Guadalajara, May 7. The king returned to his temple. And his subjects were lenient with their monarch, Saúl Canelo Álvarez, who let the challenger, British fighter John Ryder, live until the decision. Without the promised knockout, he retained his four super middleweight belts by unanimous decision.
A fight that was expected to have a dramatic outcome for the challenger, and which at times was on the verge of ending that way, but he managed to stay on his feet until the final round.
This was a special night for the undisputed super middleweight champion, who returned to Mexico, fighting at the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, the place where he left years ago to fulfill his dream of becoming a boxing star. And although he has his detractors, he proved that no Mexican boxer today can draw a crowd in a soccer stadium, even if the opponent isn't a formidable opponent and the outcome isn't devastating.
Canelo had Ryder reeling, severely punished, and sent to the canvas twice, but the Mexican champion was unable to finish the fight quickly.
