Briton John Ryder will problem undisputed world super-middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez for his titles in Mexico in May.
The 34-year-old Londoner will meet celebrity Canelo, two years his junior, on the Akron Stadium, Guadalajara in his native state of Jalisco on May 6 within the greatest combat of his 12-year profession to this point.
Ryder, the World Boxing Organisation’s necessary challenger after claiming the interim title in his final combat when Zach Parker retired after 4 rounds in November, is relishing the chance to go toe-to-toe with a four-weight world champion.
He stated: “There’s no denying that Canelo is one of the greats and I’ve got a lot of respect for what he’s achieved in the sport, but I fully believe this is my time fulfil my dream of becoming a world champion.
“I’m not going over there for a holiday. For me, this is purely business and my full focus is on going into his backyard in Guadalajara on May 6 and bringing those belts back with me to the UK.”
Canelo, who will combat in Mexico for the primary time in 11 and a half years, shall be defending his undisputed crown for the second time after beating bitter rival Gennady Golovkin of their trilogy battle in Las Vegas in September.
The Mexican, who has misplaced simply twice in 62 bouts and profitable defended his WBC middleweight title towards Amir Khan in 2016 with a brutal stoppage, is returning to motion after present process wrist surgical procedure in November.
He stated: “I feel really happy to be coming back in May because, following my surgery, I was unsure of when I’d be coming back.
“Returning to the ring and coming back to fight in Jalisco, where I’m from, makes me especially happy. And in John Ryder, I’m facing a very competitive fighter.”