Canelo bloodies, drops, dominates Ryder to retain undisputed crown
168-pound champ wins lopsided decision in homecoming
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Canelo Alvarez gave the sold-out crowd something to celebrate as he made his long awaited homecoming by bloodying, dropping and dominating gutsy John Ryder to retain the undisputed super middleweight championship on Saturday night.
With more 50,000 cheering him on at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, boxing’s biggest star did everything he could have done other than score a knockout. He came close with a punishing knockdown in the fifth round, but in the end settled for a one-sided decision, 120-107, 118-109 and 118-109.
Fight Freaks Unite also had it 118-109 for Alvarez, a four-division champion and the only undisputed super middleweight champion in division history. He made his fifth overall super middleweight title defense and second of the undisputed crown.
Alvarez had not boxed in his home country or hometown in more than 11 years, since making junior middleweight title defenses in Mexico City and Guadalajara in 2011.
The homecoming fight was something he has wanted and it was emotional for Alvarez at times, including receiving a pre-fight blessing in his dressing from his 94-year-old grandmother, who was on hand to watch him fight from ringside for the first time.
“It’s a historic moment for me. I’m blessed to be here with my people who support me from the beginning,” said Alvarez, who had a crown placed on his head after the fight. “I’m glad to be here and I’m very thankful for my people.”