Ryder: It felt like robbery

JOHN RYDER felt he robbed Zach Parker after winning the WBO interim super-middleweight title to set up a shot at champion Canelo Alvarez.

Parker pulled out at the start of the fifth round with a bust hand, giving victory to Ryder, who was behind 39-37 on two of the scorecards and level on the third at the O2.

The Islington fighter will now either face Alvarez for the WBO title or be made champion if the legendary Mexican moves up to light-heavyweight.

Ryder, 34, said: “It’s a bad injury for him and it feels like half a robbery victory for me.

“It would be a dream to fight Canelo and it would be the icing on my career.

“I started off the year with a great win and it was important to win this to keep the momentum.”

Parker, 28, said: “I’m absolutely gutted. It was at the start of the round. I hit him with an uppercut and my hand is out now.”