Ryan vows to ‘fight smart’ in Top Boxer clash with Tollerton

Ryan Griffiths…Dudley hope who is out to “right my wrongs”

MUCH has been written about the epic Midlands lightweight title fight between Scott Melvin and Mykey Lee-Broughton which ended with the latter being sick and stopped in the final round.

But there’s a footnote to last month’s battle at Planet Ice, Solihull, that has yet to be printed.

Ryan Griffiths, taking part in the quarter finals of the Top Boxer tournament that followed on the same bill, also suffered from the body shots that ended Mykey’s title hopes. And he wasn’t even in the ring with Melvin.

Facing Stefan Vincent in the opener of Tommy Owens’ tournament, he lost his footing on a slippery canvas freshly washed and scrubbed to remove the vomit.

Ryan copped a punch on the way down and was given the first count of his fledgling pro career.

Thankfully, the Dudley boxer picked himself up and took a 39-38 decision after four rounds.

It wasn’t the best performance by Griffiths, but he won clearly and can now look forward to the semi-final battle with DJ Tollerton next month.

In the other half of the draw, favourite Dylan Norman, from Knowle, meets Worcester veteran Michael Mooney.

Griffiths, aged 22 and now unbeaten in three, should not be overlooked for the £6,000 first prize. He can punch it out and fight clever. He looks a useful addition to the pro ranks, although he failed to dazzle against Vincent.

“I was completely flat that night, that wasn’t me at all,” he admitted. “Errol (BCB boss and manager Errol Johnson) asked me what went on, Paul Mann asked me what went on. They asked if I over-trained, was it the nutrition.

“I thought I was just flat, there’s no excuses. Next time I’m going to put my wrongs right.”

He has, on paper, the toughest route to the final. Lincoln’s Tollerton engaged in an epic war in his quarter-final with Danny Williams, a contest that may well be crowned Midlands fight of the year.

He possesses a hammer of a left hook, dropping brave Williams on the way to a thrilling points win.

“It’s going to be really tough,” Griffiths admitted. “I watched him fight Danny Williams that night. They just stood toe-to-toe and threw leather for four rounds.

“I’ve been sparring the likes of Gully Powar, he’s called Relentless for a reason – he’s non-stop, throwing bombs.”

Ryan doesn’t plan to accommodate Tollerton’s appetite for a tear-up. “I’ll fight smart,” he vowed, “this is my chance to show I can hit and move.”

If he comes through, he may face another bundle of fighting fury in Norman. “I respect him as a fighter. I saw what he can do when he beat Louis Fielding in one round (Fielding was demolished by Dylan in the quarters). But he can’t underestimate Mooney who will be fit and can hit.”

Griffiths should be applauded for risking his unbeaten record in the competition: in such quick-fire shoot-outs the form book often flies out of the window.

Fighters set a frantic pace and sometimes abandon defence.

“It’s another step in my career,” Griffiths said. “I’ve been given the chance to face unbeaten fighters and that normally wouldn’t happen until 10 or 11 fights in. I’m in the game to prove myself, I want to prove I can mix it with the best.

“I’m only 22, I want a long career. I’m taking my time and taking the right steps.”

Griffiths says his future lies a weight down, at junior-lightweight (super-feather, as it is called today).

“I want a long career,” he added. “I want English, British (titles). I can do it all – I can stand and fight, I can hit and move.”

The latter tactics appear the best against Tollerton.