John Ryder announces retirement from boxing
Islington’s John Ryder hangs up his gloves but aims to carry on in boxing as a coach
British boxing favourite John “The Gorilla” Ryder officially announced his retirement from boxing on the evening of February 6.
John Ryder first turned pro 14 years ago in 2010, debuting at the York Hall with a first-round knockout, announcing his arrival in the paid game in style by taking just 90 seconds to get off the mark.In his antepenultimate fight, he won the WBO interim super-middleweight title which propelled him into the biggest fight of his career with Mexican megastar Canelo Alvarez.
Despite never winning a world title, the 35-year-old is proud of his achievements and thankful to the sport that saw him go from performing in front of 1,200 fans at York Hall to over 50,000 in a stadium in Mexico.
The news was somewhat to be expected after he suffered his most recent loss to Jaime Munguai on January 27, which was his seventh career reversal and first time falling to back to back defeats.
His official statement read, “It is with a heavy heart that I have come to the decision to hang up my gloves and retire from professional boxing.
“I’ve been absolutely blessed to have the most amazing career over the past 14 years. Starting in Bethnal Green in 2010 and ending in Phoenix, Arizona.
“I’ve been lucky enough to box everywhere from the 02 Arena, T-Mobile in Vegas, Alexandra Palace, Manchester Arena to Guadalajara in Mexico. For a boy from Islington, it’s been some run.
“Although I didn’t manage to win that world title, I’ve achieved and experienced more than I could ever have imagined when I first put on a pair of boxing gloves and I wouldn’t change that for any belt.
“I’d like to thank the whole team and Matchroom, especially Eddie, Barry and Frank. My trainer and manager Tony and Charlie Sims and my S&C coach Dan Lawrence for their constant support.
“And of course, my loving family, my partner Nancy, kids Heidi and Brody, who have given me the strongest ‘why’ possible over the last decade in this sport. I’m so blessed to have you all in my corner.
“Finally, although my professional career as a boxer is now over, the sport won’t be able to get rid of me that easily and I look forward to officially starting my new career as a coach working alongside Tony at the Matchroom Gym very shortly. There’s no place like home.”
