Zach Parker vs John Ryder Prediction | Odds | Preview | Tips

Fight Preview

Britons Zach Parker (22-0, 16KO) and John Ryder (31-5, 17KO) will clash for WBO Interim super-middleweight title on Saturday, November 26 at the O2 Arena in London, live on BT Sport.

Once again, the experienced Ryder will occupy the away corner, something he has done many times during his 12-year career.

Now 34, Ryder is a frustrating talent for fight fans, and it’s these frustrations that has resulted in his career being defined by his defeats. A razor-thin loss to Billy Joe Saunders way back in 2013 was the closest Saunders had ever been pushed in his career until his loss to Canelo last year. Then came his most recent defeat to then-world champion Callum Smith in 2019, which every single spectator – apart from scousers – had him winning.

He has taken other losses to British level fighters such as Nicky Blackwell and Jack Arnfield, despite Ryder being so much more talented than them both. It’s been revealed since that he has struggled with the 160lbs weight limit and he has looked much more comfortable at 168lbs.

Since dropping the contentious decision to Liverpool’s ‘Mundo’, Ryder has won three on the spin, culminating in the split decision win over Daniel Jacobs at the Ally Pally in February, which many fans scored the other way to the American. Regardless of how you scored that fight, it was very close.

Parker is six years Ryder’s junior at 28. He is heavy handed and has won his last five fights by KO. He has a good jab and loves to target the body from mid-range. He is unbeaten, confident, and will head into this 23rd fight of his career as the A-Side. His trajectory has always been one way only – upwards, unlike Ryder who has faltered along the way.

One thing these two have in common is how deserving they are to get a world title shot. Granted, Ryder has already had his, but being so cruelly denied by biased scorecards means he thoroughly deserves another shot. Parker has also been cruelly denied, not by judges but by bad luck. The Derbyshire man saw two dates with Demetrius Andrade go up in smoke, but he now has a third chance to challenge for that elusive and opportunistic interim belt.

Fight Prediction

The odds for a draw are scored low eg 12/1 at William Hill so that tells you all you need to know about how close this contest could be.

Ryder’s best chance to win is to apply pressure and fight within close range. The seasoned Londoner has shared the ring with – and beaten – better calibre of opponents than Parker so he has to use his vaster experience and knowledge to full effect. He can definitely outsmart his younger man and trainer Tony Sims will inevitably provide his super-middleweight with the perfect gameplan.

Zach Parker is younger, fresher, faster, but he is sharing the ring with the highest quality of opponent he has ever faced in his career. Last time he came up against such a strong competitor, Daryll Williams, he was pushed to the limit and just about emerged with the victory via split decision.

Because of this, I am predicting the seasoned Ryder to really step up and win this fight on a close decision, possibly either mixed or split decision.

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