Islington’s Ryder Fancies The Italian Job

Hotly fancied Middleweight – John Ryder – will be making his ninth professional appearance at York Hall on Saturday night (January 28), live on Sky Sports HD1 and Sky Sports 1.

A Twitter war broke out over the Islington local’s potential clash with fellow young gun Billy Joe Saunders following an impressive 2011 which saw ‘The Gorilla’ win all six of his bouts catapulting him into the spotlight.

But Ryder says he is happy to take his time and remains one of the most level-headed fighters considering his age and massive talent. And while the rival promoters and Saunders were talking about the fight, Ryder remained silent.

“I just let them get on with it really,” said Ryder, who faces Italian Matteo Rossi on Saturday (5-1-1). “I don’t think there’s any appeal to the fight at the moment really. It needs to build a bit and get some more interest first because when we do eventually fight, it should be a really big occasion. But I have no need to go out and chase a fight with him and he’s the same – it is the sort of fight that needs to have titles on the line as it could be a real classic British title fight one day.

“I’d fight Saunders tomorrow and I’d be confident of winning but as Eddie (Hearn, Ryder’s promoter) said to me, you don’t just take fight just because someone is calling you out and he’s right. I’ve got Eddie and Tony (Sims, Ryder’s trainer) to guide me and I trust them completely so when the time is right for a big fight like that, I’ll know because it will be on the table in the right way. My job is to train and learn in the gym and Eddie and Tony take care of business.”

Ryder picked up his first belt in his last outing, claiming the vacant International Masters title with a clinical third round stoppage win over Zoran Cvek in December, the sixth victory in a great year for ‘The Gorilla’.

“It was a nice early night again and a good stepping stone towards the English title really – and it was also a great way to end a really good year,” said Ryder. “I’d like to think by the end of 2012 I will have passed the Southern Area stage and I’d be in line for an English or British title shot.”

The Middleweight scene in Britain is particularly vibrant at the moment, led by Ryder’s stablemate Darren Barker, Matthew Macklin and Martin Murray, and Ryder believes that he could gatecrash the top-ten very soon.

“It’s a great division to be involved in, the boys at the top are miles in front but from four downwards they are real pick ’em fights,” said Ryder. “The winners of them would make real progress in the division so it makes them exciting fights. But I am in no rush and I’m still learning – you never stop learning and every fight, sparring session and day in the gym is a learning curve. You cannot be in a gym with the likes of Darren and Lee Purdy and the rest of the boys and not improve.”

If Ryder comes through Saturdays fight unscathed with win number nine, his next fight will be on the undercard of Kell Brook’s domestic dust-up with Matthew Hatton in Sheffield on March 17. Ryder hopes that will be the night his win column moves into double figures, and it will be a special occasion for the half-Irish fighter.

“That’s going to be a massive night and Kell’s fight with Matthew is going to be a belter so it’s great to be on the undercard and hopefully I’ll be picking up my tenth win there on St. Patrick’s Day,” said Ryder. “My Dad is Irish so it’s a great day to be in action, I’ll have good support there and some of the family will be there too so it promises to be a great night.”