I’m turning Ryan into a KO artist - trainer

Ryan Woolridge…back in action at H Suite, Birmingham, on October 1

TRAINER Peter Hickenbottom is adamant there’s a banger lurking within the slender frame of his light-middleweight Ryan Woolridge.

And he’s intent on detonating the dynamite he believes “Rhino” Woolridge possesses.

When it comes to detecting KO power, Hickenbottom knows his stuff. As a pro, he knew how to switch the lights out on opponents – and paid for it with a career blighted by hand injuries.

Southpaw Woolridge – exceptionally tall for an 11stone fighter – chases his seventh straight pro win at Birmingham’s H Suite on October 1. No opponent has been named for the six rounder.

Hickenbottom, who has been with Ryan since the amateur days, knows his fighter is heavy handed. He’s waiting for the thud of an opponent hitting the canvas – and staying there.

In fairness, the 22-year-old – an electrician by day – has felled fighters, but they’ve picked themselves up and spoiled to the final bell.

It’s hard to prise open journeymen and Ryan – one of the game’s real characters – has faced his share of men with long losing records.

The coup de grace will come, Hickenbottom assured me.

“I want to see him display the power he displays in sparring,” the trainer told me. “He is heavy handed, he has a very good hook to the body. I’m trying to get him to sit down on his punches more.”

Last time out Ryan was given a tough tussle by rugged Bulgarian Nikola Stoyanov, but won clearly on points.

That performance has gained in value following Stoyanov’s narrow, disputed loss to hot prospect Khalid Ali who was dropped before taking a wafer-thin one point decision.

“If Ryan can stop people, I think he’d sell a few tickets and open people’s eyes,” said Hickenbottom.

But the trainer refuses to predict how far Ryan can go in the business.

“I don’t know,” Hickenbottom candidly admitted. “I’ve been with him since he was 14. I’ve told him, ‘if you win the Midlands title, the rest is the cream on the cake’.

“If boxing gets you a house, if it pays off your mortgage, you’ve achieved.”