Months After Losing To Canelo Alvarez, John Ryder Names Mexican’s Former Rival He Wants To Fight Next

Canelo Alvarez retained his undisputed status after he managed to defeat John Ryder last May. The fighter returned to Mexico after almost 10 years in a bid to dominate his opponent. And he did just that. In a unanimous 12-round victory, he retained his super-middleweight world title. The 50,000 fans in attendance were left in a haze as Alvarez came into the ring to do what he does best. He led the fight and turned it into a one-sided victory. However, in the wake of this fight, the attention shifted to John Ryder as the fighter remained away from the boxing realm.

It’s been more than a year since Ryder suffered a devastating defeat against Alvarez. While he has moved on to a fight against Jermell Charlo, Ryder still remains unclear about who he’s going to fight next. While his fans remain curious about his next fight, he seems to have set his heart on one boxer who is apparently in high demand. So much so that even Chris Eubank Jr. wants to fight him.

A winter fight for John Ryder

‘The Gorilla’ Ryder (32-6, 18 KOs) has finally broken his silence on whom he might fight next. There was immense discussion as to whom he might fight, especially after his sliding defeat against Canelo last year. But now, he seems to have cleared the air. The boxer in a conversation with iFL TV revealed that he is eyeing the recently defeated Gennady Golovkin at 168.

Gorilla said, ” I’m hoping November-December time there were talks of Golovkin. I’m just in this for the biggest and best fighters I can get.” His choice comes as a shock, as most are of the opinion that GGG has somewhat lost his relevance in the ring. 

Addressing the concerns around his choice, Ryder said, “Yeah, I mean listen, his time and his speed might not be there, but his power’s always going to be there. So he’s always going to be a dangerous opponent. Um, I think in previous years we’ve seen a slight decline.”

Elaborating further on the contributions of GGG to boxing, Gorilla Ryder said, “But listen he’s um he’s been a great Champion, great Ambassador for the sport, and listen for me as a fan it’d be an honor to share the room with him but I’d go and they want to do a job.”

GGG has remained low key after he was defeated by Canelo Alvarez last September in a trilogy fight. But it remains to be seen if he will agree to fight Ryder. Despite his stellar loss, Ryder holds onto his notable boxing acumen. Neither Canelo nor Callum Smith could knock him out.

Despite his loss, Ryder’s riches multiplied

John Ryder has joined the list of boxers who will now earn more money in their career, despite a recent loss. After his fight against Canelo, the fighter will make more money than before. Something very normal in the boxing realm, and uncommon in other sports. When he announced his fight against the Mexican fighter, not many expected him to win the bout. However, after withstanding 12 rounds of a lethal showdown against the pound-for-pound fighter, he has established himself as a fighter to be watched out for.

Speaking about sustenance he showed in the ring, Ryder said, “He couldn’t take me out. He wanted to stop me and he couldn’t stop me.” Despite incurring a broken nose early in the fight, he managed to stand till the end. He further said, “It might have been a little different without my nose problem. It took me a few rounds to adjust.” It is certain that his fee for a boxing bout will be significantly higher than it used to be.

Also Read: “My Body Feels Good”: Canelo Alvarez Discloses the Reason He Moved Camp to California Ahead of September Bout

As we move into a new tomorrow for both Canelo and Ryder, there seems to be some promising future for the two of them. Canelo is all set to fight Jermell Charlo in one of the most expensive fights this year. John Ryder too awaits his re-entry into the boxing ring. Watch this space to know who Ryder will fight as and when the news breaks.

Who do you think is a befitting opponent to Ryder now? Let us know in the comments section below.

Watch This Story: September 2023 Boxing Schedule: Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo Undisputed Clash, Liam Smith vs. Chris Eubank Jr. Rematch, and More