Veteran Ryan Barrett Returns To Ring York Hall July 5

Former English Super Featherweight Champion Ryan Barrett makes a most welcome return to the ring following a fifteen month forced sabbatical from the sport, at the Dave Murphy, in association with Acourtier Events, promoted ‘Independence Day’ Extravaganza at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Friday 5th July 2013.

Barrett, who – during his stellar career has won domestic titles at Featherweight, Super Featherweight and Lightweight – will be making his return in the Welterweight division.

Keen to get back into Championship contention as quickly as possible, Barrett has chosen to mark his return with a stern test as he faces Czech Republic’s #1 ranked Jan Balog.

Speaking earlier, Barrett made it crystal clear that not only is he looking forward to returning to the fray, but that he is relishing the challenge of fighting in a different division.

“Yeah, I can’t wait, this past fifteen months has been a good learning process for me, so I’m really looking forward to getting back in the mix,” he said.

“This break I’ve had has been good for me, I’m not a Lightweight, I’m not a Light Welterweight, I’m walking around normally at 11st 4lbs and will be fighting at 10st 10lbs for this first fight and the plan is to drop to 10st 7lbs Championship weight, so yeah I’ll be a Welterweight from now onwards.

“I’ve been as low as 8st 12lbs, when I fought for the British title, I won the English title at 9st 4lbs and I won titles at 9st 9lbs but I just couldn’t keep draining myself trying to make the weight.

“The ban was good for me, I missed the sport but to be honest I needed the break, I’m really hungry to come back and get back into contention.

“As an amateur I beat a lot of big names, as a pro I fought most of the domestic titles as well as a World title, but in the last year or so of my career I still wasn’t getting any good opportunities to fight here, so my last few fights were abroad.

“I got the call to go to Canada and fight Dierry Jean, who was #1 contender for the NABF title, which he won on his next fight after ours and is now #1 contender for the IBF World title.

“I then got a bad result in Belgium, where I lost in the first round against Jean Pierre Baumens. That’s just the way it goes sometimes, I took a chance and it didn’t pay off.

“I keep getting offers to fight in America, Australia, Ghana etc. but it’s hard to get a result when you’re fighting on the other guy’s home turf.

“Not so much the Dierry result, he was a class above me, so can’t moan about that. But Boumens, I tripped up and fell in between the ropes and he was allowed to hit me three, four, five times before I could even defend myself, so I got stopped in the first round.

“I will still fight abroad occasionally, but really I want to fight more here at home. I think this is a good fight to come back to, Balog’s been in with a few of the good guys around Europe and a couple of the guys in England.

“He’s tough, not one that tends to get knocked out, so maybe I can be the first one locally to stop him.

“York Hall’s normally a good stomping ground for me, I knocked Mark Alexander out in one round there. I stopped a Croatian guy in five rounds there also, so maybe this one will be the same.

“I’ve got a busy couple of months. Besides fighting on July 5th, I’ll be fighting again on August 3rd and back at York Hall on 27th September. If these all go well I hope to be back in Championship contention by November.

“Yeah, I’d really like to challenge for one of these titles on Dave’s (Murphy) November 30th show, It’ll be perfect for me. So it’s full steam ahead now, starting with the 5th July.”

Ryan Barrett versus Jan Balog features on the undercard of the Jennifer Retzke – Angel McKenzie World Championship clash, that headlines the Dave Murphy, in association with Acourtier Events, promoted ‘Independence Day’ event, which takes place at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, on Friday 5th July 2013.

Tickets, priced £30 (Gallery), £35 (Ground floor standard seated) and £65 (Ringside) are available on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com – www.mariannemarston.com – www.acourtier.com – or in person from the Trad TKO Boxing Gym in Canning town – www.tkoboxinggym.com – and Ringtone Gym in Euston – www.ringtonehealthandfitness.com – or from any of the boxers taking part in the event, or call – 07960 850645, 07809 499896 or 07557 641597 for further information.