Ryder wasn't too spectacular when I saw him live, decent...but he stepped up a gear last night. O'Kane played into his hands perfectly it must be said. Seems he's a good counterpuncher and knows how to roll with shots. Defensively he was more impressive than the average prospect.
I don't like fighters tucking their chin in behind their shoulder like Ryder does. A boxer has to be very good to get away with that when fighting at high level. O'Kane seemed to be relying on pure physical strength to out muscle Ryder. Far too one dimensional.
Was a shocking performance from O'Kane. I was gutted was expecting much more from him. Like some have mentioned he looked too big to be a middleweight. His bullying style just didn't suit this fight at all. Saying that the Ryder I've seen before that might of struggled but he showed he had another gear. He boxed very well and didn't get sucked in like i thought O'Kane would of been able to do. Everything from the O'kane I seen before prize fighter was missing no jab and sharp rights opening up for his body attack. The jab wasn't even there and everything was telegraphed even the shots he was landing you could see coming a mile off.
Was he even that good as an amateur? Not sure about his record, I know he won the Commonwealth gold but he never won an Irish national title.
so did I actually, I thought McDonagh won that as for his amateur credentials, he was the last guy to beat george groves and had been in with the likes of andre dirrell and a myriad of top internationals, some of whom he beat. the guy who fights as a pro looks like a ten day novice, he wouldn't be out of place beside flintoff