The WBA super middleweight title eliminator went the way of John Ryder, who overcame a slow start to take a career-best, split decision win over Daniel Jacobs at Alexandra Palace, London.
Ryder’s win over Jacobs topped the first Matchroom promoted card in the UK of 2022.
Ryder was coming off two straight wins after a controversial 2019 defeat to Callum Smith in a challenge for the WBA ‘super’ crown, where he went down on the cards.
Jacobs had ruled as a world champion twice at middleweight, and was having his second fight at his new weight class after lacklustre wins over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Gabriel Rosado at 168 pounds.
The Brooklynite established his jab in the first round, and looked sharp and accurate early on.
Jacobs switched stances, and Ryder was struggling to gain a foothold in the contest, as the visitor was using his movement and accuracy to his full advantage through the first few rounds.
Ryder had a much better fourth, landing decent single shots, but the ‘Miracle Man’ looked comfortable, and was dictating matters.
The pattern was pretty much set, and ‘The Gorilla’ was having to chase Jacobs, whose footwork was just too good to get himself into any trouble.
Ryder finally drove Jacobs back as he picked up his pace in the sixth, and the pair each landed solid right hands during the round.
The 33-year-old Londoner was attacking with much more success, and the seventh saw his best round to date, moving Jacobs with some stiff shots, and he troubled his man again at the end of round eight with some vicious inside work.
Ryder was growing in confidence, while Jacobs looked like he was tiring, and ’The Gorilla’ landed the more telling blows in the ninth as he closed the early deficit.
Jacobs got back on his jab in round ten, boxing and moving to good effect, but back came Ryder in the penultimate session, connecting with well-timed combinations that threw the 35-year-old off his rhythm.
It seemed all to play for in the final round, and the ‘Miracle Man’ sensed the urgency, keeping his distance off the jab and switching stances yet again as the contest came to a close, but the decision was up in the air as the scores were read out.
Two scores of 115-113 for Ryder trumped the third card at the same score for Jacobs, and the Londoner secured a memorable win.
Cash survives Madiev scare
Felix Cash was back in action after his statement win over Denzel Bentley in his last fight, and he had to get off the deck twice before claiming the vacant WBC international middleweight title with a points win over Magomed Madiev.
Cash was dropped for the first time as a pro in the second by a sharp left hand from the Russian and although he beat the count, it took time for him to regain his senses, eventually recovering to rally at the end of the frame.
A Cash uppercut wobbled Madiev in the third, and from there he took control, putting together some eye-catching combination work and controlling the action in the main.
The 27-year-old’s output slowed, but he went for broke in the tenth and final round and turned the fight on its head again, landing with a straight right hand that forced the Brit to use the ropes and as they were holding him up, he was counted.
The 28-year-old was also cut over the left eye, and the visitor was swarming all over Cash, who also had a point deducted in a nightmare last frame.
The two swung for the fences as the thrilling clash went to the cards.
Two scores of 95-92, and a third score of 94-93 ensured Cash remained unbeaten.
Fisher overcomes Enguema
’The Romford Bull’ Jonny Fisher shifted over 2500 tickets, and he sent his fans home happy after passing a stern examination against Gabriel Enguema.
Fisher was taken the distance for the first time, and cut, but came through by a 59-55 scoreline.
View this post on Instagram
Scotney secures first strap
Catford’s Ellie Scotney picked up the first professional title of her career, taking the vacant WBA intercontinental super bantamweight title with an action-packed, tight points win over former world champion, Jorgelina Guanini.
It was non-stop action for the first half of the contes and Scotney picked up a cut from a clash of heads.
Guanini gave a good account of herself, and Scotney was forced to work for most of the fight to keep the Argentine at bay.
Naturally, the pace slowed for the final few rounds, and Scotney was also deducted a point for holding in the last round.
Eventually, the 23-year-old was awarded the win by two scores of 96-94, and a third at 95-94.
View this post on Instagram
Wins for Williams, Price, Pattinson, Defreitas
Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams made it ten perfect wins as a professional, halting Javier Francisco Maciel in the sixth of their middleweight eight rounder.
Maciel was dropped by a left hook in a torrid first round for him, and it was all one-way traffic, with Williams scoring another knockdown in the sixth from an uppercut.
A flurry of power shots on the resumption felled the Argentine again, and when the action resumed again, another volley of punches dipped Maciel’s knees, and the referee waved the fight off.
Seriously impressive performance from Ammo Williams who gets the sixth-round stoppage 🔥#JacobsRyder pic.twitter.com/uZVcqyfcVl
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 12, 2022
Super bantamweight prospect, Hopey Price was near punch perfect, as he stopped Ricardo Roman in four rounds.
A big raking left hand floored Roman in the opening minute of the fight, and Price was in full control.
A hurtful left to the body had the Mexican over again in the fourth, and in pain, and Price finished the job on the resumption.
Spiteful from @Hopeyprice1 who gets the finish in the fourth 💪#JacobsRyder pic.twitter.com/bX0QD9FAj3
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 12, 2022
Cyrus Pattinson banked another six rounds, and the North East welterweight took a points win over Evgenii Vazem.
Pattinson took a 60-54 win for the referee.
Shiloh Defreitas has impressed on MTK Global cards thus far, and he made a debut Matchroom appearance, opening the show with a dominant six round points win against Russia’s Alexy Tukhtarov at welterweight.
It was the first time in three fights Defreitas went the distance, although he pushed several times for the stoppage.
Tukhtarov was teak tough, and ‘Sugar’ Shiloh took a 60-54 win on the referee’s scorecard.
