Jesse Ryder and Mark Watson in action during their boxing
bout at Sky City Convention Centre in July. (Photo by
Sandra Mu/Getty Images)
Jesse Ryder is interested in fighting former England
cricket star Andrew Flintoff but any boxing bout next year
would have to occur outside the cricket season.
Ryder, plundering domestic bowling attacks for Wellington
after making himself unavailable for New Zealand for personal
reasons, wants a new challenge after his demolition of radio
host Mark Watson in a charity fight this year and Flintoff
would certainly provide that.
Flintoff, who retired from cricket three years ago, recently
beat American professional Richard Dawson in Manchester on
points over four two-minute rounds.
Duco Events director David Higgins confirmed talks had begun
with Ryder about a fight which would probably occur on the
undercard of a professional match-up featuring the likes of
Joseph Parker or David Tua.
Higgins said a fight between Ryder and Flintoff could
coincide with England's cricket tour of New Zealand in
February and March. However, the player's manager Aaron Klee
said: "It would have to fit into a window that didn't have
cricket on because he couldn't do both, particularly if he
was playing for the Black Caps, but we haven't made that
decision yet."
Another prospective opponent is Quade Cooper, the Wallabies
first-five who will fight on the Sonny Bill Williams v
Francois Botha undercard in February. However, Cooper's
manager Khoder Nasser is unlikely to agree to a Ryder
match-up.
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