Woolridge earns his Sunday roast dinner
Woolridge….looking more complete with each performance
RYAN Woolridge was just about to tuck into a well-deserved Sunday dinner – prepared by his grandmother - when I made contact.
The beef, roasts and veg were well deserved after light-middle Ryan had notched-up his fifth straight win the night before. The 22-year-old – one of the local game’s genuinely nice guys – deserved to be swimming in gravy after taking every session of his six rounder against Joe Hardy on BCB’s Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, bill.
“Because my weight has been right, I haven’t missed out on my Sunday dinners,” said the Bloxwich prospect. “I have to have my Sunday roasts or my nan will batter me. She read somewhere about how important they are.”
Woolridge, who took two coachloads of supporters to the venue, may have lofty plans to one day face the Midlands’ best 11st fighters, but he’s in no rush to upset his grandmother.
The fighter is a work in progress and, under trainer Pete Hickenbottom, he’s developing more of a pro style with each outing.
He worked Leeds’ Harvey (now 2-7) to head and body, countered well and gradually drained the fighting spirit from the visitor. When Hardy attempted to push the action he was punished by piston jabs.
The last was one-way traffic and, over the eight round course, Ryan may well have registered a stoppage.
Referee Chris Dean scored a 60-54 whitewash.
Soon Ryan will step up to eight round class, although “The Rhino” is in no rush.
“It wasn’t too bad,” said Woolridge of his performance. “I was a bit disappointed at the end, although people were coming up afterwards and saying it was the best I performed, so maybe I was being a bit harsh on myself.
“That fight signified what I’ve been doing in sparring. The holes that were there in my previous fight were filled in, but there’s still a lot to work on.”
Woolridge, an electrician by day, is a man with his feet firmly on the ground.
“I don’t want to rush anything,” he insisted. “I’m only 22. I think next year will be the title hunting season. I believe the longer distance will suit me a lot more. Another two rounds against Hardy and I think I could’ve got him out of there.”
Woolridge – one of the sport’s characters – deserves success, he deserves a Midlands title shot, at the very least. Tougher tests than Hardy lie ahead for the tall fighter.
And he’s right – next year, both he and the paying public will know a lot more about what the future holds.