John Ryder

A consolation for the controversial decision vs Smith.

I think Smith should move up personally but he’ll know whether the weight was a problem or he just wasn’t good enough.

If he does I’d love to Ryder fight for the full title and get some big fights. He’s so much better than his record suggests.

 

I’m not sure, he’s always been known as a good fighter amongst hardcore fans and he’s been on the end of several dodgy decisions. It’s probably a stylistic thing, the way he fights lends itself to being jobbed. That and the fact he doesn’t have that big a following. He’s also looks a beast at super middle. Leaner and more muscular.

One thing’s for certain, he’s a much better fighter than Rocky Fielding.

 

He's looked a different fighter at super-middle. The level he has shown since the Nielsen fight has been very high; although he hasn't beaten anyone exceptional, he has steamrollered through fringe contender types who otherwise had decent records.

Sometimes fighters take the world by stealth rather than storm. There have been fighters who seemed to have reached a ceiling at domestic level, but then almost imperceptibly develop into world class operators - Ricky Burns and Clinton Woods spring to mind.

I'm leaning towards Ryder actually being really good now, rather than it just being Smith having an off-night. I think he's definitely top 5 in the divison on ability, and there's some big fights out there for him even without a belt. It may make sense though to get hold of some kind of title first for leverage in negotiations.

 

Just seen a weekly round up video on ifl facebook page that goes back to last weekend. There's a clip of Eddie Hearn walking into the Ryder dressing room after the fight and a couple of people, Darren Barker especially, bemoan the scorecards. Eddie says it was close and Darren says "Come on Eddie, it wasn't close, he won that fight by four rounds!" The discontent in the room is resounding and for the first time ever you see Eddie stuck for words. He even looks at the camera and jokingly says "I'm going to smash your camera!"

It's great viewing and pleasing to see people put it on Hearn in person. I hope Hearn really looks after Ryder after that. He has the power to do so and Ryder deserves it.

 

Seen that, don’t think Barker was too happy on twitter that that video got put out! Refreshing to see though and like you said Hearn looks absolutely speechless

 

it's an insult and a cop out. He deserves an immediate rematch an nothing less.

 

Don't know why when he's 100% correct.

 

There was another IFL video with Ryder where the interviewer said "it's fair to say you won the fight". I found that very refreshing in the impartial world of IFL. 'Koogs' was the opposite interviewing Smith when he said "you won the fight and defended your belt".

 

Because everything put out in the media needs to be matchroom/sky sports friendly.

 

Eddie probably threatened to fire him over it....

 

Yep. IFL will have got a talking to as we Im sure.

 

He wants to get assurances of a time frame for a rematch if that's the case. Melikuziev will have his eyes on that title, and that's one pointless handful Ryder don't want to be dealing with if has a Smith rematch somewhere down the line.

 

John gives a good interview. Skip to 34.50 on the Jake Wood and Spencer Oliver podcast

This content is protected

The rematch with Callum Smith never happens IMO. But this has put him in the line to become an elite world level operator and champion