Ryder to feature on January Matchroom card in London?

By Elliot Foster

John Ryder (21-2, 12 KOs) will look to return to the domestic middleweight mix when he is back in the ring in the new year.

The former two-time British title challenger, whose most recent loss for the coveted Lonsdale belt came against Nick Blackwell at London’s O2 Arena in May, is expected to feature in the capital in the early stages of 2016.

Ryder, 27, got back to winning ways at York Hall last month, outpointing Adam Jones over six rounds, and he now looks set for an outing on a Matchroom Boxing show which is currently being built for what is believed to be January 23.

And Boxing Scene understands that the man who has also challenged for the Commonwealth crown at 160lbs will face the winner of this weekend’s British title eliminator at the Echo Arena in Liverpool between undefeated pair Tom Doran and Rod Smith.

A fight that has already been confirmed for the card is John Wayne Hibbert’s Commonwealth super lightweight title defence against 22-year-old undefeated WBA Continental titlist Tommy Martin.

Elliot Foster is part of the UK Boxing Scene team. Follow him on Twitter @FreelanceFoz