ZACH PARKER and John Ryder clashed at O2 on Saturday night in a brilliant super-middleweight bout between two men accustomed to waiting around.
But it only happened because Demetrius Andrade decided not to fight the former in his second retreat from that proposed clash for several months.
Parker and Andrade were supposed to play at Derby County’s Pride Park in May but a shoulder injury forced the Rhode Islander to postpone that date. Then, when a purse auction for the rearranged match raised a relatively modest $305,000, Andrade decided to abandon the idea altogether. Considering the budget for the original war was $1.83 million, that’s not surprising.
That move, however, opened the door for Ryder to come in in a reasonably short time as he bid to end a disappointing year on a high. The 34-year-old “gorilla” got off to a good start to 2022, following his decision to part ways with Danny Jacobs at Alexandra Palace in February but he has been sidelined since.
He had hoped that victory would push him closer with a penalty kick to the body belt but he has been left out until now. It’s been almost exactly three years since he controversially lost to Callum Smith in Liverpool and he’s only hit the box three times since. A win over Parker would boost his career and maybe even get him a surprise shot against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez next year.
The stakes in south London are therefore extremely high but Parker also needs to have a lot of patience as his face-to-face meeting with Andrade flirts over the past 12 months before it finally completely haunts him. . The Derbyshire undefeated man last boxed a year ago, when he stopped Marcus Morrison in round four. It was his fifth consecutive stoppage-time win, meaning he hasn’t come far since he nodded to Darryll Williams in their vacant England title clash in 2018. However , many viewers believe he should have lost that night. Williams was inconsolable and never boxed again.
But Parker has done everything right since then, although his brief winning streak means he hasn’t had much time in the spotlight. In fact, in the past 32 months, he has only participated in seven rounds of boxing. Therefore, Ryder is a motivated person.
He also knew that a defeat would nearly end any remaining hope he had of mingling it with the division’s elite. “This is the most important match of my career,” he said. At the stage I’m at now, it still feels like a winner. I think it’s all about winning, not looking down on Zach but winning and moving on from there. I’m old and I’m starving.”
Another interesting caveat is that Parker-Ryder is a very unusual example of a Queensberry boxer and a Matchroom fighter meeting in a main event without a bid. Ryder is, in fact, one of the few people to have done it before, when he pitted Billy Joe Saunders at a Frank Warren gig in September 2013. Still, a showdown was needed. bid for a British and Commonwealth middleweight title match, and Ryder ultimately lost on points.
This was the first of his five career losses to date but Ryder remains a tough opponent for anyone at 12 stone. When crossing the line, he added: “It’s great to be a peacemaker, fixer and bridger. I’ve done it before and it’s great to do it again.”
The truth is, this is too good an opportunity to turn down for anyone in Ryder’s business. This match, broadcast live on BT Sport, is for an interim WBO title, meaning a lucrative opportunity with Canelo or technically an immediate ‘upgrade’ to a full belt holder. if the Mexican player decides to pursue a different path next year. However, the need for another ‘interim’ championship when Alvarez defended the all-fat version of the WBO belt just two months ago is controversial.
Parker also knows the importance of a win here and believes Ryder is simply too small for him. The problem with that argument is that so is Callum Smith. “I think he underestimated John but I won’t,” Parker protested. “I will be turned on and ready for whatever John brings to the table.”
The undefeated 28-year-old, who is proficient in both stances, looks like an exceptional talent – this could be his chance to prove it. Victory over Ryder would be a declaration of intent by someone who believes he is already the best in the department.
“We’ve been waiting for a big fight for a long time, so now I have to grab it with both hands,” he added. “I believe I’m the best at super-middleweight so I’ve supported myself.”
The bookies put Ryder as a 2/1 outsider but this is a very unpredictable fight. Ryder has been tried, tested, experienced and perhaps the best win of his career. Parker, meanwhile, is completely unproven at the highest level and we don’t know how he will react when a physically strong opponent sticks to him. Even so, Parker’s claim to the decisive power in a match Ryder thought he had won was predictable.
There’s also a trio of Commonwealth title fights in a card filled with exciting commercial matches. Most notably, Hamzah Sheeraz, fresh from his first match at Copper Box in the summer, faces River Wilson-Bent for the vacant strap. Wilson-Bent impressed in an attempt to lose to Tyler Denny in June but Sheeraz looks destined for big things and can accomplish this over the long haul.
“This is the kind of test Hamzah needs and I feel certain it will be a competitive and entertaining fight,” said promoter Frank Warren. Getting the Commonwealth title is a huge bonus and the winner will certainly have a chance to win the British title.”
There is also a good move for the undefeated Dennis McCann, who faces Joe Ham 17-3. Questions were posed to McCann after a few seemingly lackluster performances but he answered them in style by stopping James Beech Jnr in July. This is yet another chance for him to show his clear potential and he is expected to do so – although he will likely have to go the distance in his first 12 laps.
One man who has never had to do it is delightful lightweight Sam Noakes, who is on a 9-0 (0) lead and also has a chance to win the vacant Commonwealth title. He faced undefeated Ayr resident Calvin McCord, who didn’t seem to have heard the final bell. McCord is leading 12-0 but with just two stoppages he may not have enough bounce to hold off a famous puncher like Noakes for 12 long rounds. Looks like the Commonwealth title won’t be the limit for this former roofer.
There’s also a quartet of undefeated Queensberry stars taking part in the bill, all of whom are 23 or under. Another player, Pierce O’Leary of Dublin, played against Emmanuel Mungandjela on 10 points 16-3-1.
Romford’s Sonny Ali, 23, faced off against six-year-old Georgi Velichkov while Tommy Fletcher, 20, and Joshua Frankham, 23, were both in four rounds. Fletcher faces Jiri Krejci while Frankham will beat the always-ready Paul Cummings.
VERDICT: Kudos to Queensberry and BT for delivering a quality bill.
