Jhon Ryder might not have had the most illustrious career in boxing! However, ‘The Gorilla’ has battled some of the most formidable opponents. Despite that, the English boxer announced his retirement two weeks after suffering a ninth-round stoppage loss at the hands of Mexico’s Jaime Munguia. Today, the same opponent has penned a farewell message for Ryder!

During his fourteen-year-long affair with boxing, Ryder reigned twice as the interim super middleweight champion. As he exits the sport with a 32-7 record, the highlight of his career remains the fight against Canelo Alvarez. The Englishman went to Mexico for the fight, and while he did not win the match, he won the hearts of the Mexican people. So, the last Mexican he fought shared some gentle words for him on social media today.

Nothing but best wishes from Jaime Munguia

Penning his thoughts in a post, Munguia shared a picture of the two of them, a picture possibly taken after the fight. Alongside the picture, Munguia wrote, “Congratulations on your great career and for the legacy you left in boxing. It was an honor to share the ring with you. You are a true gentleman. I wish you the best, mate!”

The Islington native started his professional boxing career back in September 2010, a fight he won via first-round stoppage. He went unconquered for his first fifteen professional bouts before succumbing to a slightly better Billy Joe Saunders via split decision loss in September 2013. He had achieved a respectable reputation in the boxing scene, so needless to say, it was a difficult decision for him. 

John Ryder: “IT’S BEEN A HELL OF A RYD!”

Subsequently, ‘The Gorilla’ turned to Instagram to release an official statement about his retirement from the sport. While captioning the post, “THANKYOU! IT’S BEEN A HELL OF A RYD,” Ryder stated, “It is with a heavy heart that I have come to the decision to hang up my gloves and retire from professional boxing.”

He later added, “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. I wouldn’t change that for any belt.” Ryder proceeded to thank Matchroom Boxing, Eddie Hearn, Frank Smith, and all the coaches who helped him train during his career.

Also Read: Who Is John Ryder’s Girlfriend and Do They Have Kids?

With the saga of one of the respectable names in the sport coming to a close, Jamie Munguia took it upon himself to bid John Ryder farewell. What are your thoughts on Ryder’s retirement? Do you think he should have stuck around a bit longer?

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