Does anyone give Ryder much chance in this one? Very solid performance vs Etches but surely this is a step too far and he won't carry sufficient power at SMW against the notably bigger guy? Guess it comes down to how much heart Rocky has left for the game? Thoughts appreciated
I agree, I don't think he'll have the strength at SMW to compete with most. It's a solid match on paper though and I'm looking forward to it. No reason to question Fielding's heart really but I don't think he has a particularly good chin at all, so I'm not totally writing Ryder off.
Thanks all - appreciate the responses. Appears we are all on the same page here - no doubt will be some twists and turns on the night - only fight I'm really interested in watching on the Sky card if I'm honest
I actually don't understand why Rocky is favored here, period. Ryder is a skilled operator and can really box in there. Fielding... not so much. He tries, but it's just unnatural and harms him if anything. He's going to have to go for with an early stoppage and pray to the boxing gods because I can't imagine Fielding actually outclassing Ryder over 12.
I don't think Fielding has been active enough since being sparked against Smith and imo he lost against Rebrasse too. Some fighters seem to mentally lose their way after their first defeat and I worry that Fielding might be one of those, which is a shame cos I rate him and think he would have caused someone like Eubank some problems. He should have too much size for Ryder in this one though and I think he'll shut him out for a UD.
I think it's 65/35 Fielding personally and give Ryder a good chance of winning. Fielding is a big Supermiddle and size matters. Ryder needs to start well and then his chances of winning improve greatly. If Fielding establishes the jab and shows Ryder he's too big early then it will be a ko/shut out. If Ryder can use his movement and make Fielding miss and can control the tempo of the fight putting some pressure on then he can make it a winnable fight. Ryders stamina looked improved in the Etches fight and that's an advantage he has not cutting the extra weight.
I got Ryder by decision, looked very sharp in his last fight all be it against a very limited Etches. I just feel he has the tools to beat a very over-rated Fielding who IMO clearly lost to Rebrasse in the fight after his KO loss to Smith.
Think you guys are being harsh on Fielding with the glass chin comments. Callum Smith hits hard and would blast out Ryder the same way tbh. Smith handed Mohoumadi his first ever KO in a similar way and he went the distance with Degale. Ryder is probably less convincing with his chin having been stopped by featherfisted Blackwell at 160. Fielding hits a hell of a lot harder than Blackwell. Size and power will be too much here, and I can't see anything other than a Fielding stoppage win tbh.
