The tough British fighter, former double world title contender John Ryder, has announced his retirement at the age of 35 today, bringing an end to his 14-year professional career.
Ryder (32-7, 18 KOs) experienced a disappointing ninth-round TKO defeat last month at the hands of the young rising star Jaime Munguia on January 27th in Phoenix. This marked his second consecutive loss.
Unfulfilled World Title Ambition, Yet a Career Filled with Accomplishments
Ryder acknowledges that while he never achieved his goal of becoming a world champion, he accomplished more than he anticipated when he first entered the boxing world.
Some argue that Ryder was unfairly treated in his controversial loss against WBA super middleweight champion Callum Smith in November 2019 in Liverpool, England. Many believed he had won the fight, but the judges awarded it to the home fighter.
In another significant defeat, Ryder came close to defeating Billy Joe Saunders in 2013, in a match that many felt he should have won. However, it was not meant to be, but Ryder’s performance showcased his skill. Saunders wisely chose not to grant Ryder a rematch.
Emotional Retirement Announcement
“It is with a heavy heart that I have made the decision to retire from boxing,” stated John Ryder on X today, as he announced his retirement after 14 years as a professional.
“While I may not have secured that world title, I have achieved and experienced more than I could have ever imagined when I first laced up a pair of boxing gloves, and I wouldn’t trade that for any championship belt,” expressed Ryder.
On a positive note, Ryder earned a substantial amount of money in his career, particularly from his bout against undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez last May. With the earnings he accumulated, Ryder can now retire without needing to seek new employment.
This serves as one of the advantages of facing a superstar like Canelo. He possesses the ability to generate significant wealth for fighters, and Ryder’s situation exemplifies this perfectly.
THANKYOU! ITS BEEN A BEEN A HELL OF A RYD! 🦍 pic.twitter.com/CfxtGV0LKb
— john ryder (@_John_Ryder_) February 6, 2024