Boxer Ryan Davies, who has joined the thriving Blackpool fight scene after a foray in the unlicensed arena, admits ‘going legit’ has been a culture shock but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Davies was British unlicensed champion at light-middleweight and welterweight before deciding to go for his British Boxing Board of Control license and try and make a go of his new career.
So far he has won twice and will have his third bout on Friday night at the Urban Village Resort in Blackpool.
The personable young boxer said: “I feel like I have a lot to prove and at 27 I don’t have a lot of time to do it, so this is my big year.
“It was tough fighting under EBF rules. There are some hard lads and you box in front of some hostile crowds, but it’s good experience. There are some talented kids boxing unlicensed and I fought lads who were good enough to get to the ABA finals.
“The guys who fight at that level are tough but maybe their work ethic is not the best – that’s the big difference. You have to be a lot fitter as a professional and take it a lot more seriously.
“You can’t take anyone lightly. Even low-ranking lads can box and you have to be prepared for that.”
Davies’ third fight as a pro in Blackpool will be against Yorkshireman Danny Little.
Little is no mug, having shared a ring with unbeaten British lightweight champion Terry Flanagan, losing to a fifth round stoppage.
Ryan, who fights under the ring name RP Davies to avoid confusion with a pro sharing the same name, has been hard at work for his first six-rounder including a productive session at Anthony Farnell’s gym in Manchester.
Sparring has included a workout with Liam Conroy, who competes in the middleweight Prizefighter in Blackpool a fortnight tonight, while Davies has also swapped punches in the gym with Kirkham’s Adam Little and Ryan Hardy, who recently fought for the Central Area title. Little won on points to annexe the welterweight title.
Source: Steve Simpson, Blackpool Gazette (31st January 2015)