Parker vs. Ryder
The WBO interim super middleweight title is on the line Saturday, November 26th at the O2 Arena in London. Undefeated British contender Zach Parker will face battle tested veteran and fellow British fighter John Ryder.
Parker (22-0, 16 KO) is coming off a fourth round TKO of Marcus Morrison last November, giving him his fifth straight finish. He is the former British super middleweight champion and WBO International super middleweight title holder, but he will be fighting for his first major title on Saturday.
The interim belt was supposed to be up for grabs between former WBO middleweight champion Demtrius Andrade and Parker, but Andrade was forced to withdraw due to injury. Parker is happy to be fighting Ryder, but was ready to take on any challenge.
“It is going to be a good fight. At least he’s got the balls to come and fight me, unlike Andrade. He always brings it, so if we both do that and meet in the middle, it will be one for the fans,” said Parker.
Parker continued, “I have kept an eye out for him, although obviously he was at middleweight, but now he has come up with a good few wins and had a close one with Callum Smith.”
“I thought we might meet down the line and here we are. Frank is the man who has made it happen and I can’t wait for fight night now.
“That he has done this for me is a sign of the trust we have. I trust Frank and he trusts me. We were going to have the Andrade fight in Derby but the season has started now so we will have a good night for the fans at the 02 and may the best man win.
“It should be a good fight, but I reckon I will get a stoppage over Ryder. I think he is just a bit too small for super middleweight. He has boxed some but they have taken him lightly, thinking they are gonna beat him easily.”
Ryder (31-5, 17 KO) is coming off a split decision win over former middleweight world champion Daniel Jacobs in February. He has won three straight fights and feels that the winner of he and Parker should be the next fight for pound for pound great Canelo Alvarez.
“I think it makes perfect sense, really,” Ryder said. “The winner will be in line for the WBO title, obviously it’s for the interim, and I know [David] Benavidez and [Caleb] Plant are fighting a final eliminator and he [Canelo]’s got options, but I’ve spent two years chasing him [Canelo] around the world, trying to be a backup fighter [if someone drops out], and if I beat Zach Parker next week, I deserve my shot at Canelo and I think I’ve paid my dues.”
The 34-year-old went on to say, “Following him around the world to see if someone would pull out or fall ill obviously wasn’t the way to go about it, and I deserve a proper camp and proper notice and I’d love to get it on with Canelo, for sure.”
While pundits believe that Ryder is beyond his title days, he thinks he will show everyone he still has plenty of great boxing left against Parker. “I suppose he [Parker]’s looking at this as his breakout fight and seeing if he can do a number on me and it propels him on and opens doors for him, but I don’t feel like I’m an opponent just yet,” said Ryder. “I feel I have a lot to give in this sport and at 168 I feel like I’m a different animal to my days at 160, they are well behind me. I can really perform at this weight and this is where I’m going to do the things I set out to do in this sport.”
The main card can be seen on ESPN+.
