.png)
John Ryder is not interested in the opinions of critics who claim he does not deserve a shot at Canelo Alvarez’s four super middleweight titles. The British southpaw believes he has earned his opportunity to become boxing’s fully unified 168-pound champion. Ryder’s recent victories over former IBF/WBA middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs and previously unbeaten Brit Zach Parker have proven his worth as a legitimate contender.
Ryder’s win over Jacobs, which took place in February 2022 at Alexandra Palace in London, is the most notable victory of his 12-year professional career. His fifth-round stoppage of Parker, who suffered a fractured right hand, earned him the WBO interim super middleweight title and made him a mandatory challenger for one of Alvarez’s four championships.
In an interview with Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel, Ryder expressed his excitement about the upcoming fight against Alvarez, which will take place on May 6 in Zapopan, Mexico. Despite being listed as a 12-1 underdog, Ryder believes he deserves this shot at the title and has paid his dues in the sport.
“I feel like I really deserve to be here and deserve this shot,” said Ryder. “I’ve earned this shot three times over for me. So, yeah, I feel like I really deserve to be here and deserve this shot.”
Ryder has won four fights in a row since his controversial defeat to Callum Smith in November 2019. Despite his recent success, many critics still doubt his ability to defeat Alvarez, one of boxing’s most dominant fighters.
However, Ryder is not concerned with the opinions of others and is focused solely on his upcoming fight. He has a message for those who doubt his ability to defeat Alvarez: “Don’t shoot me down. I’m still dreaming, so let me live my dream. And listen, keep your opinions to yourself. I’m not reading them, don’t care. I’m doing this for me. I’m not doing it for you. Go about your business. Life can’t be that bad that you gotta worry about me too much.”
Ryder’s confidence and determination are admirable, and it will be interesting to see how he fares against Alvarez in May. Regardless of the outcome, Ryder has proven himself to be a formidable opponent and a deserving contender for the super middleweight title.