1997 – 1998
8. Richie Woodhall (GB)                        1998 – 1999
9. Markus Beyer (Germany)                  1999 – 2000
10. Glenn Catley (GB)                           2000
11. Dingaan Thobela (S. Afr)                 2000
12. Dave Hilton (Can)                            2000
13. Eric Lucas (Can)                              2001 – 2003
14. Markus Beyer (Germany) *              2003 – 2004
15. Danny Green (Australia) Interim      2003 – 2005
16. Cristian Sanavia (Italy)                     2004
17. Markus Beyer (Germany) *              2004 – 2006
18. Mikkel Kessler (Den)                        2006 – 2007
19. Joe Calzaghe (GB)                          2007
20. Carl Froch (GB)                               2008 – 2010
21. Mikkel Kessler (Den) * (Emeritus)   2010
22. Carl Froch (GB) *                            2010 – 2011
23. Andre Ward (US)                             2011 – 2012
24. Sakio Bika (Cameroon)                   2013
25. Anthony Dirrell (US)                        2014 – 2015
26. Badou Jack (Sweden-US)               2015 – 2017
27. David Benavidez (US)                     2017 – 2018
28. Anthony Dirrell (US) *                      2019
29. David Benavidez (US)*                    2019 – 2020
30. Canelo Alvarez (Mexico)                  2020 –

* Regained

WBC TOP 10 SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONS

1. Ray Leonard (US)
2. Joe Calzaghe (GB)
3. Nigel Benn (GB)
4. Andre Ward (US)
5. Markus Beyer (Germany)
6. Carl Froch (GB)
7. Mikkel Kessler (Denmark)
8. Robin Reid (GB)
9. Danny Green (Australia)
10. Eric Lucas (Canada)

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY

25 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, five of whom have regained the title: Thulane Malinga (S. Africa), Markus Beyer two times (Germany), Carl Froch (GB), Anthony Dirrell (US), David Benavidez (US).

74 super middleweight world championships bouts have been sanctioned in WBC history.

MEMORABLE WBC SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS

Sep. 17, 2022   Canelo Alvarez W12 Gennady Golovkin – Las Vegas, Nevada

Nov. 6, 2021    Canelo Alvarez TKO11 Caleb Plant – Las Vegas, Nevada

May 8, 2021     Canelo Alvarez TKO8 Billy Joe Saunders – Arlington, Texas

Dec. 19, 2020   Canelo Alvarez W12 Callum Smith – San Antonio, Texas

Feb. 23, 2019   Anthony Dirrell TW10 Avni Yildirim – Minneapolis, Minnesota

Sep. 28, 2019   David Benavidez KO9 Anthony Dirrell – Los Angeles, California

Feb. 23, 2019   Anthony Dirrell TW10 Avni Yildirim – Minneapolis, Minnesota

Feb. 17, 2018   David Benavidez W12 Ronald Gavril – Las Vegas, Nevada

Sep. 8, 2017    David Benavidez W12 Ronald Gavril – Las Vegas, Nevada

Jan. 14, 2017   Badou Jack D12 James DeGale – Brooklyn, New York

Apr. 30, 2016   Badou Jack D12 Lucian Bute – Washington, D.C.

Sep. 9, 2015    Badou Jack W12 George Groves – Las Vegas, Nevada

Apr. 24, 2015   Badou Jack W12 Anthony Dirrell – Chicago, Illinois

Aug. 16, 2014   Anthony Dirrell W12 Sakio Bika – Carson, California

Sep. 8, 2012    Andre Ward TKO10 Chad Dawson – Oakland, California

Dec. 17, 2011   Andre Ward W12 Carl Froch – Atlantic City, New Jersey

Nov. 27, 2010   Carl Froch W12 Arthur Abraham – Helsinki, Finland

Dec. 6, 2008    Carl Froch W12 Jean Pascal – Nottingham, England

Nov. 3, 2007    Joe Calzaghe w12 Mikkel Kessler – Cardiff, Wales

Oct. 14, 2006   Mikkel Kessler KO3 Markus Beyer – Copenhagen, Denmark

Mar. 12, 2005   Markus Beyer W12 Danny Green – Zwickau, Germany

Jul. 10, 2001    Eric Lucas KO7 Glenn Catley – Montreal, Quebec

Mar. 27, 198     Richie Woodhall W12 Thulani Malinga – Telford, England

May 3, 1997     Robin Reid W12 Henry Wharton – Manchester, England

Mar. 2, 1996     Thulani Malinga W12 Nigel Benn – Newcastle, England

Oct. 3, 1992     Nigel Benn TKO4 Mauro Galvano – Marino, Italy

Dec. 7, 1989    Sugar Ray Leonard W12 Roberto Duran – Las Vegas, Nevada

Nov. 7, 1988    Sugar Ray Leonard W12 Donny Lalonde – Las Vegas, Nevada

The mountain between Islington and Guadalajara

By James Blears

After twelve long years away from his home turf, Saul “Canelo” is returning, to fight Englishman John “The Gorilla” Ryder at the Estadio Akron, Zapopan, Guadalajara, defending his undisputed Super Middleweight titles.

Canelo could have been even more handsomely rewarded if he`d defended his laurels in the USA, especially ensconced in the global fight capital of Las Vegas. But at long last, he wanted to come home to give his legion of loyal fans a special and unforgettable treat, with all the force he can muster and then inflict. The return of the prodigal fillip!

The boxer chosen to line up against Canelo and weather this brewing firestorm which will then erupt, is John Ryder, a southpaw from Islington, London, who`s the WBO Interim champion. No complaints from John, who says he`s been cordially and respectfully received plus greeted in Guadalajara, and he`ll earn well. But come fight night he`s going to be facing a cocophony din. Phil Spector best coined it with his: “Wall of Sound.” There will be a singer and a mariachi band, for an overture that the Londoner has never experienced in all his born days.  Wonder if he could bring Kenny Ball Jr and his Jazzmen to musically ginger things up, via the bold as brass section?

John earned his opportunity of a lifetime, by defeating Danny Jacobs by a split decision and then Zach Parker for the WBO Interim title. Parker wasn`t able to continue after four rounds due to a hand injury. John`s record has some similarities with that of Canelo. Both defeated Jacobs. But John lost decisions to Billy Joe Saunders Callum Smith and Rocky Fielding. Canelo fractured southpaw Billy Joe`s right orbital bone to make him retire on the stool at the end of round eight. It required surgery. His punches detached Callum´s left bicep, although the Scouser courageously went the full twelve rounds.  Not so with Rocky Fielding, who Canelo ruthlessly took out with a third round TKO. John turned pro in 2010. His record is 32-5, 18 KO`s. He`s thirty four years old. He has fought two hundred and thirty three rounds.

Canelo is two years younger. His record is 58-2-2, 39 KO`s. He turned pro aged just fifteen in 2005. He`s won world titles at super-welterweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight. He`s fought four hundred and sixty rounds. Canelo who`s far too professional to be overlooking John Ryder, is non the less hankering for a return fight against Dmitry Bivol, who defeated him at Light heavyweight. My feeling is that Canelo is stretching it at that weight division. But at super-middleweight he`s bristling and bursting with power. It`s a forbidding and daunting prospect.

Both Floyd Mayweather and Dmitry Bivol who are the only two to have defeated Canelo, used exceptional strategy, guile and excellent defensive skills, as well as well- judged and aptly timed attacks plus counter-attacks.  John Ryder is a close range fighter who likes to stay within the pocket. This style is tailor made for Canelo`s heavy punching. It suits Canelo rather well and he`ll let rip, sooner than later, especially in front of his own people.

John has had time to prepare very well, and he`s no mug. He points out that Canelo had problems against Bivol, didn`t shine against GGG in their third encounter although he won, and has undergone surgery to rectify an injury to his left wrist. But… John will never before have experienced this type of firepower and sheer intensity. He`ll be well and truly under the cosh! Undaunted and so far unabashed, he`s delighted to be fighting the best and he says he`s going all out to make a memorable impression. But let`s be honest…he`s really up against it!

Canelo`s first defense after winning the vacant WBC super-welterweight by outpointing brave but outgunned, outsized  Matthew Hatton, was against another Brit, Ryan Rhodes. It was in the Arena VFG, Tlajomulco de Zuniga just outside Guadalajara.  Down in the fourth, Ryan got up and bravely fought on. But was TKO`d by the youthful Canelo in the twelfth and final round. Afterwards, I distinctly remember Ryan lamenting how blisteringly hot it had been in his changing room and how he wished he`d brought an electric fan to keep him cool during a scorching June day. John would do well to take note of that!

I keep remembering another long ago fight night, almost thirty years ago, which bears some comparison. It was when Julio Cesar Chavez demolished audacious and loquacious Greg Haugen in five painful rounds. The similarity is that like Greg, John will be walking into the lion`s den. On that fabled February night in 1992 at the Azteca Stadium, one hundred and thirty six thousand fans were roaring for Julio to seek and destroy, in guided missile fashion. After the Mexican National Anthem concluded, the ground literally shook with the cheering and applause. Then the outright onslaught started.

In the Akron Stadium, on Cinco de Mayo weekend, fifty thousand hometown fans rooting for their local hero Canelo will be make their presence deafeningly felt. John will appreciate that one way or the other!

Greg used up an awful lot of energy, singing along with Bruce Springstein`s Born in the USA. It didn`t endear him to the Mexican crowd, who were already on his case, because he snapped that Julio had only fought Tijuana taxi drivers who: “My Mum could whip.” After Referee Arthur Mercante saved him the in fifth, he later graciously, depreciatingly, ruefully and apologetically conceded through bruised lips that: “They must have been very tough taxi drivers!” Hats off to him for finally playing: “Fare.”

No such personalized animosity between Canelo and John. Curt courtesies and Canelo has welcomed the Brit in polite, formal but unsmiling fashion, in the tacit and tactile understanding that all is fair in love and war. His people love him, he`s determined not to let them down…so it WILL be war!

John is from Islington which is North London, so he may not be fully familiar with the Cockney Rhyming Slang from the East End. In this upcoming fight, the fight of his life, he`d do well to protect his Vera Lynn, which means his chin.  Avoid damage to his mince pies-eyes. And watch out for getting biffed on his nose, or it might end up like a blind cobbler´s thumb.