Woolridge aiming to show nasty side as he trains for the title
Ryan Woolridge…Midlands title opportunity. Picture: Manjit Narotra/BCB
TRAINERS Pete Hickenbottom and Dan Hodson are on a mission to make their fighter nastier.
They want extra spite from Ryan Woolridge as he prepares to face Kings Heath’s Hamza Azeem in an all southpaw clash for the vacant Midlands light-middleweight title. No date or venue has been announced, but there’s rumours BCB will stage the 10 rounder on October 17 at Aldersley Stadium, Wolverhampton.
The move to give the Bloxwich 25-year-old more of an edge is understandable: Ryan is one of the nicest, most laid back boxers on the block.
And what he possesses has, to date, worked like a dream. A product of Hickenbottom’s Great Wyrley gym from the very beginning, he turned pro without fanfare in 2021 and has peeled off 14 straight wins.
“No one is more surprised than me,” Hickenbottom said of Woolridge’s progress. “He’s been a pro for five years and a good pro. He’s got maturity now and on the pads you can really feel the power.
“He’s 14-0 and hasn’t done a lot wrong. He’s put some journeymen on the floor who don’t go over easily. He’s an electrician who has work coming out of his ears, yet he runs 8-9 miles in the morning, then down at the gym at night, he’s stopped in the gym, he’s very, very dedicated. When he spars, it doesn’t always bring it all out of him – I think, ‘there’s so much more’.”
That’s where the extra nastiness comes in.
Frankly, I’m surprised Woolridge, very tall for the weight, can still make 11st. There was talk of him moving up to middle, but Hickenbottom stressed this week: “He’s only 12st now and he’s still got a lot to lose. He’ll do the weight easy.”
In Hamza, Ryan faces possibly his biggest test, a 26-year-who has improved immensely since his debut. He showed his mettle by lasting the distance with world class Australian puncher Dylan Biggs in Riyadh, last month he went 10 rounds with IBO Continental champ Eithan James. Those are the only two losses on an 11 bout record.
“I think Hamza’s a tough lad,” Hickenbottom admitted. “If you let him box, he’s a tricky southpaw. We’re looking forward to it, Ryan’s training to enjoy the fight. It’s not going to be a pushover because Hamza’s a good pro himself, it’s not a ‘gimme’ fight by any means. I think it’s a very winnable fight, but we’re not going to take anything for granted. I know one thing – half of Bloxwich will be there to watch it.”
Woolridge has a very big fanbase.
He and Hickenbottom have a close working relationship: so close, the trainer maintains when Ryan packs it in, he’ll pack it in.
Hickenbottom said: “I’ll be as proud as punch if Ryan wins, I’ll be made up and if he wins it can lead to other things. He was an overweight 12-year-old when he first walked in the gym and I noticed him because he was wearing a Walsall top.
He added with a laugh: “I support the team, he’s a season-ticket holder. That probably means he’s taken more punches to the head than I have.”