Boxing's biggest superstar returns to the ring Saturday as unified super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez defends his titles against mandatory challenger John Ryder in a 12-round main event. Their battle anchors the pay-per-view main Canelo vs. Ryder fight card (4 p.m. ET) from Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico. Alvarez will be fighting in his home country for the first time in more than 11 years and will be looking to rebound from a mediocre 2022 by his lofty standards. He went 1-1 while losing a bid for the light heavyweight title against Dmitry Bivol and pulling out a narrow decision over Gennady Golovkin. Ryder is the WBO mandatory challenger who will be appearing in a major title fight for the second time.
Alvarez is a -2000 betting favorite (risk $2,000 to win $100), while Ryder returns a price of +1000 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 check out the boxing predictions and betting advice from SportsLine analyst Peter Kahn.
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
One of the main motivating factors for Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) on Saturday is to shut down the notion that he has slipped and might already be past his prime. Although he's just 32, he has been in numerous battles and many boxing observers believe he's no longer the near-invincible force he was once believed to be.
This narrative started because of his loss to Bivol. The light heavyweight champion consistently beat Alvarez to the punch and looked quicker and stronger. Most ringside observers gave Alvarez just two or three rounds, though the official scorecards indicated a closer fight.
Alvarez also struggled against longtime rival Gennady Golovkin in their trilogy match. The 40-year-old Golovkin fought with heart and desperation following controversial decisions in the first two fights that resulted in a draw and a win for Alvarez. Although Alvarez came out on top, it was nowhere near the lopsided matchup many anticipated.
"All of that is part of this. There was always criticism in the past and there continues to be criticism," Álvarez told the media. "It has always been a split between the haters and those who support me, which fortunately there are more."
Ryder (32-5, 18KOs) is fully aware that he is widely regarded as an easy opponent for Alvarez, a proverbial steppingstone for the champion to use for an impressive performance while he eyes potentially bigger fights later this year. A rematch with Bivol is reportedly the unified champion's preference, and few boxing insiders give Ryder a chance of being remotely competitive, much less pulling the upset.
For his part, Ryder is embracing the "nothing to lose" mentality. He told the media in the lead-up to the fight that he earned his position by proving he's one of the best super middleweights in the world and plans to make the most of the opportunity. He also relishes the opportunity to become the first British fighter to dethrone Alvarez. Others who have come before him and failed include Callum Smith, Billy Joe Saunders and Amir Kahn.
"If I say I'm extremely confident, people will say I'm delusional, but I wouldn't be going out there if I wasn't confident in my own ability," Ryder told Standard Sport. "I'm sure people do see it as an easy fight, but I'm in there to go and make a statement and show people I truly deserve to be a world champion." 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.
Who wins John Ryder vs. Canelo Alvarez? And which prop is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see Peter Kahn's best bets for Saturday, all from the boxing specialist who has netted his followers a profit of more than $4,000, and find out.
