Undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez could call it quits if he loses to WBO mandatory challenger John Ryder tonight.
Immediately after the weigh-in Friday, the -1600 betting favorite Alvarez told DAZN that should he fall short in his homecoming fight in Mexico in front of 55,000-plus fervent fans, it will be the last time he graces the squared circle.
“If John Ryder beats me, I’m done. But it’s not my last fight. I’m going to continue in boxing for a long time,” said Alvarez. “I just think for the best fighter out there. I don’t want to be too confident because they said the same thing about Dmitry Bivol, and look [what happened when I lost]. So, I train 100% for the good fighter out there. Like I said, if I lose to John Ryder, then I’m done.”
The 34-year-old British boxer Ryder (32-5, 18 KOs) is a +800 betting underdog.
Alvarez has a history of success battling Brits, going 7-0 with five of those wins coming via stoppage.
The 32-year-old Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) has a one-track mind this year – successfully getting through Ryder in order to set up a shot at revenge for his most recent conqueror in the Russian Bivol.
“I just want to continue my history – the big fights out there – and right now my short-term goal is the fight with Dmitry Bivol, and then we’ll see,” said Alvarez.
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer, and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com, or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com.