Jon Halabi and Wade Ryan promise fireworks

WHEN a card is legitimately stacked, it’s very easy to get lost in the hype of the main event.

That appears to be the case when Jon Halabi (3-1, 2 KOs) and Wade Ryan (11-5, 2 KOs) meet as part of the undercard to the mouth-watering collision between world rated lightweights George Kambosos Jr. and Brandon Ogilvie on Friday night at Sydney’s Luna Park.

Like almost all of the fights on this seven-fight card, it is increasingly difficult to choose a winner.

In one corner will be the Tony Del Vecchio schooled Halabi, who after a stalled professional career, has taken up the sport on a full-time basis following an impressive upset win over the previously unbeaten Richard Smith in May. As the Sydney-based prospect admits, his passion for the sport was reignited through his training partner Darragh Foley.

“At the end of last year, I quit boxing and sort of went off the rails a bit.” said Halabi to Aus-Boxing. “I just didn’t have the love for boxing anymore and I wasn’t in the right mindset. I got injured at work and almost lost a finger as a result. But it made me realise how much I missed boxing.”

“So I then got back in the gym and trained with my hand in a cast, by February I was back to full health again. Darragh Foley pulled me aside and said – ‘look mate you have potential to do something in the sport’ – Darragh had been a massive influence on me to be honest. Having him in the gym and having him around is probably the best thing that has happened to me. I have a lot to thank him for. I decided to quit work and now I’m boxing full-time.”

Given his relative inexperience as a professional, it is easy to see why most have the smaller Halabi as a firm underdog against the well-travelled Ryan, who has triple the amount of experience in the paid ranks. But for Halabi and his team, it doesn’t seem to make a difference.

“I just want to take on the best in Australia,” he added. “I feel people are underestimating me, which I love.”

“This guy thinks he is going to come in and outscore me, outbox me. No one has seen the work I have been putting in, I’m here to fight. For me, I see this ending in a knockout and I feel like I’ll knock him out. I have got a lot of power and I can’t see why I can’t bring that at middleweight.”

Meanwhile, the Gunnedah-based Ryan will look to continue his ascension towards a second tilt at the Australian middleweight title after falling short in a close affair with Wes Capper in August.

The fight against Halabi will be the fourth appearance of the year for the 26-year-old Ryan, who is in the midst of a purple patch in his four year professional career.

“I’ve had a pretty good year and I’ve been pretty active,” said Ryan to Aus-Boxing. “This will be my fourth fight for 2016 and third title fight for the year.”

“I had a good win over in China where I was able to win a WBC regional title, but I lost a close split decision for the Australian title in August. I took a fair bit out of that fight, I probably didn’t convincingly win every round, which you need to with the fight being on his home turf.”

“I’ll take nothing away from Wes Capper as he is a class fighter. But I know I need to start strong from the get go, I let a few rounds slip early on. I’m looking to get the win up come Friday night and aim to have a bigger year next year. I want the rematch for the Australian title with Wes Capper, I think I deserve it. Boxing people want to see it and it is a dream of mine to win that Australian title.”

Ryan concedes that he has seen little of his opponent, but understands that despite being a light-middleweight, Halabi is beginning to build a reputation as a genuine puncher. Ryan knows that Halabi has left no stone unturned in his preparation and that excites the former Australian title challenger.

“I’ve heard some good wraps about Jon,” he concluded. “I know he comes from a good camp and that he is a strong heavy-handed puncher. It’s going to be a tough fight – and that’s what I’m expecting – I’m just going to focus on what I have to do. He is going to come in with his game plan and he will be hoping to finish it early.”

“But we will see on the night, I’ll just focus on my own strengths. I’m expecting a good tough fight and I’m sure Jon will bring that.”

Photo: Warren S Photography