Matt Ryan golden at provincials
Matt Ryan capped a great weekend for the St. Catharines Amateur Boxing Club by winning a gold medal Sunday in the Cadet C Open 60-kilogram division at the Ontario Golden Gloves provincial championships in Niagara Falls.
The 15-year-old St. Catharines native gave Top Gloves’ Patrick Martin a standing eight count in the final round on the way to an unanimous decision.
Matt’s gold pushed the St. Catharines Boxing Club’s medal haul at the provincial championships to four golds, one silver and two bronze medals. The Grade 10 student at Holy Cross now advances to the Canadian championships next April in British Columbia.
“It was an amazing weekend,” St. Catharines coach Joe Corrigan said.
Other St. Catharines gold medalists included: Sean Hughes in the Cadet B novice 38-40-kilogram division; Chris Hughes in the Cadet B novice 50-52-kilogram division; and, Karli McCabe, in the Elite Novice 60-kilogram division.
Matt Ryan’s victory gave him his second provincial championship after winning his first three or four years ago.
“I worked really hard for it and it feels pretty good,” he said.
Matt dominated his opponent in the final.
“He was tall and thin so I decided I need to move away from his punches,” he said. “I was faster than him and more experienced.”
Despite the Ryan family bringing home three provincial medals, there were no plans for a celebration Sunday night.
“It’s not over yet,” Matt said. “The Canadians is the main goal.”
He plans to work hard to attain that goal.
“I have to get a lot of fights before nationals and get in good shape.”
St. Catharines coach Paul Zahra loved what he saw from Matt Sunday.
“Matthew fought his fight today,” he said. “He did really well and used his movement. He is a great mover and he was connecting with his punches.”
Matt was able to overcome a technical fighter who liked to wrestle.
“He stuck to his game plan and did an awesome job,” Zahra said.
Competing on Sunday, Matt looked like a polished fighter.
“That goes to the sparring he gets,” Zahra said. “We probably have some of the best sparring in the area.
“We have a bunch of Canadian champions and a bunch of fighters who come spar with us and that really helps our fighters develop even before they get in the ring.”
Stephen Ryan, competing in the Elite Open 60 kilograms, won his first two fights and lost a split decision in the final. His silver medal earned him a trip the nationals championships, where he is the reigning silver medalist.
Gerry Ryan, fighting in the Elite Open 64-kilogram division, won his first two fights and then lost by split decision to end up with the bronze medal.
Dan Ryan, taking part in the Elite Open 69-kilogram division, won his first fight and then lost a split decision.
Dennis Steingart, boxing in the Elite Open 75-kilogram division, won his first fight and then lost his next fight to the eventual champion.
And James Hughes, the 2018 Canadian youth champion, lost his first fight in the Elite Open 69-kilogram division.
