The all-British bout between the previously undefeated contender Zach Parker (22-1, 16 KO’s) and former WBA interim champion John Ryder (32-5, 18 KO’s) ended with the latter winning by TKO (technical knockout) after the former pulled out of the match due to an alleged broken/injured right hand. The championship bout – held for the vacant WBO interim world Super Middleweight title – was held at the O2 Arena in London on November 26th.
The two British fighters both set an aggressive pace in the first four rounds of the fight. While Parker seemed to score with several single-punch shots – along with well-timed counters – that landed hard and quick, Ryder seemed to gain ground in the latter three rounds with his combinations and his front foot approach. Another point of view however could have seen Parker ahead with the way he countered Ryder with accuracy and power, even if he wasn’t letting lose a flurry of combinations.
At the start of the fifth round, Zach Parker seemed to quit after walking over to John Ryder, and it was lately determined that he had indeed pulled out of the match after apparently sustaining an injured right hand somewhere during the fight. Ryder would be subsequently be announced the winner of the bout and the new WBO interim Super Middleweight world champion.
In the post-match interview held jointly by Parker and Ryder, Zach Parker confirmed that he had sustained an injury in the last (fourth) round that felt like it was impossible for him to continue. As the WBO’s interim champion of the Super Middleweight division, John Ryder is now set to potentially face undisputed Super Middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KO’s) in the near future. Though Ryder is now the interim champion, he has until May 18th of 2023 to set up a fight with Alvarez to become the full champion.
Ryder seemed excited about the potential of facing Alvarez himself and left no illusions as to his willingness to fight the Mexican champion.
“It would be a dream to fight Canelo in Cinco de Mayo or whenever, wherever.” Ryder said.
With Canelo apparently returning in May of 2023 and the WBO deadline conveniently also expiring in May, Alvarez can be stripped of his title if he refuses to fight Ryder in May, allowing Ryder to become a full world champion in the process. There’s also a (lesser) chance of Ryder not fighting Alvarez by his own volition, which would result in the WBO interim title being vacated and even made obsolete if Saul Alvarez also relinquishes his WBO world title.
