A regional title fight could be next on the cards for Gunnedah boxer Wade Ryan after his knockout win in Tamworth earlier this month.
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The Black and Blue Boxing Gym fighter is eyeing off a shot at a World Boxing Association (WBA) or International Boxing Organisation (IBO) regional title in March.
It comes after he notched his first knockout win of his 13-fight professional career.
It was also only the second time in 31 fights during a boxing career spanning 15 years, his opponent had been defeated through knockout.
Ryan downed Sydney contender Adrian Campbell to successfully defend his NSW Middleweight Title belt at the Battle in the Bush fight night.
He floored Campbell once in round six of eight scheduled and unleashed his knockout blow before the round was out.
“He was a very rangy fighter and very experienced,” Ryan said of his opponent.
“I picked up the pace, put some combinations together and landed a few good punches.”
When Ryan knocked Campbell to the canvas the first time in the sixth, he knew consolidation was key.
“I had to follow it up, that was the thing,” Ryan said.
A flurry of punches later, the local boy had his first win since March when he defeated Michael Dan for the vacant state title.
But unlike that fight, which was won in Dubbo, this was fought and won much closer to home.
“I had a lot of Gunnedah support over there [Tamworth],” he said.
“It was a like I was fighting in my home town.”
Also contesting fights that night from Gunnedah were Tony Griffiths and Mick Kleinschafer.
Both boxers lost their amateur bouts on points but offered plenty of stiff resistance.
Meanwhile Mark Sankey and Coonabarabran’s Tom Smith, who recently won a NSW amateur heavyweight title, featured in exhibition bouts.
Ryan thanked his sponsors Ross Whittaker from the CFMEU and Pete Briggs from ITC National for their support, as well as all who travelled from Gunnedah for the Tamworth fight night.