Can Ryder Spoil Coronation Of The Fight King Of Mexico?

John Ryder is not a fool and knows exactly what he will be facing once the ring walks, introductions and niceties have been completed tomorrow night here in Guadalajara. Ryder will pause with the referee and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez for a second in the centre of the ring, before the bell sounds to delight 50,000 fanatics in the Estadio Akron. Ryder swears he is prepared for the noise and emotion and he has so far not flinched under Canelo’s ice-cold stare.

- STEVE BUNCE

Canelo has been called the boxing king of Mexico, this fight is his long, long overdue homecoming after 12 years on the road, and here in Guadalajara it feels like a coronation is about to close the city down. During the last 24 hours, the police presence near the fight hotel has intensified, and the activity of all involved has become part of the show.

Meanwhile, on a lavish ranch in the hills outside town, Canelo walks through fields and feeds his prized stallions. Canelo is always the calmest man in any room, in any field, and in any ring. “I will have all of Mexico in the ring with me,” he said. That is, to be honest, how it feels.

There is every chance that Canelo vs Ryder, for all four of the recognised versions of the world title at super-middleweight, will be a very good fight. They say that styles make fights, which is true. However, the real cocktail of fury here is the very urgent need for Canelo to satisfy a nation, and for Ryder to pull off the biggest shock in British boxing history.