Griffiths in disbelief over TV points loss

Ryan Griffiths….”I outboxed the boxer.” Stock image: Manjit Narotra/BCB

TWO days after the battle, the disbelief bordering on shock was still audible in Black Country warrior Ryan Griffiths’ voice.

He’s not alone. There are good judges who believe the Midlands featherweight champ deserved the decision over Hull prospect Codie Smith after eight rounds at London’s Copper Box Arena.

You didn’t even have to be a good judge to believe Amy Pu’s 78-72 was exceedingly generous to Codie, now unbeaten in 11. That’s taking into account the point deducted from Ryan for bundling his opponent to the floor.

I felt Dudley’s Griffiths was too rugged, too experienced in trench warfare for the 22-year-old and had him edging the encounter. In a sense, he “old-manned” Smith.

The positive is, a healthy TV audience watched what Griffiths brings to the table. Sympathy doesn’t change scorecards, but it swells support.

“There’s nothing I can do,” 25-year-old Griffiths shrugged. “I can scream, have a tantrum – it’s not going to change the decision. It was a bit ironic, the boxer getting outboxed.

“When they announced 78-72, I looked at Errol (BCB boss Errol Johnson), he looked at me, we both smiled because we both thought, ‘we’ve got this’. When they said ‘…and still undefeated’, I was hit by utter disbelief.”

The showing underlined what a tough, well rounded pro Griffiths has become from white collar beginnings. In a 14 bout career, he’s had five title fights, three TV fights and, importantly, been in deep waters. As he put it: “I’ve been the 10 rounds, I’ve been cut open, I’ve had five title fights – I’ve ticked all the boxes.”

Before Griffiths, Smith hadn’t really been to the well. It showed in the contest.

Ryan said: “He was a good amateur, but I had a lot of people contact me and say, ‘if you put it on him he’s going to crumble’. In the dressing room Errol said, ‘you’ve got to put it on him early’ – that didn’t happen.

“With the first couple of jabs I bust his nose. The game plan was to rough him up, stick it on him – after those jabs the game plan was to keep it long. It was a complete reversal of roles, four times I nailed him with one-twos. In my opinion the first four rounds were mine easy.

“It’s my own fault. Me being me, I like to fight, I’m more comfortable in the phone box. I let him get the better of me in the phone box.”

Ryan says the night has underlined the need to approach weight-making differently : “Five, six weeks ago, Errol said, ‘I’ve got a fight’  - it’s Codie Smith. He’s got eights wins, one draw, it’s very winnable. Over a  week later he told me, ‘I don’t think they want the fight’. 

“England played one of their qualifying games, I went to the pub after work, had a couple of beers, finished the night with a McDonald’s. The next day Errol said the fight’s on. I went from 10st 8lbs to 9st 5lbs in 26 days – it’s doable, it’s not my first rodeo.

“The day after the fight Errol said, you can make super-feather or feather, but because you blow up to 11st between fights you don’t use camps to full advantage, you are having fat camps. If I could stick around 10st – 10st 5lbs it will be a bit easier.”

Griffiths added: “I know my capabilities, I know I can win more titles. There is more to give and I want to give more.”