No honeymoon for Ryan

Oct 30 2012 By Jon Batham

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NOT EVEN his honeymoon could come between Ryan Toms and his latest big fight challenge.

The light-middleweight boxer from Hayes ABC had barely tied the know with long term partner Hayley in September when news came through of his place in the latest Prize Fighter series to be contested at the York Hall in Bethnal Green on Saturday night.

Consequently, the sands near his hotel became an impromptu gym as he prepared to face the challenge of the likes of Scots Kris Carslaw and Craig McEwan and unbeaten Rotherham hope Navid Mansouri.

He said: "I ended up having to hack up and down the beach early in the morning while Hayley and the boys (Frankie and Georgie) were still in bed, but what can you do."

Once home, the 31-year-old army man found a new sparring partner in Mark Douglas for sessions more intense than those prior to his defeat at the hands of Erik Ochieng for the English title earlier in the year.

Toms says these sessions have prepared him for what will be a throw back to his successful if short Amateur career in the 3x3 minute round format.

He said: "On reflection I don't think the sparring for the Ochieng fight was hard enough as I wasn't really pushed and I was having things too much my own way.

"The sessions with Mark were really full on where we would have three rounds of tear up, then get back in for three rounds of boxing and then another three of tear up. We suffered fat lips the lot.

"Consequently, I feel if I can't bomb them out - and remember nearly all my stoppage wins have come in four rounds or less - then I'll box them.

"Remember too I started as a counter puncher which is what I did in all my six amateur fights, so if we have to fight like that it means they will find it very hard to catch me."

The eight-man event for which the draw is made on Friday, means the roofer by trade will have to win three bouts in one night if he is to raise his stock in the light-middleweight ranks once more.

Fighters are being offered a bonus £2,000 for a stoppage win, but while that appeals to the puncher in Toms he knows he may well have to box clever to emerge the overall winner.

He added: There is a thin line between knocking someone out and trying to do it. If you catch someone and they go then it's great, but if you don't succeed in getting them out of there you can have wasted a lot of energy in the process.

Toms goes into the fight with the backing of new sponsor YourIrishShop.com, suppliers of Irish food products, sporting goods and more.

Eddie O'Kane, who was ringside for Toms' defeat to Ochieng is delighted to be backing the Northolt man again.

He said:"This sponsorship has taken us directly into the sports arena for the first time.

"After Ryan won the Southern Area Light Middle weight title earlier this year, we got involved in his subsequent English title fight.

"Discussions at that time allowed for a second televised fight and we were delighted at his inclusion for the prestigious Matchroom Prize Fighter series.

"Ireland is well represented in the general boxing fan base so this is excellent exposure for our online brand."