Zach Parker vs John Ryder signed and sealed
Promoter Frank Warren confirms contracts have been signed for Zach Parker vs John Ryder
Queensberry Promotions promoter Frank Warren today announced contracts for a fight between WBO #3 Zach Parker (22-0, 16KO) and WBO #4 John Ryder (31-5, 17KO) have been signed, with the event set to take place towards the end of November, likely to be Saturday 26th.
The contest is also likely to be scheduled over 12 rounds for the WBO Interim super-middleweight title, which will inevitably be broadcast on BT Sport.
Demetrius Andrade (31-0, 19KO) was meant to be Parker's next opponent but the Derbyshire man was unfortunate to see that fight fall through twice within five months.
The two were due to meet on May 21 in Derby, only for Andrade to suffer a shoulder injury which forced him to withdraw. The 34-year-old southpaw and former two-division titlist from Providence, Rhode Island was due to make $1,192,132.50, his entitled 65 percent cut of the $1,834,050 purse bid posted by Queensberry Promotions to secure the rights to the fight.
But then the American's pay was greatly reduced by more than 80 percent following the result of the purse bid for the reordered interim title fight earlier this month. Queensberry posted just $305,000 as the lone bidder, with plans to stage the fight on November 5 in the UK. Andrade, who’d already vacated his WBO middleweight title just to revisit the Parker fight, was entitled to 60 percent per purse bid terms, leaving him with a unworthy $183,000 payday which he declined in removing himself from the mix.
So, now Matchroom Boxing's Ryder steps up to the mark.
The 34-year-old southpaw from Islington, was considered unlucky to be denied a unanimous decision defeat to then-unbeaten Callum Smith in their November 2019 WBA super middleweight title fight.
'The Gorilla' has since won three in a row, including a narrow split decision win over former middleweight titlist Daniel Jacobs on February 12 at Alexandra Palace in North London.
A domestic dust-up between Parker and Ryder is considered as one of the best fights between any UK contenders that could be made right now, which is a welcome relief to disgruntled sports fans who have had to endure the collapse of Chris Eubank Jr. vs Conor Benn in the past week.
Fans reacted to the fight news with delight, "Worth the wait, cracking fight!", said on Twitter user. Another predicted, "This is going to be some fight. I think Parker will win this within 7 rounds."
Not everyone thinks Parker will win, however, "Fantastic fight. This more of what we want to see. Ryder stoppage, imo."
