I fought Canelo in Mexico and needed POLICE escorts to ensure my safety

JOHN RYDER walked into the lion's den the night he fought Canelo Alvarez but still came out roaring.

Canelo returned to Mexico for the first time in more than a decade last May to defend his undisputed super-middleweight crown against Ryder.

John Ryder was defeated by Canelo Alvarez in MexicoCredit: Getty

And he dominated for more than 12 rounds to mark a successful homecoming.

Ryder needed police protection from the raucous and adoring Canelo faithful, but left after turning the rival fans into new friends.

He told talkSPORT: “I don't think anything can really top that.

“It's going to take some seriously bloodthirsty people to really beat Guadalajara.

“Because we are driven in armored SUVs with a police escort to ensure your safety at weigh-ins and whatever we were doing.

“It was the size of the fight, the size of Canelo, it's just huge.

“The Mexican fans, I got a lot of friends from that fight.

“I'm in contact with a lot of Mexicans now, they love their boxing and support their own boxing.

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“They are what true fans should be, they just like to see the best fight the best.”

Ryder, 35, returns against Canelo's compatriot, undefeated former light-middleweight world champion Jaime Munguia.

And with 27-year-old Munguia switching coaches from Erik Morales to Freddie Roach, the transition period could be profitable for Ryder.

He said, 'Listen, he hasn't put a foot wrong yet.

“He's been there with some good names; the standout for me would be Liam Smith.

“Listen, he didn't look great against Sergiy Derevyanchenko, but everyone has off nights. It was a fight of the year candidate there.

“He has clearly made changes now [new trainer] Freddie Roach. So it remains to be seen what worked for him and what didn't.

“I feel like I'm getting him at a good time, he'll be in a bit of a transition I think after moving from Erik Morales to Freddie Roach.

“I'm in the twilight of my career and I've learned so much about myself in the last year with the Canelo fight – the fight I wish I had had ten years ago. I feel like this is the best time for me.”