Undisputed 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez and John Ryder on Friday made weight for their pay-per-view fight Saturday at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Mexico, near Alvarez’s hometown of Guadalajara.
The Mexican star weighed 167.5. a half pound below the division limit. Ryder weighed 168.
The fighters engaged in about a 40-second stare down after they stepped off the scale but didn’t exchange words or shake hands afterward.
Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) bounced back from his loss to 175-pound titleholder Dmitry Bivol last May by outpointing rival Gennadiy Golovkin in their third fight in September. He then had surgery to repair an injured left wrist, capping a difficult one-year stretch.
He was asked about the notion that Gervonta Davis has supplanted him as the face of the sport.
“I’m still here, I’m still here,” the 32-year-old said. “I lost with one of the best fighters at 175. And I’m still here. I’m still the face of boxing, for sure. The numbers talk, and that’s it. ,,,
“I’m here for a long time and I’m going to show everybody.”
Ryder (32-5, 18 KOs) last fought in November, when he stopped Zach Parker in four rounds.
He was asked about the key to victory for him on Saturday.
“Just being sensible,” he said. “… We all know what he’s got, the aura that surrounds him. But … not letting the fans get in my head, just staying focused.”
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