Home Columns Zach Parker vs John Ryder – Results & Post-Fight Report

Zach Parker vs John Ryder – Results & Post-Fight Report

Zach Parker was forced to retire at the end of the 4th round after injuring his right hand, allowing John Ryder to become the Interim WBO middleweight champion.

John Ryder secured the Interim WBO middleweight title at the O2 Arena London after Zach Parker had to retire at the end of the fourth round. Photo Credit: Queensberry Promotions.
John Ryder secured the Interim WBO middleweight title at the O2 Arena London after Zach Parker had to retire at the end of the fourth round. Photo Credit: Queensberry Promotions.

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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


Sonny Ali (5-0, KO0) took a decision win over six at welterweight against Georgi Velichkov (3-7, KO3).