‘The Only Difference Is He Won’t Be Shouting’ – Paul Ryan’s Emotional Title Push
Paul Ryan believes he’ll have company when he makes the loneliest walk in sports this Saturday night.
The Blanchardstown native looks to become the first Irish middleweight champion since Ballyfermot’s Luke Keeler when he fights fellow Dub Peter Carr for the 160lbs green strap on JB Promotions bill in Leopardstown.
The massive fight is the former underage standout’s first since the passing of his number one supporter and main inspiration, his father.
However, just like he was for ‘Ravishing’s’ entire career, Ryan believes his Dad will be there in support in Kildare this weekend.
“My dad’s been by my side since I started boxing, when I was eight years old,” Ryan reflects.
“He’ll be there with me every step of the way. That won’t change.”
Everything surrounding the fight has remained structurally the same; it’s emotionally where things are different.
“The only thing that is different is I don’t have me dad giving out to me now,” he says with a smile. “That’s the only difference.
“The only way he goes is if you stop talking about him,” he adds. “So to keep him alive is to keep talking about him.”
The green strap is one that holds a lot of weight in Irish boxing. Many of its previous holders went on to challenge for or win world titles.
The likes of Steve Collins, Sam Storey, Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan and Keeler all used it as a positive step to the world stage. Some believe Ryan can use it to put two early career defeats behind him and do the same. However, Saturday’s title dance with ‘The Devil’ is all that is on his mind, and as such, it is his world title fight.
“This is my WBC world title,” he says. “This may as well be the green WBC belt.
“If you don’t get past this, then where are you?” he adds. “So for the time being, it’s April 4th and Peter Carr — that’s the only thing on my mind.”
The Northsider was looking toward a higher level previously, but defeat forced a mini rebuild under the guidance of JB Promotions.
Victory over former Irish teammate Edward Donovan last time out propelled him back toward the spotlight and he is enjoying its glare.
“It’s filled me with pride,” he says of topping the bill in Dublin last time out. “They showed a lot of faith in me… I think I held my side of the bargain.”
“The goal now is just to get the hand raised. You train for a 10-round war. If it becomes one, grand. But you prepare for the hard fight.”
