John Ryder has announced his retirement from boxing at the age of 35 after two consecutive defeats.
Honorary Fisher fighter Ryder, 35, bows out with a professional record of 32 wins – 18 by knockout – and seven defeats.
‘The Gorilla’ lost to Mexican Jaime Munguía in the ninth round in their WBC silver super-middleweight title bout in Phoenix, Arizona last month.
That was after Islington’s Ryder took multiple world champion Saul Canelo Álvarez the distance before losing on a unanimous decision in Zapopan, Mexico last year.
Ryder was praised for his performance in that fight in front of 50,000 fans on Canelo’s home turf. Shortly after he returned to London, Ryder given the first Steve Hiser Award for Bravery in the Queen Victoria pub in Bermondsey. Hiser was a mentor for Ryder who sparred regularly at Fisher.
Ryder’s standout win in his career was against former world champion Daniel Jacobs in 2019.
“Although I didn’t manage to win that world title, I’ve achieved and experienced more than I could ever have imagined when I first put on a pair of boxing gloves,” Ryder said. “I wouldn’t change that for any belt.”
Ryder also revealed what’s next in his career in the sport.
He said: “Although my professional career as a boxer is now over, the sport won’t be able to get rid of me that easily,” Ryder said. “I look forward to officially starting my new career as a coach working alongside Tony [Sims] at the Matchroom Gym very shortly. There’s no place like home.”
