Tony Bellew vs. Julio Cesar Dos Santos & Nathan Cleverly vs. Alejandro Valori RBR

He arguably got robbed against Max Bursak.

His only losses otherwise are to Saunders and Murray and he was competitive in both.

...but you know who Ryder is? :huh

Their best wins (Martin Concepcion and Eamonn O'Kane) are comparable, and they're both mostly known in the UK for putting up strong arguments in losses to BJS. At least Blackwell has fought two other notables, so I would think if anything Ryder would be more obscure.

 

Round 5

Navarette is jabbing and side-arming a right hand on the outside. Smith is waiting, darting in to counter with a jab or quick hook and getting out. Smith is scoring effectively as Navarette begins coming forward a bit more, both of them still giving plenty of respect and refusing to engage in close quarters.

10-9 Smith

49-46 Smith

 

I just had a look, it was last September they were talking about matching him with Blackwell in an eliminator in "early 2014".

It has been ten months. :-(

 

Billy Joe Saunders, Nick Blackwell, and John Ryder are the young trio of British middleweight I was referring to...

 

Round 6

Navarette is falling short with his jab as Smith drifts a little further out with each scuff of his feet as he circles, landing his own counter jab. Navarette is hunching over, shoulders raised over his jaw, jabbing at the body a bit. Smith keeps tracking clockwise and putting in jabs and ducking in with the odd uppercut.

10-9 Smith

59-55 Smith

 

This is what Navarette does. He gives you a solid night's work and valuable experience and even bags a few rounds now and then but is never much of an upset threat unless something is very wrong.