13 April 2023 , 13:49
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John Ryder suspects Canelo Alvarez could be overlooking him with one eye on a rematch against Dmitry Bivol.
Alvarez will defend his undisputed super-middleweight titles against British challenger Ryder in Mexico on May 6 after several months out with injury. It will be his first fight since winning a trilogy fight with Gennady Golovkin last year against a well-deserving challenger in Ryder who recently stopped Zach Parker.
There could be several mega fights on the horizon for Alvarez including a potential defence against David Benavidez or a switch back to light-heavyweight against rival Bivol. This week, the Mexican champion made it clear that his goal for the year was to get his revenge on the Russian before he continues further at 168lb.
And 'The Gorilla' believes he could sneek in and derail Alvarez's plans which could lead to a second meeting between themselves given the undisputed champion's rematch clause. Ryder told Mirror Fighting : "He says all the right things at times but then other times he slips up.
"Sometimes he talks of Benavidez and a rematch with Bivol but I hope he is fully focused on me and giving me the respect that I deserve. Because I am planning on coming to Guadalajara and causing an upset on May 6, don't go making plans for September yet because chances are you will be rematching me.
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"We have seen people mix it up and try to outbox him and ultimately he gets there in the end. I have got something he hasn't really seen before and I have planned and trained with my all to come away victorious on May 6."
Alvarez suffered a brutal defeat by Bivol after being outboxed by the 175lb champion to be handed his second career loss, and has since been on the war path to redemption. It was expected initially that Bivol will once again defend his title, but promoter Eddie Hearn has even suggested a second fight could be in the pipeline with the Mexican defending his belts.
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But first he will need to get through Ryder who is certainly not travelling to Mexico to make up the numbers. Despite getting in with one of the biggest stars in the sport in his own back yard, Ryder has admitted he treats every fight the same as if it is a do-or-die situation for his future.
"Listen every fight is big in my career and the next one in front of you is the biggest fight to date," Ryder continued. "I even said that when I was fighting in Austria during lockdown against Jozef Jurko in an eight rounder. That was a step-up to light-heavyweight and that was my biggest fight there and if I slipped up there I wouldn't have had any of these fights.
"Who knew back then that if I had won I would have set up the fight with Daniel Jacobs in London? None of these big fights would have been had without the wins so it is all about putting your best foot forward and getting the win at the end of the day."