By Brendan Galbraith – Lurgan Light Middleweight, Ryan Green made his pro debut in the penultimate bout before the main event of Wilton-Mustafov and the packed house were treated to an explosive all-action duel – that was easily ‘fight of the night’. Green, who won Ulster Senior and Ulster Intermediate Titles as an amateur, faced a tough challenger in 6ft 2” Lincolnshire man Ryan Clarke – who turned out to be a tough and durable opponent and belied his (1-10) record.
In front of a packed house at The Holiday Inn, Belfast, Green entered the ring to deafening support from his large legion of supporters looking tense, but braced for battle.. From the first bell, there were no mistaking Green’s bad intentions as he surged forward with an array of head and body combos. Within the first minute Green forced Clark onto the ropes and whipped in a flurry of satanic blows to the midriff.
Clark, who was dressed in flashy attire including sparkly boots and shorts emblazoned with the words “never back down” was hit with big left hand that sent him through the ropes and almost off the ring apron onto the laps of BBBoC officials. Remarkably, Clark got up and appeared to be on strong legs and fresh for battle. In the ensuing exchanges, Green attempted to force the stoppage but rangy boxer Clark countered well with right hands and remained strong – seeing out the round. 10-8 round to Green on my card.
In the second stanza, to the delight of the appreciative and excited crowd, toe-to-toe proceedings resumed with both men getting through with solid clean shots. Midway through the second, the first signs of wear and tear appeared on the face of Clark in the form of a bloody nose. The last 20 seconds of the round were non-stop trading of punches with Green getting through with more accurate headshots. The referee, Paul McCullough had to separate both men as they either did not hear the bell or did not want to be parted from one another! Green’s round.
In the third round, Green’s high-pressure work lessened and he began to box more, dancing around the ring and darting in and out of range with one-two raids. Clark, sensing that he had to try and make amends for his disastrous first round, tried to take the fight to Green and had moderate success. Green finished round with good scoring right head and body shots. Even round.
In the final round, Green showed signs of tiring and sensibly boxed well on the back foot, making full use of the ring. Clark tried to cut off the ring and impose himself on Green but had moderate success, although he did enough to take the round. On my card, Green was a clear winner of 39-36.
Referee, Paul McCullough raised Green’s arm after the final bell – awarding the Lurgan man a 38-37 debut win. Green’s bow to the pro ranks was easily the fight of the night and if further evidence was needed both fighters left the ring to rapturous applause and a standing ovation from the full house.
Ryan Green on his pro debut and his training camp
Earlier today I had a quick chat with Green about his debut win.
Green’s main trainer is ex-pro fighter, the experienced Damien Denny (18-4) who won four Irish Titles and, as Green pointed out to me, also featured in the Daniel Day Lewis movie ‘The Boxer’. Green is also trained by Frank Denny (Damien’s brother) and is assisted with his strength and conditioning work by Shane McConville and Gary McConville in The Millennium Gym in Lurgan.
Green, who counts Oscar De La Hoya and Roberto Duran as his boxing idols, was clearly pleased to commence his pro career with a win against a tough and durable opponent:
“He started off on the back foot then he got caught with the left hand and went through the ropes. Then, I sort of lost my cool and went in to finish him, but he was still strong, his legs were still strong, I didn’t have the firepower to take him as I think he was too fresh. So I just decided to coast and try and win on points. I hit him with a couple of good shots and he took them very well.”
During the fight the ref cautioned Clark for talking in the ring, I asked Green what was said:
“I don’t know. I don’t know what he said – the crowd was going nuts!”
At present, Ryan, has his own gym at the back of his house – which is a spacious, extended shed:
“Quite a lot of people from around the country, Lurgan, come out and use the gym, it doesn’t cost them nothing to come and use it – a lot of footballers. And then they come out and follow me too. I sold 150 tickets last night – so I am pretty pleased.”
Ryan was good ticket seller in his amateur days too – when he boxed for the Dockers Club he attracted a large travelling support.
As far as the immediate future goes, Ryan said:
“I don’t know. I am with Alio at the moment and he will get back to me. I want to get back to fight in June or July”.
If anyone is looking a crowd-pleasing, explosive punch-boxer, whom can shift tickets then give Lurgan Light Middleweight, Ryan Green a call? Messer’s Maloney, Peters, Hearn et al – over to you….