John Ryder stops Andrey Sirotkin in seven!
Both men entered this bout hoping to claim an opportunity to become the mandatory for the winner of Canelo Alvarez and WBA regular champion Rocky Fielding. Alternatively, this could also lead to a fight with super champion Callum Smith.
Ryder is one of the more technically sound British super middleweights. On the contrary, the former world kickboxing champion in Sirtokin had no problems traveling to achieve glory.
He spent no time making his presence in this fight. Ryder is historically known throughout his career as a slow starter. This allowed the Russian to jump out to an early lead based on sheer volume and movement. Additionally, he found a home for the straight right hand.
However, similar to an Arthur Abraham, the British fighter turns up the heat as the fight goes on. By the fourth round, a withering Sirotkin started to succumb to the pressure from a sustained body attack. He no longer showed the technique he had on the straight right hand in the earlier. Fighting fatigue, he also stopped moving as much and started to only look for a chopping right had.
By this time Ryder was in full control. The stamina he preserved earlier helped him apply the relentless pressure he needed to completely tire out his opponent.
By round seven, the fatigue problems became extremely visible for Sirotkin. Ryder continued on, working the body and systematically breaking his opponent down. The Russian at one point went to the canvas just from his opponent leaning on him.
This showed that it was just a matter of time. Moments later, Ryder lands a crushing body shot that put Sirotkin out for good!
Ryder wins the right to claim a shot at the winner of Canelo.Fielding or Callum Smith and improves to 27-4, with 15 knockouts. Meanwhile, Sirotkin suffers the first loss of his boxing career.
By: EJ Williams
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