Guadalajara.- Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez (59-2-2, 39 KOs) achieved what he wanted, to show off in his homeland, Guadalajara, Jalisco, and before his Mexican countrymen, by unquestionably defeating Englishman John Ryder (32-6- 0, 18 KOs) to retain all four of his super middleweight championship belts at Estadio Akron, home of the Chivas de Guadalajara soccer team.
We had to wait almost 12 years for the return home of the prodigal son who took the judges’ cards 120-107, 118-109 and 118-109, in a fight full of exchanges, where the British showed gallantry and a jaw of steel to withstand the artillery of the local fighter who was looking for the knockout all the time.
“I thought of it (the fight) like that. He is a difficult opponent. He had a lot to gain and little to lose. These types of rivals are very dangerous”, said ‘Canelo’ when questioned about the impossibility of scoring a victory by way of chloroform. “(Fighting in Guadalajara) It was a great responsibility. I respect my people a lot. It is a pride for me to represent my people”.
With an approximate and unofficial entry of 50,000 people at the Akron Stadium, ‘Canelo’ entered the ring as what he is: the main star of the sport. A display of fireworks and music graced his walk to the ring where he immediately went to work looking for the knockout.
His original objective was not met because he found a rival, who, although he does not belong to the elite of the division, did not wrinkle and looked much better than several of his compatriots, who with a better resume, “trembled” before the figure of the man from Guadalajara.
‘Canelo’ looked everywhere for the knockout: blows to the body, uppercuts and blows to the head. He managed to send Ryder to the canvas in the fifth round with a right hook and at other times sent him reeling, but the Englishman always managed to stay upright and face him, never hide.
