John Ryder hoping to land opportunity of a lifetime as Canelo Alvarez's challenger

MEXICO CITY — John Ryder feels a fight with Canelo Alvarez is closer than ever and is looking forward to picking up the phone and getting confirmation that he will be able to face the Mexican undisputed super middleweight champion.

"I spent several years chasing this fight, including being on Canelo's undercard. I feel like I've been in the mix for a while, just to be there in case, but I think my time has come to get in position and I'm looking forward to it, as I have great admiration for Canelo Alvarez and everything he's done in boxing," said Ryder, who has a record of 32-5 with 18 KOs, in an interview with DAZN.

Ryder earned the opportunity by beating Zach Parker in a showdown at the O2 Arena in late November, which he never expected to end in a five-round knockout because of Parker's hand injury.

"It was an important fight, a must-win fight because it was a knockout, but it was a strange ending," he said. "It was all kicking off, it was starting to catch fire, and then it was over. It was a few mixed feelings because I wanted a big finish and I feel like that was taken away from me, but I feel like it came independently."

Making no secret of the great admiration he has for Canelo, Ryder feels that unlike his compatriots Callum Smith or Billy Joe Saunders, he could have a totally different outcome:

"I feel the styles will make the fight with Canelo better, we are both small and compact, we go forward, aggressive, but we also counter punch and box; we will be like two fighters looking in a mirror, hesitating and thinking what the other person will do," he explained.

In mid-November, Canelo revealed that his recovery was going very well after the operation he underwent on his wrist, so a return in May was not out of the question, but he preferred a mid-level opponent to ease back into action.

"I would love to be that 'easy fight' but it won't be that easy," Ryder said. "I would love to fight him, the sooner the better. The weekend of May 5 is good for me. I know Eddie Hearn contacted Eddy Reynoso so hopefully, we can sit down and make this fight happen.

"For me to fight Canelo would be huge, but for him to come to the UK and my house would be bigger for me. Even though fighting Canelo is a huge amount of pressure, what's better than fighting him in your own house? That excites me a lot, how many can say they fought Canelo in their own house, in their own country? Not many.

"I feel like fate has been close since the Callum Smith fight and I've been there just in case I was needed and now I've really earned this opportunity. I beat the man in front of me, Zach Parker, I did my job and it feels like destiny is waiting for me. I always believed it would happen, but a few times I had obstacles along the way, but despite the obstacles, I'm here now, so hopefully, I'll make this fight.

"When I was young my goal was to be like Floyd Mayweather, to be undefeated, to be world champion, but my goals have been changing. Now I want to be the best I can be and I know I will be a world champion, but my story so far is very good with all the obstacles I faced and overcame."