Monday 28 February 2011

Ryan now a two-weight Area boss

Dave Ryan's decision to drop seven pounds and challenge for the vacant Midland 10st title proved to be a fruitful one on Sunday afternoon (February 27), outpointing slippery Leonard Lothian over ten.

The 27-year-old Derby stylist (pictured), boxing at light-welterweight for the first time since his debut four years ago, dominated a man he'd outscored over six - in Nottingham in 2007 - to secure his second Area strap. 

Referee Shaun Messer marked the ex-Midland welterweight king (10st) a handy 98-93 victor.

Ingle-handled Lothian (9st 13 1/2lbs) possesses all the hallmarks of his stable's style: fleet-footed, awkward to hit and punches that come from angles that can't be predicted. But the Northampton boxer's famed allusiveness couldn't protect him from a sharp lead left from Ryan, whose non-stop pressure started to show as the fight progressed to the latter stages.

Ryan, 10-4 (2), dominated the eighth and ninth, with a well-timed right sending the 28-year-old into a corner and doing well to survive the follow-up onslaught. But survive he did and made it to the final bell only to lose for the ninth time in 21 (two draws).

But it was a bad day for promoter Clifton Mitchell's son, Ty Mitchell, on the four-fight Heritage Hotel card in Derby.

Mitchell, undefeated in two entering and trained by his ex-pro heavyweight dad, was penciled in to compete in the super-middleweight Prizefighter in Liverpool next month but slipped to an unexpected 39-38 four-threes defeat to capable Lee Duncan.

Duncan, a last-minute replacement for Danny Goode, outweighed Mitchell significantly (13st 1lb to the Derby prospect's 11st 12lbs) and that proved crucial as the Sheffield switch-hitter, whose up-and-down paid ledger reads 3-5-2, out-muscled the 20-year-old in the middle rounds.

Not even a verbal dressing down from his dad before the final three minutes was enough to swing matters Ty's way, with Mr Messer lifted the away fighter's hand as the bell rang.

Mitchell stormed from the ring but is still expected to compete in Prizefighter next month. The loss could do him good.

Two novice East Midlanders picked up wins on the undercard.

Long Eaton's Leon Mrvik looked set to concede defeat on his pro bow but, after finding his feet, put in a huge final round to secure the victory, outpointing Surrey slugger Hayden Chick, now 1-2, 58-57. Both weighed 11st 7 1/2lbs.

Another one-point winner was Derby lightweight Paul Frost (9st 7lbs), who survived a cut in the third to have his glove raised 58-57 against sturdy Wiltshire journeyman 'Dirty' Dan Carr (9st 11 1/2lbs). Despite inspections to his wound in the fourth and fifth stanzas, Frost wobbled Carr in the penultimate round and won for the second time in three.

Rob Chalmers handled both six-twos.

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