“It’s Not About Money”: Canelo Alvarez Opens Up About Finalizing John Ryder Fight in Mexico

A slugfest, or for that matter any performance in front of the home crowd, is a double-edged sword. A win will ensure a legacy cherished for a long time. But a defeat, on the other hand, would raise multiple questions, tarnishing that hard-built reputation. So ‘Canelo’ Alvarez probably must have calculated the merits and demerits long before settling to have the second undisputed title defense in his hometown, Guadalajara.

The thirty-two-year-old would be facing Londoner John Ryder on Saturday, May 6. His WBA (Super), WBC, WBO, IBF, and the Ring Super Middleweight titles would be at stake. He became the undisputed champion after defeating Caleb Plant on November 6, 2021. After the Golovkin fight in September, the Ryder fight is the first he is having since his wrist injury, which he now claims cured.

One of the event’s highlights is that Alvarez is fighting on home turf after a gap of nearly twelve years. In Mexico City’s Plaza De Toros, he knocked out the Puerto Rican boxer Kermit Cintron on November 6, 2011. The next twenty-two bouts of Alvarez’s career were outside, mainly in Nevada, United States. Hence it meant a lot for the starfighter to showcase his skills in front of a packed home crowd.

For ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, it’s not the money but fighting in front of his people that matters

It wasn’t as easy as it sounds for Alvarez. A big-time boxing match arrangement might turn up a logistical nightmare. And that is precisely what ‘Canelo’ Alvarez explained to Fight Hype during an interview. The channel reporter wanted to know the most challenging part of bringing a contest to Mexico, “What was the most difficult thing that you had to you know where you really had to like keep your foot down and keep the hammer down that I want this fight in Mexico?“

Alvarez explained that it wasn’t that much monetary related as it was about other issues. He said, “It is no it’s not about [the] money you know. I unless obviously, but it’s not about that it’s a lot of things it’s hard to put a fight here. Everything, the TV, uh a lot of things you need to move [to] put it here in Guadalajara. It’s hard to do it, but you know, I’m happy I made this. I’m happy to bring this fight to Guadalajara.“

Read More: Canelo Alvarez Reveals Real Reason He Wants Dmitry Bivol Rematch at 175

Moreover, the fight is happening on the weekend of Cinco De Mayo, the Spanish for ‘Fifth of May.’ It is the annual celebration of Mexico’s victory over French forces in 1862. The festivities unusually involve whole lots of parades, reenactments, dancing, food, and musical events. Hence, under the circumstances, it’s a significant achievement on ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s part to fight in Mexico, which may remain in the minds of his fellow countrymen for a long time.

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Which is your favorite ‘Canelo’ fight? Who do you think he should fight next – Bivol or Benavidez? Do share your views and thoughts with us in the comments below.