Waiting For Eubank

John Ryder agrees to Eubank Junior fight, but is made to wait. John Dennen reports

- John Dennen

JOHN RYDER has agreed to a fight with Chris Eubank Jnr. In fact he settled on the terms for the contest a month ago. It can still happen, though more likely in October rather than September. Yet Ryder’s wait for The Big Fight continues.

“I’ve agreed to everything,” Ryder tells Boxing News. “I’m just waiting to hear back on yes or no.

“I’ve had a month just waiting to see what’s what,” he continued. “I don’t know how it works with ITV. It’s obviously a massive network… It’s frustrating at times but I know the bigger the fight, the more that’s going on behind the scenes so it takes that bit longer.”

The prospect of fighting Eubank is richly appealing to him. “James DeGale was past his best [when he fought Eubank in February] but he still showed glimpses of what he had and made it awkward at times,” Ryder said. “I believe, like when you saw him [Eubank] fight Billy Joe [Saunders], he struggles with someone that moves… There are a few ways to beat him but it’s not an easy win for anyone.”

John’s trainer Tony Sims adds, “I think Eubank is an excellent fighter. Sometimes he doesn’t get the credit he deserves.”