THE GORILLA

Brilliant, brilliant performance and a real shame for Ryder and boxing in general. The fans know what they’ve seen

 

Unsure what it's going to take for Terry o conman to finally stop inflicting this on fighters and fans. Makes it almost not worth tuning in

 

Took Billy Joe all the way. Beat Arnfield, beat Fielding and beat Smith. We sure know how to treat our lads over here don’t we. Ryder has been treated like dogs**t for years. Always the away fighter, always the one who has to lick his wounds and come again after another harsh scorecard.

People’s champ, John Ryder!

 

Where can he get a good opportunity for a world title? He deserves it.

 

He’ll never get it. This game is all about what profits can be rinsed from which fighter. Callum Smith can potentially pull in Canelo or an Anfield date....Ryder can’t pull in a delivery from JustEat. Gutted for the lad, and that’s from a Smith fan.

 

Mate, as a fan of both. Thanks for your neutrality, Ryder royally robbed. I like Smith but said for ages he is overrated due to KOs.
He's Gallagher fighter with power.

 

I do think he’s a very good, world class fighter, but I said before the fight that at 29, to be 6”3 and boiling yourself down to 12 stone is ridiculous, and that this would be the fight where they realise they have to go up to light heavy. I stand by that. Smith is quality, it’s just that Ryder was exceptional tonight and put in a world class performance. I thought Callum faded badly in the last 3rd.

What troubles me is that I feel that Ryder left a big piece of himself behind in the ring tonight. That was his one last big performance both physically and mentally and they took it away from him. The lid on the jam jar has been well and truly loosened and whoever gets Ryder next will have a much easier night than Callum did.

I love this sport but I hate it, too.

 

Exactly I'm pretty sure Smith was either ill or struggling to make the weight. I've watched his whole career and he was a shell of how he usually is.

 

That’s got to be it at 168 now. He’s squeezed every last drop of himself at the weight now. He needs to step up to light heavy and have a crack at Bivol now. That extra 7ib will give him that extra pop in his shots and more gas for the 12 rounds.

 

Ryder fought like a dog tonight, perfect throughout, he was beating up Smith at points. Had him winning 115-113 but always knew the judges would give it to Smith. Insane scorecards but this is boxing. Also, ironic to see it at the same arena he was robbed against Fielding biting him again.

 

there was a moment in the 11th (I think) where smith was knackered and turned his back over the ropes like price lol.

amazing that ryder didn't get the decision. he was winning throughout and had smith all over the place in the last few rounds.

the ref also didn't help by warning ryder for non-existent headbutting complaints but letting smith get away with holding on for dear life.

 

Smith certainly wasn't at his best. No sharpness and poor stamina. Ryder had the perfect style to exploit a fighter who needs to move up.

After watching that I'd love to see Smith/BJS. Could be perfect timing for Billy.

 

Feel really sorry for Ryder, I thought he won. The 1st half of the fight was really close then I felt like Ryder finished the stronger, was in charge of the fight and having more success. Smith did look like his punches were heavier throughout, which was expected, but Ryder cancelled that out by being better than Smith in other departments. I'm not shocked Ryder gave a good account of himself and his stock has risen, but he did even better than I expected, fought like a man possessed at times, good aggressive boxer, loads of heart and balls and he deserved to get the nod but boxing is cruel sometimes. I was already a fan of Ryder before last night and he just continues to impress and improve. Great fighter.

 

Surely there is a rematch between The Gorilla v The Giraffe

 

Well said.It's bs like this that takes all the joy and purpose out of watching boxing for me.Boxing is more business than sport.