Griffiths weighs-up title opportunities!

Ryan Griffiths…defends Midlands belt. Picture: Manjit Narotra/BCB

RYAN Griffiths has travelled up and down the weight divisions with such regularity, it’s a wonder the man hasn’t suffered boxing’s equivalent of decompression sickness.

The Dudley prospect, an excellent, old-school box-fighter, made his debut at light-middle, has competed at light and super-light and was a welterweight for his last contest in March.

Yet it’s down at the 9st featherweight limit where Griffiths has enjoyed the greatest success – that’s two stone lighter than his first professional bout.

Last year, he made his first descent to featherweight and outpointed Lewis Morris in a small hall classic for the Midlands title.

In January he took the huge gamble of facing unbeaten, highly regarded Umar Khan for the WBC youth world title at three weeks notice. At York Hall, Bethnal Green, Griffiths boxed beyond all expectations, pushing Khan to a hard fought points decision. It may have been the first loss of a now nine fight career, but Ryan’s star rose that night.

The 24-year-old, who works at a council run leisure centre during the day, returns to nine stone next month. On BCB’s huge June 14 show at Aldersley Stadium, Wolverhampton, Griffiths puts his Midlands belt on the line against Jack Dillingham. The Heanor, Derbyshire, challenger is unbeaten in six.

Griffiths insists he is a featherweight – a huge featherweight and I believe making the limit can be no picnic for the Black Country champ. Picnics are certainly out of the question.

But he hasn’t ruled out embracing other divisions if title opportunities arise.

“It sounds a complete polar opposite,” he said, “because I’m boiling myself down to make it, but I’m still growing into the featherweight division, I’m beginning to grow into the weight. I’ve only had two fights at featherweight.

“Jack (Dillingham) has made the statement he’s the bigger puncher out of us. But he’s always fought at feather, so everyone he’s fought has been a bit smaller. For the first time, Jack is going to fight someone just as big as him. Apart from those two (title) fights, I’ve always been the smaller guy.

“I’ll go with the weight that offers opportunities. On the same (June 14) show, Brandon Bethell and Nico Ogbeide fight for the Midlands super-featherweight title. I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but if Errol (manager Errol Johnson) said, ‘what do you think of facing the winner and becoming a two-weight Midlands champion?’, it’s an opportunity. Ideally, I am a featherweight.

“I don’t really want to defend the Midlands title again after this fight because it would be, like, becoming a gatekeeper at Midlands level.

“I took the Umar Khan fight at three weeks notice and showed I can compete at that level. After it, my stock grew. That showed in my next fight in Dudley – I sold more tickets than I’ve ever sold. I’ve just got to keep the wins coming.”

The 10 rounder against Dillingham looks a potential barnstormer. “It’s a really good, entertaining fight,” Griffiths said. “I’ve had a dabble into his record and watched a few short clips on YouTube, but I haven’t looked extensively at him. My concentration is on what I can do, not what Jack can do.”