BcB's female boxer Kirstie Bavington took on Matchroom's newest hot prospect and former amateur World Championship and Commonwealth medallist Sandy Ryan on her debut. The fight was going to kick off the first Matchroom Fight Camp of the year at Matchroom’s headquarters now known as Matchroom Square Garden (31.7.21). It was scheduled for 6 two-minute rounds in the super lightweight division. Both fighters weighed in 10 stone 4 the day before the fight.
Bavington (28) from Wolverhampton took the fight at short notice and had not fought since February of 2020 when she got a draw against Vaida Masiokaite. Ryan (27) from Derby has had an excellent amateur career winning gold in the Commonwealth Games 2018 and claiming the silver medal in the 2014 world championships.
Bavington poured on the pressure from the first bell in a scrappy start to the first round, as the round settled down Ryan got some good shots off to win the round. Bavington continued to hunt Ryan down in the second who was moving well, Ryan again won the round with some eye-catching shots. Ryan seemed to have got into her groove in the third as she picked her shots well and controlled the round, Bavington continued to press but it was Ryan's round.
Ryan showed great shot picking in the fourth as she picked Bavington off with some very slick shots, Bavington seemed to tire but continued to press. Ryan moved well around the ring in the fifth as she picked off Bavington with slick and composed shots. Bavington rolled the dice in the final round as she poured on the pressure leaving it all in the ring. Ryan showed her quality and banged in some heavy shots winning the round and the fight.
The referee Mark Bates scored it 60 to 54 Ryan, I had it the same.
Dexter’s Thought’s
First of all, it was great to see Kirstie back in the ring after a long layoff due to the lockdowns. Bav was always going to be up against it taking on the very accomplished amateur Sandy Ryan on her pro debut. Bavington pressured and pressed Ryan all the way and I got to say made the debutant work for all six rounds and she had to show her class to see Bav off. Kirstie and her team will learn a lot from this fight and the experience of fighting on a really big show and I’m sure Bav will be back real soon as the small hall shows to come back. I look forward to seeing her in the ring real soon.