Is John Ryder Retiring After TKO Loss? Eddie Hearn Details What’s Next for Ex-World Champion

Enduring a brutal defeat at the hands of Jaime Munguia on Saturday night, British fighter John Ryder finds himself standing at a crossroads in his boxing career. The hard-hitting Mexican knocked Ryder down four times, leading to the fight’s conclusion in the ninth round. After such a loss, what does the future entail for the embattled Ryder?

With this loss marking Ryder’s second consecutive setback, uncertainties loom over the continuation of his journey in the boxing world. While Munguia is eyeing a potential matchup with undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez, Eddie Hearn has discussed the impending future for the former world titlist.

Eddie Hearn brings in Callum Smith’s example to make his point

In an interview with FightHubTV after the fight, Eddie Hearn, the promoter for John Ryder, expressed a somber outlook on the 35-year-old fighter’s future in the aftermath of his recent defeat. When asked about Ryder’s retirement, the promoter replied, “Might be it.”

Hearn acknowledged the challenges of making such assessments immediately after a fight but pointed to the significant milestones Ryder has reached, including the highly anticipated bout against Canelo Álvarez in May last year in Guadalajara.

In another statement, Hearn added, “I think it all comes down to desire. We saw with Callum Smith the other week. After the fight, I would’ve actually thought he’ll retire but he actually- he’s getting quite excited about other fights. And if you’ve got that excitement and that fire, and physically you’re okay, I quite like the idea of carrying on.” Later, he also stated that, as Ryder’s promoter, he also didn’t want to see him take further punishment.

Also, he believes that Ryder has enough money and a house to retire peacefully and spend time with his family. After a loss against Munguia, he had a heartwarming moment with his family.

John Ryder went to his family after the bout

Known for his tenacity, Ryder kept fans hopeful, but Munguia’s effective tactics led to a knockout in the ninth round. The post-match scene revealed the emotional side of Ryder as he embraced his family, highlighting the human aspect of the sport.

In the aftermath of the intense battle, the disappointment on John Ryder’s face was palpable, especially as he interacted with his family. For the London-based boxer, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow, considering the substantial support and high expectations that accompanied him into the bout.

Read More: John Ryder Was Driven in Armored SUVs With a Police Escort to Avoid “Bloodthirsty” Fans for Canelo Alvarez Fight

Munguia, in his post-match comments, acknowledged the warrior spirit of Ryder, as in the post-fight interview, he said that Ryder was “a very tough and durable opponent.” Still, there are a lot of opportunities left for the former world champion.

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