Griffiths lands fight for the English title

Ryan Griffiths…old-school Black Country warrior. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB

DUDLEY warrior Ryan Griffiths has bagged a shot at the English featherweight title.

And the tough, likeable Midlands champ has described the news as a “pinch me” moment.

It also illustrates the sudden highs and lows of top level boxing.

Griffiths was to have faced red hot prospect Nelson Birchall on Queensberry’s huge January 24 show at Co-Op Arena Live, Manchester, only for the event to be postponed. An injury to headliner Moses Itauma forced the bill to be rescheduled for March 28. “I felt physically sick when I got the news,” 24-year-old Griffiths admitted.

Then came the good news. The fight would definitely take place on March 28, this time with the vacant English belt on the line.

“I’m absolutely buzzing,” Ryan, who took part in three title fights last year, said. “When Errol (BCB Promotions boss Errol Johnson) told me, my grin was from ear to ear – it was a ‘pinch me’ moment.

“I came from white collar and now I’m going to be on one of the biggest promotions in the world.”

It’s just reward for a man who has established himself as a real old school scrapper. He emerged from nowhere to take the Midlands title in a breath-taking battle with Lewis Morris in 2024.

Last year he fought well against Umar Khan for the WBC youth belt – Ryan’s only defeat in 11 bouts – and drew with Jack Dillingham and Lewis in Midlands title defences.

Now comes the big one, now comes Griffiths’ hardest test to date. He’ll start a prohibitive underdog against Morecambe’s Birchall, a superb amateur who has won all 10 professional fights, seven inside the distance.

He’s coming off a fifth round stoppage, registered only last week. Before that, he notched-up three successive first round victories. He is being prepared for big things by Frank Warren.

Let’s be honest, no one outside the Black Country gives Ryan a prayer – and that’s the way he likes it. But those doubters forget this, too, is Birchall’s hardest test after a fairly easy professional ride.

They forget Griffiths has ticked boxes Birchall has yet to tick.

“The pressure is all on Nelson,” Griffiths stressed. “He’s young – he’s 21, he’s never been 10 rounds, I’m not sure if he’s made featherweight. He’s the prospect, the wonderkid, if you like.”

Griffiths has made the nine stone limit four times and fought three 10 rounders.

He said: “The pressure is not on me and this is too big an opportunity for a slip-up. It’s too huge an opportunity to waste, too huge to make mistakes, so I’m going to make sure everything is on point. You want to be that little bit sharper, a little more on point.

“He might be laying shots on me, but he’ll get shots laying back on him. If he throws shots at me, he’s going to get shots back.”

We know what Griffiths is – brave, uncompromising, resilient and blessed with a good engine. On March 28 we’ll find out what Birchall is.

If he’s not what those around him say he is, Nelson’s in for a very uncomfortable evening.