By Terence Dooley
Eddie Hearn of Matchroom has won the purse bids for John Ryder against Nick Blackwell for the British middleweight title. Hearn Tweeted the news earlier today.
The fight will be added to the promoter’s burgeoning May 30 bill at London’s O2 Arena, which also features Kevin Mitchell's WBC world lightweight challenge to Jorge Linares and Evgeny Gradovich's IBF featherweight title defence against Lee Selby, with Anthony Joshua versus Kevin Johnson and a host of other supporting contests.
With rumours circuklating of an all-British showdown between IBF welterweight holder Kell Brook and promotional stablemate Frankie Gavin it is shaping up into a very healthy show.
Ryder, 20-1 (12), lost on points to Billy joe Saunders in his last title attempt. Blackwell, 16-3-1 (6), dropped a decision to Saunders, too, when going for the British and Commonwealth titles. However, both have been in fine form since and should produce a fireworks filled fight to decide who will rule the domestic middleweight roost.
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