Zach Parker Loses to John Ryder with Hand Injury!

By Boxing News - 11/26/2022 - Comments

By Ken Hissner:  At the 02 Arena, Greenwich, London, UK, Saturday over ESPN+ Frank Warren (Queensberry Promotions) in the Main Event No. 1 WBO ranked Zach Parker lost after four rounds to WBA No. 1 ranked John Ryder due to an injured right hand for the WBO Interim title and a possible match with Unified champ Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in 2023.

In the Main Event, WBO No. 1 ranked Super Middle Zach Parker, 22-1 (15), #167 ¼, of Woodville, Derbyshire, UK, stopped by WBA No. 1 ranked southpaw John Ryder, 32-5 (18), #167, of Islington, London, UK, after four rounds due to an injured right hand of a scheduled 12 rounds.

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Halfway through the second round, Parker continued switching from his orthodox to southpaw, landing a pair of right hooks to the chin of Ryder. In the third, Ryder started roughhousing Parker, swinging him about.

In the fourth round, after one minute of action, referee Howard Foster warned both fighters about rough tactics. Parker was a southpaw using his jab for most of the fight. Ryder was obviously stronger than Parker and got the best of him when inside.

At the end of the round, Parker’s corner stood up, not answering the bell claiming Parker’s right hand was injured, though it seemed fine. The referee was Howard Foster.

The judges had it 39-37 twice and 38-38 for Parker after four rounds. This writer had it 39-37 Ryder. It was for the WBO Interim world title and for Ryder a chance to meet world champ Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in 2023.

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Middle Hamzah Sheeraz, 17-0 (13), #159 ¼, of Ilford, UK, stopped River Wilson-Bent, 13-2-1 (6), #159 ¾, of Coventry, UK, at 2:55 of the second for the vacant WBC Silver title, of a 12.

In the second round, Wilson-Bent had Sheeraz covering up well against the ropes for the first minute. In the final twenty seconds, Sheeraz landed a four-punch combination to the head, dropping Wilson-Bent, who beat the count of 8, but referee Victor Loughlin stopped the fight, having seen enough with no complaint from the loser.

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Lightweight Sam Noakes, 10-0 (10), #134 ½, of Maidstone, UK, stopped Calvin McCord, 12-1 (2), #135 of Ayr, Scotland, UK, at 2:14 of the fourth of a 12.

Ten seconds into the fourth, Noakes landed a right to the body, dropping McCord for an eight count from referee Victor Loughlin.

Noakes landed over a half dozen punches dropping McCord for a second time for an eight count. A left to the body from Noakes and down went McCord for the third time for an eight count. Noakes was all over him, going to the body, dropping him a fourth time for an 8 count. When McCord got up, the referee finally waved it off.

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Super Bantam Dennis “The Menace” McCann, 14-0 (6), #121 ½, of Maidstone, UK, stopped Joe Ham, 17-4 (6), #121 ½, at 2:28 of the eighth of a 12.

In the eighth round, McCann landed over a dozen punches with little in return from outgunned Ham, forcing referee Marcus McDonnell to wave it off.

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Pierce ‘Big Bang’ O’Leary, 11-0 (6), #139 ½, of Dublin, IRE, defeated southpaw Emmanuel “The Lion” Mungandjela, 16-4-1 (7), #140, of Ongwediva, Nambia, over ten rounds, for the vacant WBC Int’l Lightweight title.

Halfway through the first round, a right from O’Leary on the chin dropped Mungandjela for an eight count from referee Mark Lyson.

Mungandjela bounced back well enough to get through the round.

From the second through the eighth, it was all O’Leary.

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In the ninth, O’Leary had Mungandjela out on his feet but managed to hold and get through the round.

Scores were 99-89, 99-90, and 96-92, with 98-90 by this writer.

Cruiserweight Tommy “The Norfolk Nightmare” Fletcher, 3-0 (3), #201, of Thetford, Norfolk, UK, knocked out Jiri Krejci, 1-3 (0), #197 ½, of Knezeves, CZ, at 2:19 of the first round of a scheduled 4.

In the first round, Fletcher had his way and, in the final minute, switched to southpaw, landing a crushing left uppercut to the chin of Krejci, knocking him out as referee Marcus McDowell didn’t bother counting.

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