It was two contrasting yet controversial endings as the capital played host to a Matchroom and Queensberry double header on Saturday night. 

Six years ago, Britain sat pretty with 17 world champions across 12 weight divisions. Now, the world title landscape has little leeway - eight champions are unified and three are undisputed. Of them all, only six hail from our territory. 

So, for Zach Parker and John Ryder, a huge chance to gate-crash a division sewn up tightly by Canelo Alvarez.

Boxing is, as we know, never straightforward, and hurdles would still have to be jumped for the winner to secure their date with boxing’s biggest star. However, a win would place either man in as good a position as any. 

So, to the O2 Arena, and an away corner experience for the hometown man. John Ryder has seen almost everything other than a world title belt in boxing, and a trip across the promotional divide was his next challenge on the road to achieving his dream. 

Zach Parker has the world at his feet. He’s blitzed past every challenger to date, and in a manor more destructive than many of his 168lb counterparts. With 16 KOs in 22 wins, the evidence suggests this is a mean man. 

Everything was primed for a domestic cracker… or so we thought.

Only 12 minutes into a fight bubbling into life, Zach Parker EMERGED FROM HIS CORNER to have a word with John Ryder. That word was that his busted hand was too much for him to carry on with. A BLOW TO HIS HOPES and a blow to those inside the O2. 

What we did have in those four rounds was a frantically paced back-and-forth in which both men showed their strengths. Zach worked the body, and John got inside. It was scrappy in places, but it was entertaining. 

However, it was a night that will swiftly be forgotten in the boxing archives. For John Ryder, not his best win on paper, but his biggest in terms of reward. It may be a win he himself sees as UNJUSTIFIED, but after that night in Liverpool, who can begrudge him anything? 

From east to west, as Wembley Arena hosted the ring return of Dillian Whyte for his battle with American Jermaine Franklin. The two countries had already produced something spectacularly dull with Friday night’s World Cup 0-0; this just had to be better.

But it was a slow start from Whyte, who spent the opening period assessing Franklin rather than showing any signs of intent. The ‘feeling out’ process of a fight can sometimes be intriguing to those with a boxing eye, however this felt slow and lethargic. 

Some neat work from Franklin wrapped up the third, and in the fourth he landed a big reaching right. Whyte stepped up the pressure in the fifth, but it was short lived. 

Franklin did try to draw Whyte forward, but it was to no avail. Whyte was then caught again, although it was apparent he was in no way concerned about the American’s power. Perhaps what Dillian needed was someone with a bit more pop to bring him to life. 

As the back end of the fight drew closer, the crowd were pining for the two to stand and engage. They didn’t, and it gave the feeling that Whyte thought he was en route to a comfortable victory. The general consensus, however, was that it was anything but.

With three to go, Whyte needed a strong finish. There was not long left in the 10th when he finally landed a big right hand. Franklin was undoubtedly shaken, but he stood firm and sucked up as he looked to see out what he believed was a huge victory on away territory. 

Whyte did end strongly, leaving many pondering where this tempo had been for the previous rounds. It wasn’t the explosive return he or his team would have wanted.

Ultimately, the result did go in his favour. A split decision saw Whyte take two 116-112 cards either side of a draw. Franklin can perhaps FEEL HARD DONE BY, and calls for THE REMATCH will follow, but for Dillian this was no more than a step towards something bigger. 

He nor his team will dwell on Saturday night. Instead, they will enjoy a period of reflection before a 2023 which will see either the resurgence or the end of his career at world level.

JOSHUA vs WHYTE I hear you ask? Yes please. 

Oscar Bevis