John "The Gorilla" Ryder (32-5-0, 18 KO) will step into the ring Saturday at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara to face Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (58-2-2, 28 KO) and arrives as the underdog.
Ryder, 34, shared an Instagram story of his flight to Mexico on Sunday and touched down shortly after. His post included a Mexican flag with the caption "En route."
Canelo prepares for his fight against John Ryder
During a press conference in March, Ryder explained that he's not going to Mexico "on holiday," and believes his hard work will pay off in the end.
"I've worked hard at this for a year," Ryder said. "Like you said, I've suffered the highs, the lows, the bottom of the barrel, really. I'd like to take time to thank you, Saul and Eddie [Reynoso], for making this fight happen.
"Charlie, for working tirelessly back and forth with you to get the deal done. And three, it's right what (was) said about my trainer Tony Sims, he can't be here because of the schedule."
Canelo Alvarez returns home
Ryder knows that nearly everyone expects him to lose, but the British boxer is confident he can beat the Mexican fighter, who will fight in front of his home crowd for the first time in 12 years.
The weigh-in ceremony is scheduled for Friday and it will be the last faceoff between the boxers before taking the ring.
Alvarez, 32, will show off his unified 168-pounds super middleweight titles, but the winner of the fight will receive a commemorative WBC belt.
The "Puebla/Jalisco belt" is the newest special trophy by the sanctioning body. They will reward it for winners of fights taking place on or around May 5 (Batalla de Puebla) and September 16 (Mexico's Independence Day).
Who is John Ryder?
Ryder was born July 19, 1988 in London, England and has been a professional boxer for 12 years.
In November 2022, Ryder became interim super middleweight champion -- endorsed by the WBO -- after defeating Zach Parker.
On paper, Ryder does not look like a dangerous opponent for Alvarez, but the British fighter can pull off an upset.
WhenDmitry Bivoltook on Canelo, nobody thought the Russian would come out with the win, either.
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