Griffiths stays sharp as big things beckon

Griffiths nails Fitzmaurice with a left hook. Picture: Manjit Narotra/BCB

RYAN Griffiths entered his late notice appearance at Dudley Town Hall pledging to prove a point.

Fighting in front of hometown fans on Friday, the Midlands featherweight champ wanted to show what he could really do following a drawn title defence in his last outing.

That didn’t happen. In all honesty, it couldn’t happen. Griffiths took the fight with Liam Fitzmaurice at a week’s notice, was 11 pounds over the featherweight limit and the bout on BCB’s bill was only a four rounder.

That isn’t the formula for a vintage display by a very, very good boxer.

This was very much a mark-time engagement, with Ryan never needing to press down hard on the pedal. Tyldesley’s Fitzmaurice, who has now lost all 12 pro contests, even took a round on referee Chris Dean’s 39-37 card – without doubt the last when he pushed forward  and threw right hands.

“I took this at a week’s notice,” 24-year-old Griffiths said. “Give me eight weeks and I’ll show you what I’m made of.”

To his credit, Fitzmaurice (9st 9lbs) fought with spirt but lacked the finesse to trouble experience Griffiths.

Ryan (9st 11lbs) planted sweet left leads to the body in the first, then harpooned Fitzmaurice with rights to the ribs as the visitor attempted to battle back in the second.

The Black Country champ worked Fitzmaurice’s midsection with both hands in the third, only for his opponent to trade in the last.

2026 should be a very significant year for Griffiths. Friday’s outing was not a significant fight, only a sharpener for much greater tests.