Canelo Alvarez vs. John Ryder: Live updates, round-by-round scoring, winner

Fight night is upon us in Mexico City and native son Canelo Alvarez will defend his undisputed super middleweight championship against John Ryder. The fight airs atop a DAZN PPV card and will get started in the 11 p.m. hour.

Canelo (58-2-2) is fighting in Mexico for the first time since he beat Kermit Cintron in a 2011 junior middleweight title fight. He’s fought exclusively in the United States since then, bouncing between middleweight, super middleweight, and light heavyweight. He cleaned out the middleweight division, claimed an undisputed title at super middleweight, and added a light heavyweight title, although he lost a year ago to Dmitry Bivol in another light heavyweight title bout.

Ryder (32-5) is taking a big step in competition after winning the WBO’s interim title last November. He’s won four straight bouts, but lost his biggest fight prior to this. He faced Callum Smith in a bid for the WBA and The Ring super middleweight titles, but lost a unanimous decision.

Canelo comes into the bout as the favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook. He is a -1800 favorite while Ryder is a +900 underdog. The favored fight outcome is a Canelo stoppage at -370. A Canelo decision +330, a Ryder decision is +1600, and a Ryder stoppage is +2000. A draw sits at +2200.

We’ll be providing live updates throughout the bout until it comes to a close and we have an outcome.

Update 11:10 p.m. ET The fighters are getting in the ring, and we’re about to be underway from Guadalajara!

Update 11:24 p.m. ET The bell rings, and away we go!

Canelo Alvarez vs. John Ryder round-by-round results

Round 1: 10-9 Canelo

A feeling out round for sure, but Canelo was walking Ryder down except for one spot where the challenger tried to keep it inside. A round win more on ring generalship than punishment.

Round 2: 10-9 Ryder

Just more activity from the challenger, and despite some lefts to the body that landed from Canelo, he didn’t really put much power behind them. Still a lot of feeling out, and for sure a close round. But we’ll lean Ryder here for a strong jab that scored from his right hand as he fights southpaw.

Round 3: 10-9 Canelo

Ryder got his nose broken with a right hand early in the round, and was leaking pretty badly the rest of the way. Nothing much scored from the challenger, and his corner will need to get him stopped to have any chance of him finishing this fight.

Round 4: 10-9 Canelo

More effective aggression from the champion, if not dominance. Alvarez is more pawing with his jab and trying to set up the right hand where he’s done most of his scoring. Give Ryder credit for standing in and remaining tough while bleeding pretty badly.

Round 5: 10-8 Canelo (knockdown)

Just over halfway through the round, a 1-2 with the jab and a straight right put Ryder in the ropes and on a knee. He gout up on the count of nine, and he’s bleeding like Ric Flair in a broadway draw. Give full credit to Ryder to pop back up and survive the flurry Canelo brought after the knockdown, but he got back to his scorner despite a chest full of blood.

Round 6: 10-9 Canelo

Ryder is really struggling to breathe, and it’s affecting his ability to go forward and sustain offense. Give full credit to Ryder however as he’s getting in some quality shots to the body and the head with his left. But he can’t string them together, and Alvarez is just landing with more power.

Round 7: 10-9 Canelo

Ryder looks like he’s covered in red body pain after every round, but he keeps coming forward and giving tremendous effort. But when he lands it’s not doing much damage, while Canelo is scoring with his left as well now. He’s also getting in more frequently with more power.

Round 8: 10-9 Canelo

A slip before the bell might have given it to Canelo, but give credit to Ryder for continually counterpunching effectively in close. Just more power and effectiveness from Canelo, but Ryder does continue to land especially with his left.

Round 9: 10-9 Canelo

What a performance by John Ryder, while getting absolutely abused and being very wobbly in the middle of the ring. Canelo stunned him at least twice and softened the legs with right hands, but the Englishman simply kept on coming. He can’t breathe, he’s lost a ton of blood, and he’s still trying to throw huge punches. It’s gallant, but it’s not winning.

Round 10: 10-9 Ryder

With the exception of a right hook on the button near the end of the round, Ryder landed the better punches as Alvarez almost seemed content to sit on a lead. As we head to the championship rounds at about a mile of elevation, the conditioning of Canelo might be tested here.

Round 11: 10-9 Canelo

While he’s fighting more defensively, Canelo still landed with enough power there to win the round. He appears to be in good condition and should hang on here, but expect Ryder to leave it all in the middle of the 18-foot ring. He’s been a warrior despite taking tremendous punishment and losing tons of blood.

Round 12: 10-9 Ryder

Ryder came forward with everything, but a defensive Canelo did enough to turn him aside and hold on for victory. A bit surprising he wasn’t able stop him after the knockdown, and there might be questions about his conditioning and his hand after surgery.

My score: 117-110 Alvarez

Judges unanimous decision: Alvarez 120-107, 120-107, 118-109