Ryder claims interim WBA belt

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John Ryder crushes Bilal Akkawy in three rounds in Las Vegas to remain in line for Callum Smith’s super-middleweight crown

Last Updated: 05/05/19 1:55am

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John Ryder earned himself a super-middleweight world title shot with a third round knockout win over Bilal Akkawy in Las Vegas.

John Ryder earned himself a super-middleweight world title shot with a third round knockout win over Bilal Akkawy in Las Vegas.

John Ryder stopped Bilal Akkawy to win the vacant interim WBA super-middleweight title.

Ryder kept himself in line for a shot at Callum Smith’s WBA ‘Super’ title after securing a third-round TKO on the undercard of Saul Alavarez-Daniel Jacobs at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

John Ryder dropped Bilal Akkawy twice in the third round John Ryder dropped Bilal Akkawy twice in the third round

John Ryder dropped Bilal Akkawy twice in the third round

After a cagey opener both fighters began to let their hands go before Londoner Ryder dropped Akkawy in the third with a right-hook counter.

Akkawy was quickly up but Ryder cornered his man and caught him again with another right hook followed by an uppercut to send him to the canvas a second time.

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John Ryder is eyeing Callum Smith’s WBA super-middleweight world title after winning a final eliminator in Las Vegas.

John Ryder is eyeing Callum Smith’s WBA super-middleweight world title after winning a final eliminator in Las Vegas.

The Australian, who was a late replacement after David Lemieux suffered a hand injury two weeks ago, made it to his feet but referee Jay Nady decided he had seen enough and waved off the fight on the 2:12 mark.

“I felt great, I was just taking my time,” said Ryder, who stopped Andrey Sirotkin in seven rounds to become the WBA’s mandatory challenger in October.

“I want to fight for a world title. I feel like I’ve served my apprenticeship, I’ve taken the highs with the lows and I want the biggest fights I can be in.”

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