Canelo: Home is where the heart is
Undisputed super middleweight champion defends against Ryder on Saturday in his first fight in Mexico since 2011
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Over the past 10 years, Canelo Alvarez has been part of many of the biggest fights in boxing — numerous mega events and huge pay-per-views.
There have been giant fights against Gennadiy Golovkin (three times), Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto, Caleb Plant, Dmitry Bivol, Billy Joe Saunders, Sergey Kovalev, Daniel Jacobs and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., just to name a few.
Alvarez has routinely fought in Las Vegas but also has boxed in other major venues around the United States, such as AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. That is where Alvarez knocked out Saunders in the eighth round to unify three super middleweight titles in May 2021, a fight that shattered the U.S. indoor attendance record by drawing 73,126 to surpass the mark previously held by heavyweight championship rematch between Muhammad Ali and Leon Spinks, which drew 63,350 to the Superdome in New Orleans.
But one thing Alvarez has not done during his prime championship years as boxing’s biggest star is fight at home in his beloved Mexico.
That all changes when he defends the undisputed super middleweight championship against WBO interim titleholder and mandatory challenger John Ryder on Saturday (DAZN PPV and PPV.com, 7 p.m. ET) at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara.
He has wanted a homecoming fight for ages and now was the time since there was no looming super fight that would inevitably bring him back to Las Vegas. Alvarez, who left money on the table to fight at home, also wants to test his surgically repaired left wrist before going after a September rematch with WBA light heavyweight titlist Bivol, who outpointed Alvarez in an upset last May.
“I think it’s the perfect time (to go home) because right now I am the best fighter and undisputed champion at 168,” Alvarez told Fight Freaks Unite in a recent interview. “I want to bring my people who support me since the beginning of my career a great show, a great fight, so that’s why it’s important for me and the people are happy to have me in Guadalajara. So, I’m so happy.”
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who works with Alvarez, was all in for Alvarez to have a homecoming fight even as other locations showed interest in his next fight.
“This was personal to Saul Alvarez and (trainer and manager) Eddy Reynoso,” Hearn said. “This was from the heart. This was an opportunity to bring an event back to his people. Regardless of the money, regardless of everything else, it was an opportunity to celebrate the sport, to celebrate his career in front of what will be 50,000 people on Cinco de Mayo weekend.”
Alvarez, who turned pro at age 15 in 2005, fought the early years of his career in Mexico and then had two bouts on small shows in Miami and Southern California. It wasn’t until 2010 that he began to fight regularly in the U.S. while still mixing in fights in Mexico.
‘I’m gonna feel more butterflies in my stomach,’ — Canelo on fighting at home
But the last time the four-division champion and former pound-for-pound king boxed in Mexico was when he defended the WBC junior middleweight title for the third time in a fifth-round knockout of Kermit Cintron on Nov. 26, 2011 in Mexico City.
Alvarez’s last fight in Guadalajara was his first WBC junior middleweight title defense against Ryan Rhodes at VFG Arena on June 18, 2011.
Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs), 32, said he has dreamed of having a homecoming fight as a world champion.
“I’ve been in big fights, big events before but I think this is different because this is in my hometown, my people, who really want to see me fight (in person),” Alvarez said. “And there’s a lot of people who can’t go to the USA and they are so excited, so I think it will be a little bit different. I’m gonna feel more butterflies in my stomach.”
Akron Stadium will hold around 50,000 for the fight and a full house is expected.
Hearn, who promoted Alvarez-Saunders and he has also promoted many major events, including stadium fights with heavyweight star Anthony Joshua and Hall of Fame former super middleweight titlist Carl Froch, said he is excited about the expected electricity when Alvarez faces Ryder (32-5, 18 KOs), 34, a southpaw from England, who has won four fights in a row since a November 2019 decision loss challenging then-WBA super middleweight titlist Callum Smith.
“I think, and I’ve said it before, I think you may see one of the best atmospheres you’ve ever seen in boxing,” Hearn said. “I mean, Dallas Cowboys (home at AT&T Stadium), 74,000, Billy Joe Saunders, that’s gonna be tough to break. But this is different. This is home. This is his people. And the atmosphere they will create on Saturday night will be one of the most special you’ve ever seen in boxing.
“It will be super special on Saturday night. It will be an occasion that, you know, this country (of Mexico) will never forget.”
Any time Alvarez fights there is a demand for his time and the potential for distractions. Hometown fights can exacerbate that for any boxer, but Alvarez said he prepared himself for it well before fight week.
“I think about (the distractions) before I decided to fight here in Guadalajara,” Alvarez said. “I think about that situation. But the disciplined fighter that I am, I just need to be focused on my fight.”
Alvarez usually trains for fights at the gym he had built at his San Diego home. For this fight, he and Reynoso held camp in Guadalajara, but Alvarez said he prevented the usual hometown distractions.
“I am in a camp. Don’t go outside, just training and focused on the fight,” Alvarez said. “But, yeah, it’s a little difficult, a little more difficult for that situation (of being at home) but when you know what you want it can make the situation more relaxed.”
Canelo interview
Listen to my recent interview with Canelo here and also make sure to subscribe to the podcast:
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Canelo photo: Meg Oliphant/Matchroom Boxing
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I feel the same way. I was a little happier when I saw that being a DAZN subscriber got me a $20 discount. Still it was a big increase.
Dan, why is this fight PPV? DAZN just increased my annual subscription fee 125% and I need to pay more to watch this fight, Canelo defending the title against a contender? Boxing TV abuses its fans.