John Ryder looking forward to active 2021 after rust-shaking fight on GGG undercard

Super middleweight contender John Ryder has had a frustrating last 13 months, as he was on the short end of a hugely controversial decision against Callum Smith in Nov. 2019, and then didn’t get a fight in 2020 until this past Friday, when his win over Mike Guy frankly stunk out the joint on the GGG-Szeremeta undercard.

But Ryder (29-5, 16 KO) says he’s just looking to move forward, and get a bigger 2021 going for himself, which is the right idea.

“My performance (against Guy) wasn’t much to shout about, but it’s a box ticked,” Ryder wrote on Instagram. “13 months out of the ring and some major ring rust shaken off, I look forward to an active 2021.”

The 32-year-old Ryder also noted he got to meet Gennadiy Golovkin and see him fight live, complimenting the IBF middleweight titleholder’s ability, saying he got to “see up close how good (Golovkin) really is.”

Ryder could easily be in line for some big fights in 2021. A rematch with Smith (27-1, 19 KO) wouldn’t be the worst idea for either man; it would be a chance for Ryder to get a win many felt he deserved, and a chance for Smith to quiet some ghosts and critics if he stays at 168 pounds. There’s also WBO 168-pound titlist Billy Joe Saunders in the Matchroom camp, and 160-pound titleholder Demetrius Andrade has talked about moving up in weight; if he can’t get an immediate title fight, Ryder would be a fitting and legitimate first fight at the weight.