Ricky Boylan is demanding a rematch after slipping to a first career defeat in a English light-welterweight title clash with Tyler Goodjohn at London’s O2 Arena.
Easily the fight-of the-night, the momentum changed every few rounds but ‘Pretty’ Ricky just came up short over the ten rounds.
Carshalton’s Boylan, 26, earned a 96-96 draw on judge Marcus McDonnell’s scorecard, but Ian John-Lewis and Richie Davies both scored the bout 96-94 for Goodjohn.
The fight served as chief support for Lee Selby’s final eliminator for the IBF featherweight title and Olympic gold medallist Anthony Joshua’s first title shot for the vacant WBC International heavyweight strap.
“Without a doubt, you know. You just heard the scorecards there, it was really close. I knew it was close in there,” said Boylan, who slips to a career 12-1 record.
“The last few rounds, from about six onwards, I was fine fitness-wise. I was flying, I just couldn’t get my shots off as well as I should have.
“It was frustrating. When Tyler was moving, I couldn’t get my shots off. My trainers just said they were happy with me, but I didn’t do as well as I should have.
“All respect to Tyler Goodjohn, he’s English champion now and I wish him all the best in the future. I’m gutted, but it’s boxing.”
Respect to @tornadotyler tonight – great close fight, I wish him all the best in the future, I’ll be back & I’ll learn so from that!x
— Ricky Boylan (@Rickyboylan1) October 11, 2014
The clash, which had been simmering over social media in the build-up, did not take too long to catch fire, with Goodjohn rocking Boylan with three heavy shots at the end of the first round.
“The last few rounds, from about six onwards, I was fine fitness-wise. I was flying, I just couldn’t get my shots off as well as I should have.” – Ricky Boylan
The second continued in the same vein, Boylan showing no fear coming forward and clearly having success with body assaults, but still leaving himself wide open to heavy single shots in return.
The south west London boxer took a hold in the contest in the third, again producing great work to the body when Goodjohn backed up to the ropes.
The tone of the contest seemed to have been set by this point. The winner would either be Boylan’s chin or Goodjohn’s body.
Boylan seemed to take the fourth with a better work-rate, but Goodjohn showed better technique to take the fifth.
Again the momentum switched in rounds six and seven, when Goodjohn started fighting on the back foot after sustaining a cut above the right eye, and Boylan increased the tempo with numerous assaults to the body.
Goodjohn looked to take the eighth and ninth rounds by picking Boylan off at range, while also showing the judges that he could win in the centre of the ring by landing heavy shots to close out round nine.
In the final round, Boylan came out looking for the stoppage he needed to win, but Goodjohn again fought intelligently from distance to close out the victory.
“I’m absolutely over the moon. Ricky’s a strong kid. I don’t want to stand there and have a fight with him, so I switched it back to boxing and that’s what won the fight,” said Goodjohn.
