Canelo Alvarez vs. John Ryder prediction, odds, time: Boxing expert on 39-11 roll reveals May 6 picks
For the first time in more than a decade, unified super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez will fight in his home country when he defends the belts Saturday against mandatory challenger John Ryder in Mexico. The 12-round bout tops the pay-per-view main Canelo vs. Ryder fight card (4 p.m. ET) from Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Alvarez's hometown. Alvarez has fought on or near Cinco de Mayo weekend numerous times in his career, and this fight is a continuation of that tradition. A year ago this weekend, he lost in a title bid at light heavyweight to Dmitry Bivol, but rebounded in September with a win in his trilogy against Gennady Golovkin in defense of his super middleweight belts. Ryder is the WBO mandatory challenger to Alvarez as well as its interim champion.
Alvarez is a -1,600 betting favorite (risk $1,600 to win $100), while Ryder returns a price of +900 in the latest Canelo Alvarez vs. John Ryder odds from Caesars Sportsbook. The over/under for total rounds completed is 8.5. Before locking in any Ryder vs. Canelo picks, make sure you .
Kahn is a true boxing insider who has his finger on the pulse of what's going on inside and outside of the ring. He has managed numerous world champions and currently manages 20 fighters through his company, Fight Game Advisors. Kahn recently won the 2022 Boxing Writers Association of America Cus D'Amato Manager of the Year award and was named to the 2023 Florida Boxing Hall of Fame.
Kahn is uncanny when it comes to picking fights. He is an astounding 39-11 on his last 50 SportsLine boxing picks, returning more than $4,000 to $100 bettors. Anyone who has followed him has already seen massive returns.
Now, with Canelo vs. Ryder on deck, Kahn has studied the matchup from every angle and released confident selections for the fight. You can see those picks at SportsLine.
Canelo Alvarez vs. John Ryder preview
The last time Alvarez fought in Mexico was in November 2011. He successfully defended the WBC light middleweight title against veteran contender Kermit Cintron with a fifth-round stoppage. It was his 40th professional fight although he was just 21, and nearly two full years before he would suffer his first professional loss against Floyd Mayweather.
Now 32, Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) has emerged as arguably the best fighter of this generation and remains its biggest draw. Since his last fight in Mexico, the majority of his bouts have been high-profile and big-money main events in Las Vegas, with occasional appearances in Texas, Florida and New York in the mix.
Alvarez is well aware of the sport's history and has repeatedly stated his desire to set as many milestones as possible before hanging up the gloves. For Saturday's fight, he told the media this week he plans on putting on a memorable performance for his hometown fans and looks forward to making an overdue return to his roots.
Alvarez has long honored contracted fights against mandatory challengers to avoid putting his belts at risk of being vacated. He's also known for rarely underestimating an opponent and faces a battle-tested challenger in Ryder.
Ryder (32-5, 18 KOs) is a 13-year pro who has held numerous minor belts. The 35-year-old British fighter lost his one prior shot at a major title, dropping a unanimous decision to Callum Smith for the WBA super middleweight title in November 2019.
He has since won four straight, including a fifth-round stoppage of Zach Parker last November for the WBO interim super middleweight title. Ryder is a stout southpaw who comes forward and uses a lead jab to the body to set up his other punches. He is known for his durability and wearing down his opponents late in fights. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make Alvarez vs. Ryder picks
Kahn likes the Under 8.5 rounds at a price of -115 in the latest Caesars boxing odds. He's also made the call on the money line and has locked in two props, including one that pays higher than +300. You can only see those selections at SportsLine.
