Boxing, Canelo between Mexico and some clouds. Ryder: “It’s me and him in the ring, I’ll surprise everyone”

Mexico needs its hero, the hero needs his Mexico. Canelo Alvarez is one of the most famous boxers on the planet, certainly among the highest paid. Reference point for a people in which having a punch or a touch of the ball is the same thing. The last time among his people in 2011: at the Monumental Plaza de Toros in the capital he wore the matador’s clothes. The other, Kermit Cintron, a Puerto Rican who called himself El Asesino, lasted 4 rounds. Since then, 12 years spent between the rings of Nevada and Texas, where he has collected world titles in series (in 4 different weight categories) and stratospheric purses. In the Italian night between Saturday and Sunday the return to his homeland, where in any case he has always remained to live, for the super middleweight world championship. In Guadalajara, Jalisco state: the tequila region, but also a difficult area, where there is one of the two strongest cartels of drug lords. One of his brothers was kidnapped 5 years ago: Canelo himself, without notifying the police, conducted the negotiations for his release in great secrecy.

The ancient sensations that Alvarez needs to rediscover, however, go beyond all this. Many give it at sunset, he could even be there. Thirty-two years is not a long time, but he has been a professional since he was just 15. Then he broke his left hand which required an operation. Then his ego got involved: in the challenge against the Kyrgyz Dimitri Bivol, in the higher weight category, he asked too much of his physique. A stadium with 50,000 spectators is ready for him. They sang to you Elton John and Paul McCartneywas inaugurated in the summer of 2010, with a friendly which sanctioned the passage of Chicharito Hernandez from Guadalajara to Manchester United.

The bull that Mexico asks Canelo to ride is also English. “But I’m from Arsenal, it’s a good time for us even if we’ve given up a bit lately.” John Ryder was born and lives in Islington, North London. There is no part of the victim: “To those who say that I have no chance, I just answer ‘wait and see’. I’m going to fight against the best. But it’s my chance, I won’t let it slip away.” When the we propose to speak to Repubblica, if you don’t have to say it twice: “I love Italy, I was in Rome for a while, I worked out in the gym with my friend Emanuele Blandamura (former European champion, ed). I’m getting a lot of messages of support from the Italians.”

Blandamura himself leaves him a way out: ”John has to believe in himself. He is used to difficult challenges, he told me that in case of victory he will come to Italy to celebrate. Of course, I’m rooting for him and I’m just saying that home advantage counts but that’s not all.” And Ryder himself believes it: “2022 was the best year of my career, I beat Parker and Jacobs, I feel strong. I respect Canelo, but in the ring it will only be me and him.” It’s not a phenomenon, but it has always grown: “Once, I faced Nielsen, I felt cornered but I reacted with character. I thought I just hit a good combination, but he went down. I was almost in a state of shock, that’s when I realized I was strong”. The Gorilla isn’t a reassuring alias, he’s actually a quiet man: “I don’t have a rags to riches story. I’ve loved boxing since I was a kid, I started when I was 12 and I’ve never looked back. Mine hasn’t been a difficult life. My parents have always been there, they have supported me, and so has always been my Nancy: they have been together for 16 years, we have two beautiful children aged 8 and 3”. Canelo, Mexico and some clouds. Ryder will try to make it rain in the Guadalajara night. The match on Dazn Sunday at 4 in the morning.