Whelan gets back to basics and wins big

Whelan and Sniedze after last night's four rounder

AFTER his last outing turned into a fire fight, Ryan Whelan did what he does best at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham Airport, last night.

On Tommy Owens’ show, the tall light-heavy didn’t allow raw emotions to swamp his tall frame, he didn’t get burnt in the heat of the moment.

He kept Edgars Sniedze – a tanned Latvian who looked a weight above the popular Birmingham boxer – at the end of a long, broom stave jab and won every session of the four rounder. Referee Ryan Churchill scored 40-36.

As a spectacle, it lacked the drama of 26-year-old Whelan’s last outing – a pure slugfest with Zane Clark that ended with honours even.

But the tactics were effective. Sniedze, closing in on his 60th contest, didn’t connect with anything of significance. He didn’t bristle with ambition.

That, frankly, is the name of the game. Why bleed when you don’t have to bleed? Why go to war when you don’t need to?

Whelan (12st 7lbs) won at a canter.

“I think it went well,” he said afterwards. “I felt really sharp and I hurt him a few times. He was a last minute opponent and it was about building my confidence after last time. I kept it behind the jab, didn’t get it involved and got the job done.”

Whelan is a likeable, grounded individual who, unlike so many beginners, declines to boast about major titles being won in the future.

He added: “I’d like to fight for a Midlands title at either light-heavy or super-middle, that’s what I want.”

But, then, Whelan comes from down-to-earth boxing stock. He’s a member of Nechell’s Holt family, one of the city’s famous fighting families. Cousin Paul, a former pro champ, near shouted himself hoarse during the contest.

He didn’t need to. Whelan got the job done by sticking to basics: double jab, right hand downstairs copped Sniedze (13st 4lbs) every time. By the third, he introduced lead uppercuts and by the fourth was connecting with meaty left to the body.

Sniedze danced out of trouble, but didn’t throw enough back. It was one way traffic.

Whelan is now unbeaten in five (one draw) and stiffer test beckon. Will he join the Holt family’s list of champions?

Time – and much tougher opposition than Sniedze – will tell.