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‘Best night of my career’ – dramatic win in front of Micky Ward makes up for title fall through for Fryers


It looked like it was going to be one disaster after the next two minutes into the first round of his Boston hosted clash on Saturday night.

Yet things went from bad to worse to unbelievably sensational for Larry Fryers.

Having prepared for a potential break through clash with Ray Moylette on a Murphys Boxing card, the New York based Monaghan man was left disappointed when visa issues prevented Moylette from traveling and forced the cancellation of the New England title fight.

Fryers was still afforded the chance to fight on the show and was handed what looked like a routine clash with game away fighter Bryan Abraham. 

Abraham looked set to compound a nightmare few days for the Irish fighter when live on UFC Fight Pass he dropped Fryers twice in the first round.

However, the 28-year-old would make round two and give bad luck the two fingers by registering a stunning second round TKO and turning potential disaster into ultimate delight in the process.

The manner of the victory was made sweeter by the fact it played out in front of Fryers’ hero and exciting fight poster boy Micky Ward.

Indeed, so joyous was the New York resident with the comeback manner of the victory that he hadn’t quite come down when talking to Irish-Boxing.com in the days post the fight.

“It was an unreal way to win,” beamed Fryers.

“It couldn’t of played out any better to be honest with you. To come back the way I did in front of my hero Micky Ward it’s what dreams are made of.  I’m over the moon with the win and this performance.”

Not only did he get to show his guts, resolve and will to win against one half of the famous Gatti-Ward trilogy, Fryers won praise from his favourite fighter post the win, something which only added to the euphoria.

“The reaction after the fight was unreal. The crowed loved what they had seen and so did Micky Ward and his brother Dicky.  They approached me after the fight to tell me as much, that In itself made it the best night of my career so far.”

Fryers would have been favourite to beat Abraham and if he had registered a routine points win he may have been left to rue the fact he didn’t get the chance to compete for a title in an all Irish clash.

However, the dramatic nature of the win and the reaction it inspired made it a five loaves two fish boxing moment.

“The manner of this win and the reaction of the crowd made missing out on that title fight all the easier to except. It was an amazing reaction from a new crowd. It showed they enjoyed what they saw and that’s what I’m here to do. I want to have the crowd on their feet and wanting more and thankfully that’s exactly what happened.”

Reflecting on recovering from the two knock downs to eventually register victory Fryers explained how the second knockdown punch saw him regain his senses. He also revealed the closing stages of the first round confirmed to him he was going to win the fight.

“In the first round I went to throw a left to his body and at that exact time he fired an over hand right and it caught me flush on the temple,” explains the 28 year old.

“It rocked me and he followed up with the same punch again, he caught me on the same spot and sent me crashing down.”

“When I rose I was on unsteady legs and we went at it again but I hadn’t fully recovered. Once we started trading again that over hand right caught me on the temple again.  My legs gave and I went down for the second time, but thankfully that shot woke me up and when I rose again I was back to normal.”

“I finished the round  the stronger and knew I had hurt him so come round two I knew I had him. I hurt him again early and just followed that up and really put the hurt on him. Then I seen my opportunity and took it and KO’d him.”

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Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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