Woolridge: Some are talking title fights, in a year I’ll join them

Woolridge fires a southpaw left at Zulgis: Pics: DEXTER HASTINGS

I’M reassessing the professional potential of Black Country southpaw Ryan Woolridge.

When he turned pro, I’ll admit to believing the light-middle’s career would possibly peak at a Midlands title.

But, under the tutelage of former pro Pete Hickenbottom, Bloxwich’s Woolridge has grown into the paid ranks.

He has a good engine, employs ring intelligence, is hitting harder and has old fashioned bottle.

The 22-year-old could take the game from the blind side, if manoeuvred correctly.

He gave a glimpse of what’s in the locker by outpointing Bulgarian dangerman Nikola Stoyanov. That result has, like wine, grown better with age after Stoyanov dropped hot prospect Khalid Ali and halted fellow BCB boxer Ash Pettigrew in two.

Folk are beginning to talk about titles, even though Ryan – a very level-headed young man - refuses to. He refuses to call anyone out, either, stating simply: “I don’t want to be horrible.”

On BCB’s Sunday afternoon show at Edgbaston’s H Suite, Woolridge registered his seventh straight win.

Late replacement Kristaps Zulgis, from Latvia – a fighter who has boxed as heavy as super-middle – was kept under control by Ryan’s jab and never allowed to settle, losing every session of their four rounder, 40-36.

Let’s be honest, with eight wins in 60 (three draws), Zulgis wasn’t there to spoil the party. He is, however, tough, strong and durable.

Woolridge got the job done without fuss or drama.

He is a man with both feet firmly planted on the floor.

“People have talked about titles,” Ryan said, “but I want to get the year out of the way, get in another fight before the end of 2023, then maybe talk about that stuff at the end of next year.

“My initial plan (against Zulgis) was to keep him in a shell, I needed that southpaw jab straight in his mush. Pete (Hickenbottom) said, ‘keep him honest with the jab’.

Ryan Woolridge poses after landslide points victory

“I thought the jab was stiff and precise and I caught him with a body shot in the first.

“It may not have been the best fight, but it was the best fight for me. I dealt with his awkwardness. I had to learn to deal with his awkwardness and that adds to my ability.

“I went in wanting to show three things and I did it. I wanted to show the things I’ve learned, I wanted to try the new things me and Pete have been working on and I wanted to show authority from the off.”

Woolridge believes patience – in and out of the ring – will be rewarded.

“I want to do it properly,” he said. “Balancing boxing with work (Ryan is an electrician), that’s the biggest problem, I feel. That’s one of the reasons I don’t want to rush into title fights. I need to find the time for the commitment needed for those fights.”

Woolridge certainly has a sound fanbase.

He added: “I sold around 90 tickets, which isn’t bad for a Sunday afternoon show. My fans are proper people, I go in pubs to sell most of my tickets.”