Ryder vs. Khomitsky: Fringe WBA Belt Now At Stake
Dec 3, 2015 • 8:12 AM ET
By Elliot Foster
John Ryder has been handed the chance to claim a fringe title in his next fight.
The Islington middleweight, 27, was made aware of his next outing earlier this week and it has now been confirmed that the crunch clash is for a belt.
Ryder (21-2, 12 KOs) will come up against Sergey Khomitsky at the Copper Box Arena on January 30, live on Sky Sports, and the fight –– which will be for the vacant WBA International strap –– comes just eight months after he suffered his second defeat and only three after he got back to winning ways at York Hall.
He lost to Nick Blackwell at the O2 Arena in May when he unsuccessfully challenged, a second time, for the British crown at 160lbs.
Khomitsky (30-12-3, 13 KOs) has become known as something of a Brit slayer, having beaten Jamie Moore and, more spectacularly, Frank Buglioni and Adam Etches in recent years.
The 41-year-old will go into the fight on the back of a defeat to Alfonso Blanco for the interim title at the weight in October.
Elliot Foster is part of Boxing Scene's UK team. Follow him on Twitter: @FreelanceFoz
