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John ‘The Gorilla’ Ryder 31-5 (17) would make the perfect opponent for undisputed super middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 57-1-2 (39).
That’s the view of Eddie Hearn who promoted Ryder’s split decision victory over former two-time world champion Daniel Jacobs 37-4 (30) at Alexandra Palace in London on Saturday night. Judges Mike Fitzgerald and Jean-Robert Laine both saw the fight 115-113 for Ryder. Judge Marcus McDonnell had it for Jacobs by the same score.
Mexican Alvarez, 31, holds the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF belts at 168-pounds. He has previously expressed his desire to fight abroad.
“Saul obviously wants to fight in the UK,” Matchroom Boxing boss Hearn said immediately after the Jacobs-Ryder fight. “He’s got his plans prepared and nearly locked in for this year. But I think if he wants to fight in the UK, he’s got the perfect opponent.
“You know, I don’t see any other super middleweights in their country have standout victories like that. John Ryder just beat Daniel Jacobs tonight and it was his attrition that got him through that fight, his desire to win that fight. And he’s been on the end of a lot of bad decisions. Tonight was a very close fight, could’ve gone either way. But it was one that went his way.
“And when you look back at his career, on the times when he might not have got the decision, tonight he deserved the decision. And it’s a massive win for him because they have put a lot of pressure on us to deliver.
“We brought Daniel Jacobs to Alexandra Palace tonight. As [trainer] Tony [Sims] says, Daniel Jacobs has lost to Gennadiy Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez. But tonight he lost to John Ryder. And, of course, it’s a massive victory for John Ryder and I hope he goes on to fight for a world title, because he really deserves it.”
Southpaw Ryder, 33, has now won three fights in a row since his disputed points loss to then-WBA super middleweight champion Callum ‘Mundo’ Smith 28-1 (20) in November 2019. Smith would lose a near shutout to Alvarez in his very next fight a year later before moving up in weight.
Ryder’s trainer Tony Sims says his charge is more than ready to face Alvarez.
“He’s beat a major, major superstar, tonight,” Sims said. “And when you look at his resume, like he’s only lost to [Gennadiy] Golovkin and Canelo. You know, and then John’s beat him tonight. It’s incredible. John really should be a world champion. Do you know what I mean? And he’s beaten major names like that.
“I’m just hoping Eddie can lure Canelo to the Wembley Stadium now because you know Canelo wants to fight in the UK. And obviously he hasn’t had an opponent up till now. But he’s got one there in John Ryder.”
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