- Álvarez defeats Briton to retain WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF titles
- Canelo Álvarez beats John Ryder by unanimous decision – live
Canelo Álvarez made a victorious return to Mexican soil after an 12-year absence on Saturday night, winning a wide decision over a bloodied but unbowed John Ryder to successfully defend his WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF titles at 168lbs before a rollicking hometown crowd.
The 32-year-old four-division champion from Guadalajara busted Ryder’s nose in the third round, scored a heavy knockdown in the fifth and poured on the punishment in the later stages as the gulf in skill and class between the super middleweights became painfully evident. The durable Londoner refused to quit and conjured his best moments in the final stretch but was left to settle for an ennobling defeat after finishing the bout on his feet before more than 50,000 rollicking spectators at the Estadio Akron.