John Ryder put himself into super-middleweight world title contention with a tight win over Daniel Jacobs at the Alexandra Palace on Saturday night.
While Jacobs dominated the early rounds, Ryder’s work on the side paid off as the fight progressed, with his opponent looking shaken by the tables having turned.
Until the seventh round, the American appeared in almost total control, restricting Ryder’s shots and largely dancing rings around him before the impressive comeback built mainly on the success of the uppercut on the inside.
Ultimately, the score cards read 15-113 Jacobs, 115-113 Ryder, 115-113 Ryder.
In what was perhaps the biggest night of Ryder’s career, trainer Tony Sims mooted a potential world title bout with Saul Canelo Alvarez at Wembley Stadium.
“Saul obviously wants to fight in the UK, he’s got his plans prepared and almost locked in for this year,” said Eddie Hearn to DAZN.
“I think if he wants to fight in the UK, he’s got the perfect opponent.
“I don’t see any other super-middleweights in the country that have standout victories like that. John Ryder just beat Daniel Jacobs tonight.
“It was his attrition that got him through that fight, his desire to win that fight.
“He’s been on the end of a lot of bad decisions. Tonight was a very close fight, it could have gone either way, but it’s one that has gone his way. “
