Ryan Walsh: record, next fight and profile →
Jazza Dickens insists that he "didn't really know what to say" after testing positive for COVID-19. The former British super-bantamweight champion was set to compete in the final of the MTK Global-promoted Golden Contract tournament at featherweight last Wednesday -- but it was revealed that the Liverpudlian had contracted the virus which is currently causing a global pandemic.
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic continues to impact the long-ago set featherweight clash between James 'Jazza' Dickens and Ryan Walsh. This time around, the infectious disease has directly affected the MTK Global-branded Golden Contract featherweight final, which was due to headline Wednesday evening from Production Park Studios in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England. Liverpool's Dickens was forced to withdraw from his anticipated clash with Walsh after testing positive for COVID-19, as did his head trainer and former world title challenger Derry Mathews. As a result, their bout has been indefinitely postponed, with Dickens and his team forced to leave the fight bubble.
Ryan Walsh knows that his upcoming fight with Jazza Dickens could make or break his career ahead of their Golden Contract featherweight final showdown later this month. Walsh (26-2-2, 12 KOs) and Dickens (29-3, 11 KOs) meet on a big card on September 30, which will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports in association with Matchroom Boxing, and live in the US on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank.
The highly-anticipated Golden Contract finals will now take place at Production Park Studios in Wakefield on September 30. The scheduled card sees Ohara Davies face Tyrone McKenna in the super lightweight final, while Ryan Walsh takes on Jazza Dickens in the featherweight final.
While some fighters may struggle with the prospect of fighting in front of no fans, Jazza Dickens feels some of his past fights experiencing that scenario makes him more than ready for his #GoldenContract featherweight final with Ryan Walsh.
The Golden Contract tournament will hold its super lightweight and featherweight finals on September 30 at York Hall in London. The behind closed doors event sees bitter rivals Ohara Davies and Tyrone McKenna meet in the super lightweight final, while Ryan Walsh clashes with Jazza Dickens in the featherweight final.
MTK Global is aiming to stage their first show in the UK since the coronavirus pandemic next month, with the Golden Contract super-lightweight and featherweight finals likely to go ahead on the same show in late August.
Undefeated Olympian Michael Conlan is hoping that his next fight will be a shot at the world featherweight title. There is talk that Stevenson may vacate his WBO world title to move up in weight. If Stevenson vacates, Conlan - as the number one contender - would get an immediate crack at the title.
151-6-7 - that's the staggering combined record of Ryan Walsh's last ten opponents, six of whom were undefeated. Without going through the entirety of Boxrec, I doubt anyone has been in with that high-level of competition so consistently. The British featherweight champion, reigning since 2015, embraces the challenge of facing the best that he possibly can.
