The much anticipated Interim WBO middleweight title fight at the O2 Arena London ended in disappointment, as John Ryder took a fifth round retirement win as Zach Parker was unable to continue with a damaged hand.
Parker (22-1, KO16) had seen a dream fight at Derby’s Pride Park against Demetrius Andrade fall through due to injury to the American, and was faced with a tough test against Ryder (32-5, KO18), who was coming off an impressive split decision win against former world champion Daniel Jacobs back in February.
The opening few rounds were difficult to score, and just as the action was warming up, Parker hurt his right hand at the beginning of the fourth, and, unable to fend off Ryder with one hand, the decision was taken for Parker to withdraw from battle between rounds four and five.
Who would have called this?! 🤯
Zack Parker has had to pull out after the 4th round due to an injury to his hand.@_John_Ryder_ has been awarded the victory.#ParkerRyder pic.twitter.com/7IZJ89jaA0
— Boxing on BT Sport 🥊 (@BTSportBoxing) November 26, 2022
Ryder now goes into pole position for a shot at Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez as a result of his win.
WATCH AMIR KHAN’S REACTION TO PARKER VS RYDER
Hamzah Sheeraz (16-0, KO12) ruthlessly defended his WBC Silver middleweight title for the first time, as he stopped River Wilson-Bent (13-2-1, KO6) in two rounds. Sheeraz had already closed the eye of Wilson-Bent early on, and an accumulation of chopping punches forced the challenger to seek refuge on the canvas, where the fight was waved off.
.@sheeraz_hamzah at his brilliant best! 👏
Wilson-Bent could not keep up and the referee had to step in ✅#FightNight pic.twitter.com/Igq6tKLtj6
— Boxing on BT Sport 🥊 (@BTSportBoxing) November 26, 2022
Sam Noakes (10-0, KO10) captured the vacant Commonwealth lightweight title, and defended his WBC International Silver belt, with a ruthless fourth round stoppage of Calvin McCord (12-1, KO2). McCord was down four times in total in the fourth frame, all from sickening body shots.
Knockdown after knockdown it was only a matter of time ⏰
A fantastic display of power for @SamNoakes3 💪#FightNight pic.twitter.com/vIrbSI5q3w
— Boxing on BT Sport 🥊 (@BTSportBoxing) November 26, 2022
Dennis McCann (14-0, KO8) continues to impress, and ’The Menace’ won the vacant Commonwealth Super bantamweight title with an eighth round stoppage of Joe Ham (17-4, KO6). Ham was second best, and when under fire from a short uppercut, a follow up attack forced the referee’s intervention.
When he started rolling through the gears Joe Ham could not keep up ❌@ODennismccann earns the stoppage, a strong performance from ‘The Menace 💪#FightNight pic.twitter.com/mMJXYPs0np
— Boxing on BT Sport 🥊 (@BTSportBoxing) November 26, 2022
We caught up with McCann after his win to get his post-fight reaction. Watch video below.
Pierce O’Leary (11-0, KO6) claimed his first professional title, as the Irishman took the vacant WBC International super lightweight title with a wide points win against Emmanuel Mungandjela (16-4-1, KO7). ‘Big Bang’ took the win by scores of 99-89, 99-90 and 96-92.
Tommy Fletcher (3-0, KO3) notched a crushing first round knockout win against Jiri Krejci (1-3-2, KO0) in their cruiserweight contest.
Even better in slow-mo ✨
An absolute peach of a shot 👏
Pin-point accuracy from @tommyfletcher0#Fightnight pic.twitter.com/gyb5H4z2zh
— Boxing on BT Sport 🥊 (@BTSportBoxing) November 26, 2022
Sonny Ali (5-0, KO0) took a decision win over six at welterweight against Georgi Velichkov (3-7, KO3).
