Champ Griffiths out to show fans what he’s really all about

Griffiths (right) and Maurice share a classic. Picture: Manjit Narotra/BCB

THERE was no party or pride after Midland featherweight champ Ryan Griffiths’ last title defence.

In his own words, the 24-year-old sulked and felt sorry for himself.

Many who witnessed October’s hard fought draw with Lewis Morris felt the champ lucky to gain a draw, although I saw a very close fight.

Griffiths, who has lost just one of 11, enters the ring in front of his home town fans tomorrow (Friday) burning to make a statement. On BCB’s show at Dudley Town Hall, a bill topped by former European middleweight champ Tyler Denny, Ryan intends to prove he’s much, much better than the Lewis fight portrayed.

It may only be a four rounder, made 12 pounds above the featherweight limit, taken at one week’s notice and against modest opposition – opponent Liam Fitzmaurice is yet to taste professional victory.

But the contest has taken on added significance for Dudley’s Griffiths. “It’s a four rounder back home,” he said, “and in my head I’m going to prove that last performance was an off night.”

The fight draws the curtain on a year that has been action packed and old-school busy for the Black Country warrior.

This will be Griffiths’ fifth fight. Three of those have been title fights and tough, distance ones at that.

Manager Errol Johnson has certainly provided steady paydays for his boxer.

In January Ryan got a late call to face Umar Khan for the WBC youth world title and gave the favourite a tough scrap – “that was hard because I had so little time to make the weight”. In June, he put his Midlands belt on the line against Jack Dillingham and the pair served-up a blood-splattered draw. Then came the re-match against Walsall’s Morris – a clash that had all the thrills and spills of their first meeting.

The fans loved it. Griffiths has taken little pleasure from it.

“I was moping around and feeling sorry for myself,” he said. “I thought my performance wasn’t the best – I have high expectations for myself and I didn’t think I realised them.

“Re-assessing it is in the past. More importantly, I’m focusing on my performance. It was an all-action fight, there was never a dull moment, it lived up to the expectation I’ll always be in exciting fights.

“But, for me, my performance was not what I wanted it to be. I know I can fight, I wanted to box. It didn’t really go to plan, it was an off-night, I sat and sulked.

“Usually after a fight I go out and celebrate and have some good food. There was none of that, I didn’t have the appetite to go out and enjoy myself.

“I spoke to Errol about the Dudley show and when the offer came I snapped his hand off.”

Griffiths added: “Hopefully, I’ll be getting something bigger in the new year, but right now all I want to do is put on a good performance at the Dudley show.

“I’ll fight at the weight where there’s an opportunity. If there’s an opportunity at super-feather or lightweight I’ll take it, if it’s at feather I’ll take.”