Mexican boxing superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez recently made his triumphant return to his hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico, where he took on WBO interim champion John Ryder in a 12-round bout.
This marked Alvarez’s first in Mexico in over 11 years, and it was a special moment for him as his grandmother was present in the audience, watching him box for the first time ever.
Alvarez put his undisputed super middleweight titles on the line against Ryder, and he was as slick and dominant as ever. The 32-year-old Mexican landed a lot of vicious shots and broke Ryder’s nose, which made it hard for him to breathe.
Despite this, Ryder managed to hold on until the final round, but it was Alvarez who emerged victorious with a unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the action 118-109, 118-109, 120-107 in his favor.
For Alvarez, the bout was particularly special not only because he was competing in his hometown again, but also because his grandmother was able to see him perform in the ring for the first time ever. It is unusual for athletes’ family members, particularly children or the elderly, to watch them compete, but Alvarez’s grandmother was an exception.
During the action, Alvarez was seen approaching his grandmother and kneeling down to her. This touching moment went viral on social media, with fans expressing their emotions over the gesture.
After his victory, Alvarez expressed his gratitude for being able to perform in front of his family and his people once again. He described the experience as an historic moment for him and expressed how blessed he felt to have the support of his people throughout his career.