Charlie Ryder finally ready for pro debut after long delay

Ryder ready to rumble

After a longer wait than anticipated, local boxing prospect Charlie Ryder is finally set to make his professional debut this Saturday night at the Riviera International Centre in Torquay. The 21-year-old will step through the ropes for the first time, bringing an end to a period of patient development.

Ryder was initially slated to fight last September, but a show postponement forced him to bide his time. "I stayed in the gym; boxing is my outlet. It's the first sport I really stuck with and did well at," Ryder explained. "Even though it has been a very stop-start life in the pros, I have used the time to harness my skills and develop. I was able to slow things down and work on adjusting my amateur style to one of a pro, and now I'm excited to get in there and get started."

The extended wait, while challenging, has evidently fueled Ryder's determination. "When you are training month after month without knowing an exact fight date, it's tough, and you start to lose a bit of love, but now I have my medicals clear, and I almost don't care who I am in with; I just want to put on the best show possible."

Ryder will be part of a stacked card headlined by his stablemate Ben Andrews. The event, dubbed "Clash on the Coast 2", also features an impressive lineup including former British middleweight champion Brad Pauls, current Celtic light heavyweight champion Aaron Bird, Southern Area super middleweight champion Sam Smith, and the experienced Kristine Shergold.

“It's a much bigger show this time around," Ryder noted, clearly enthusiastic about the platform. "I've loved watching Brad; his fights with Heaney were great, and the calibre of boxers on this card is really high, so I need to make sure I set the tone, as I will be on early in the night." He added, "I train with Ben Andrews, and I get to see him up close every day. There are some big names on this one, but it just means I have a bigger platform to perform on.”

Training at Seven Hills ABC under coach and former boxer Gareth Hogg, Ryder transitioned to boxing after initially exploring martial arts. With twenty-eight amateur bouts under his belt, he made the decision to join the paid ranks, a move supported by his strong relationship with Hogg and the gym team.

“We have some really good amateurs in the gym – some are aggressive, some are more technical – so sparring them has been great preparation, as well as the technical rounds with Ben Andrews," Ryder said. "He is a lot heavier than me, but it's ideal to be in with someone like him, and we both listen to Gareth and take in as much of his wisdom as we can. After this fight, I want to get out and spar in other gyms and just keep building up my experience.”

While currently working part-time, Ryder has his sights set on a full-time professional career. "At this stage it would be hard to be a full-time professional, but that's definitely the aim, and it's down to me to show people that I am good enough and worth investing in. I want to be a busy, active fighter and get my name out there, and that starts Saturday night."

Tickets for Clash on the Coast 2 are available now, priced at £45 for general admission and £80 for VIP. They can be purchased directly from the boxers or by emailing info@bcb-promotions.com.