Canelo floors Ryder twice, dominates to retain undisputed crown

Canelo Alvarez made his long-awaited homecoming a pleasant one for the 50,000 fans in attendance by bloodying, dropping and dominating a gutsy John Ryder to retain the undisputed super middleweight championship on Saturday night in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Alvarez nearly scored the knockout, but the Englishman proved to be tougher than expected as boxing's biggest star settled for the unanimous decision win. Judges handed in scores of 120-107, 118-109 and 118-109. FightNights also had it 118-109 for Alvarez, a four-division champion and the only undisputed super middleweight champion in division history. He made his fifth overall super middleweight title defense and second of the undisputed championship.

Alvarez had not boxed in his home country or hometown in more than 11 years, since making a pair of junior middleweight title defenses in Mexico City and Guadalajara in 2011.

“It’s a historic moment for me. I’m blessed to be here with my people who support me from the beginning,” said Alvarez. “I’m glad to be here and I’m very thankful for my people.”

Ryder, who suffered a broken nose in round two and bled profusely for most of the fight, exemplified immense courage to make it to the end of the fight.

"He couldn't get me out of there," Ryder said. "His plan was to stop me. He didn't."

Per Compubox, Alvarez landed 179 of 459 punches (39%), and Ryder connected with 80 of 457 blows (18%).