John Ryder on Canelo problem: ‘He’s the boss stage, who knows who’s subsequent?’

It has grow to be a painful cliche, the Rocky reference in a boxing narrative. In the case of John Ryder, it might even be a painful disservice, a lot as he acknowledges the underdog tag hanging round his neck this week. Yet it’s Ryder himself who makes the reference, and the particular parallels that he attracts are admittedly apt.

“Rocky IV would be my favourite,” the Londoner tells The Independent. “Ivan Drago, Russia, Christmas Day.” On Saturday, will probably be: Canelo, Mexico, Cinco de Mayo. “I suppose this is my Rocky moment, going to Mexico to get those titles.”

Ryder, for what it’s price, is just not a person to be awed by any opponent, atmosphere or event. That will stand him in good stead in the humidity of Guadalajara, and the depth of the Estadio Akron, the place 50,000 Mexicans will scream for Canelo till their vocal cords tear. It will stand Ryder in good stead when the first bell sounds, and his bid to dethrone the undisputed super-middleweight champion begins – in the champion’s hometown, on one among Mexico’s most vital days of the yr.

Ryder (32-5, 18 knockouts) is respectful of Canelo and life like about the problem awaiting in Guadalajara. He acknowledges the elements working towards him, however he’s unfazed by them.

“I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a hostile fanbase like this [will be],” the 34-year-old admits. “The likes of going to Liverpool for the [Liam] Smith fight, the [Rocky] Fielding fight… those were pretty hostile, but not too bad; on the grand scale of things, this is gonna be quite hostile.

“And so far, Canelo is the boss level, I suppose. He’ll go down as one of the modern-day greats. He’s essentially the greatest of our generation. But beat him and I can propel myself on. I don’t know if there’s bigger and better challenges, but there’s certainly the likes of a rematch. Who knows who’s there after that?”

For, Canelo the reply to that query is far clearer. The 32-year-old remains to be looking for a rematch with Dmitry Bivol, whose resolution win over Alvarez final May marked the Mexican’s first loss in 9 years. And whereas Canelo responded with a factors victory over Gennady Golovkin in September, the win meant little. Perhaps the method meant extra, tepid because it was. Golovkin was cruelly denied his glory in his first conflict with Canelo in 2017, as the judges handed the Mexican a draw; of their rematch a yr later, Canelo was given the good thing about the doubt at the finish of a contemporary traditional; of their trilogy bout eight months in the past, Canelo collected a transparent however uninspiring factors win towards the aged Kazakh.

“I’ve said it before: He’s probably coming off his career-worst year,” Ryder says, having loved his career-best win 15 months in the past, a factors victory over Daniel Jacobs that preceded a fourth-round win towards Zach Parker. “Obviously he lost to Bivol, had a lacklustre performance in the third Golovkin fight, recently had surgery on his wrist. Listen, he’s had a fantastic career; I’m not relying on him getting old overnight, recent performances and surgery, because that happens in the sport. I’m training for Canelo to be at his best, tip-top condition, 110 per cent – I hope that’s what he brings. But it’s all there to be seen. What’s he got left in the tank?”

The followers in Canelo’s hometown will probably be the gas in the champion’s tank on Saturday, a minimum of, as will the motivation for a rematch with Bivol. Ryder, nonetheless, is motivated, too.

“I’m sure they’re talking up big fights, should they come through this successfully, but I’ve got ideas myself. I’m there to upset the apple cart. I’m there to shock the world come 6 May.

“There’s been a lot of sacrifice put into this camp, there’s been no let-up,” Ryder provides, reflecting on his coaching in Essex and looking forward to his last preparations in Los Angeles. “On the side of emotions, I’ve been away from my family. I’ve missed them, and I will do when I go away again, but’s all in aid of a bigger picture. Boxing is what I use to provide for my family and to live the life we live. I’m away for 12 weeks at a time in a training camp, locked away for periods of time, not out on the weekend wining and dining with my missus. We all pay a price for it.”

There is a aspect of Ryder, nonetheless, that pays the charge with glee.

“As much as people say, ‘He’s a selfless person for doing it for his family’, on the flip side I’m very selfish,” he suggests. “If I didn’t get enjoyment and satisfaction out of it, I wouldn’t do it.”

Ryder should take pleasure in the problem on Saturday, as he takes on the greatest super-middleweight alive. Canelo, as Ryder places it, will go down as “essentially the greatest of our generation”.

And John Ryder? Win or lose on Saturday, how will he be remembered? “As someone that refused to give up.”

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