Venue:<\/strong> Estadio Akron, Guadalajara <\/span>Date: <\/strong>Saturday, 6 May<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n| Coverage: <\/strong>Radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sport website & app from 04:00 BST on Sunday, 7 May<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n | Saul ‘Canelo Alvarez sent thousands of fans in his home city into a frenzy at a spectacular weigh-in at Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara. <\/span><\/p>\n The Mexican defends his undisputed super-middleweight crown against Briton John Ryder on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The champion weighed in at exactly the 12st (168lb) limit, with Ryder marginally under at 11.99st (167lb). <\/span><\/p>\n “I’m glad to be here with my people,” 32-year-old Alvarez said. “I love everybody, I love my fans.”<\/span><\/p>\n Ryder, 34, is a huge underdog against a four-weight world champion widely considered the face of boxing. <\/span><\/p>\n The Londoner said: “I feel good. It’s nice to get all this out of the way. Get back, rehydrated, replenish and get ready to go tomorrow night.” <\/span><\/p>\n An official weigh-in – not open to the public or media – was hosted behind closed doors at a nearby hotel earlier on Friday. <\/span><\/p>\n Later that afternoon, a ceremonial weigh-in purely for show was, quite fittingly, held at the striking theatre.<\/span><\/p>\n With a capacity of just 800, only a select number – mainly local schoolchildren – were invited inside the lavish building, with its red and gold walls, classical artwork and murals of Greek mythology gods. <\/span><\/p>\n “I’m glad the kids can be motivated by me and look up to me. That’s amazing for me. I feel proud of it,” Alvarez said. <\/span><\/p>\n Before both men took to the scales, there was the watering of a tree which will later be planted in Guadalajara, the presentation of a golden olive wreath shaped crown which will be given to the winner and a mariachi band who played some crowd favourites.<\/span><\/p>\n Less than a dozen Ryder fans, one wearing a gorilla mark in homage to the fighter’s nickname, were drowned out by the boisterous Mexican fans. <\/span><\/p>\n Alvarez wore his trademark silk designer pyjamas and his daughter flew the Mexican flag in the front row as the theatre erupted.<\/span><\/p>\n The attendance outside, however, was a magnificent sight. Several thousand fans lined up on the plaza. Separated from Alvarez by railings and a huge police presence, they chanted ‘Vamos [let’s go], Canelo’.<\/span><\/p>\n Photographers, broadcasters and some fans surrounded the champion’s car as he attempted to make a getaway.<\/span><\/p>\n “It’s madness. My neck has gone from the police escorts taking us through the streets of Guadalajara,” promoter Eddie Hearn said.<\/span><\/p>\n “There’s people hanging to get a glimpse of their hero. I’ve never seen anything like it. The city is going to erupt tomorrow night. <\/span><\/p>\n “This is going to be one of the greatest atmosphere’s you’ve ever seen in the history of boxing.”<\/span><\/p>\n Ryder, who won the WBO interim title against Briton Zach Parker in November, is the mandatory challenger for Alvarez’s belt. <\/span><\/p>\n “I know he’s a good fighter, someone who’s wanted this opportunity for a long time,” Alvarez said. “He’s a dangerous fighter – a southpaw. But I’ve been in this position many times. I’m ready.”<\/span><\/p>\n Despite his accomplishments in the sport, there are some suggestions Alvarez may no longer be in his prime. <\/span><\/p>\n He moved up to light-heavyweight and was outclassed by champion Dimitry Bivol in May 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite having won a world title at light-heavyweight, it is not Alvarez’s natural fighting weight, and Ryder does not feel his opponent is past his best.<\/span><\/p>\n “Not at all,” he said. “Bivol is an exceptional talent. I found the step up to 175lb from Canelo a bit odd. Bivol was bigger, younger, fresher.”<\/span><\/p>\n In September Alvarez beat rival Gennady Golovkin on points in their trilogy bout, but many expected him to win by stoppage. Following the bout, Alvarez had surgery on his left hand. <\/span><\/p>\n “The Golovkin fight was underwhelming – he didn’t get the knockout everyone was expecting. But he still beat him convincingly,” Ryder said. <\/span><\/p>\n “But we don’t know how Canelo is going to come out, what’s left in the tank and if there are any long-lasting issues with his recent wrist surgery.”<\/span><\/p>\n |
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