FIGHTING in front of his hometown faithful, Ryan Griffiths slammed hooks against Fonz Alexander’s flanks with the vigour of a lumberjack tackling a redwood.
At Dudley Town Hall, the tattooed veteran of over 180 contests took them and attempted to swing back.
He even bared his gumshield in a smile after shipping a left hook to the chin in the last.
The 36-year-old from Newark, Nottinghamshire, is made of strong stuff.
For talented Griffiths, the headline six rounder on BCB’s show – won at a 60-54 canter – was very much a mark-time exercise before the Black Country featherweight plunges back into championship action.
The 24-year-old, with only one loss in nine, is scheduled to defend his Midlands title against Jack Dillingham, though a date and venue has yet to be announced.
Last night (Friday) was also his first bout since January’s gallant bid to take the WBC world youth title at York Hall, Bethnal Green. Ryan faced Umar Khan at short notice, was given little chance, yet uncorked a fine performance to push the favourite all the way.
After his first taste of big time boxing, Griffiths could be forgiven for struggling to be inspired by routine engagements such as last night’s outing.
But he stressed: “Nothing beats fighting at home, I’d take that any day.
“At times, I was pushing a bit too hard and getting caught on the way out.”
Griffiths is a very big featherweight – at 9st 12lb, he was 12 pounds over the limit for Alexander and there did not appear a lot of excess to shift. It is, he stressed, a division he can squeeze into without too great a sacrifice.
“It’s a mental thing more than anything,” he said. “You have to ask yourself, ‘do you want to eat or do you want to win?’”
He produced a measured, disciplined and polished display against Alexander (10st 5lbs), building everything behind a pin-point jab.
Fonz attempted to rally in the second and landed two body shots, a rare success as Griffiths glided through the gears.
He swung back as Ryan continually targeted the body and sucked in air after copping a meaty left hook in the fourth.
Griffiths detonated a right uppercut followed by a left hook to the ribs in the fifth, yet still his opponent refused to budge. Alexander even managed to connect with a left hook of his own in session’s closing seconds.
He weathered the storm to hear the final bell. He provided Griffiths with a decent workout.
The wars will soon follow for the Dudley prospect.
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