Another Ryan aims high in boxing ring
Matthew Ryan is the last in a long line of talented boxing brothers.
His 20-year-old brother Stephen is the reigning Ontario senior champion at 60 kilograms, 18-year-old sibling Gerard won the Ontario Youth championship last year, and 21-year-old brother Daniel has also had an impressive amateur boxing career.
“We work really hard,” said 15-year-old Matthew, who, along with his brothers, will be competing in this week’s provincial championships at the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls.
All the siblings train at the St. Catharines Amateur Boxing Club and at home.
“We have a bag at home and every extra minute we get, we are doing stuff like that,” the Grade 10 student at Holy Cross Secondary School said.
Matthew has learned plenty from his older brothers.
“After I have finished a fight or sparring, they teach me some of their moves and they give me advice,” he said.
Matthew has been fighting for three or four years with a one-year break in between. He won an Ontario title three years ago and is expected to do well again competing in the Cadet C Open 60-kilogram division.
“He is going to do fantastic,” SCABC coach John Robertson said. “He is an outstanding fighter and he is similar to his brother Stephen. He has quick hands and quick feet.
“I think he is going to win gold and go to nationals and win that also.”
Matthew has high expectations heading into the provincial championships.
“For sure I am confident and I think I will win,” he said. “I am confident because of my experience and because I have trained hard.”
He hasn’t thought about any long-term goals for boxing.
“Right now, I am just focusing on winning the Ontarios and going to nationals and doing well there,” he said. “I haven’t thought about a future in boxing.”
Matthew trains four days a week at the club and he has a passion for the sport.
“I like the competitiveness of it and fighting has always been a thing in our family,” he said
Other St. Catharines Amateur Boxing Club members competing in the provincial championships are Sean Hughes, Cadet B novice 38-40 kilograms; Chris Hughes, Cadet B novice 50-52 kilograms; Stephen Ryan, Elite Open 60 kilograms; Gerry Ryan, Elite Open 64 kilograms; James Hughes, Elite Open 69 kilograms; Dan Ryan, Elite Open 69 kilograms; Dennis Steingart, Elite Open 75 kilograms; and, Karli McCabe, Elite Novice 60 kilograms.
The boxing championships start Thursday at 7 p.m. and continues Friday and Saturday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. The event wraps up Sunday starting at noon.
