Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
Kiwi Ryder hopes to seal heavyweight match-up
New Zealand cricketer Jesse Ryder is looking to follow-up
his successful boxing debut in June by securing a clash with former England
all-rounder Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff in 2013.
The 28 year-old, who battered radio host Mark Watson in one
round at the Sky Convention Centre in Auckland last summer in a head guard
bout, is keen to lure Flintoff for what would be a crossover scrap from the
crease to the ring.
“My people have been in touch with Freddie to
try and set up a fight," Ryder told The Independent. "I'm keen to get
in the ring again so hopefully it will be possible to try and get that on.
"Freddie looked in good shape, he had
obviously done a lot of work before his own fight. Between us we must have shed
a lot of weight."
Ryder’s manager Aaron Klee added: "From a
promoter's perspective a bout needs to be marketable, as typically a fight like
Ryder v Flintoff will be on the undercard of a professional bout. Most boxing
pundits wouldn't pay to watch but it pulls in others who wouldn't normally
watch."
Flintoff, 34. is yet to confirm that he will
don the gloves once again following his four round professional win over
Richard Dawson at the Manchester Arena in November and has since picked up an
injury that is set to quell any participation in sport for a while.