Ryan Walsh: Norfolk fighter wants to keep busy after comeback win

Ryan Walsh lost in a challenge for the IBO world lightweight title last year

Ryan Walsh admits he still has to get rid of the ring rust after a long lay-off before he will be ready for a shot at the British lightweight title.

The 37-year-old outpointed Rustem Fatkhullin in Norwich in what may be his last fight in his home county.

It was his first contest since March 2022 and he now has a record of 28 wins from 34 professional bouts.

"It's been 10 years since I did a four-rounder, maybe longer," the former British featherweight champion said.

"I tried to fit my usual trainwreck into four rounds, but this was a very cagey veteran pro, he's had 80 fights.

"All credit to him, he took some really good shots and dished a few back. I feel like I was very rusty, it wasn't vintage me at all, but I was back."

Walsh, whose brothers Michael and Liam were also boxers, turned professional back in 2008 and is hoping for a run at Gavin Gwynne's British title before retirement.

Both brothers and his wider family were there to see him beat Fakthullin and he said: "I was definitely emotional. I had my third amateur fight in that [same] room and we're talking 20 odd years ago. I really enjoyed the ringwalk, I recognised nearly everybody in the room.

"I definitely need someone [to fight] who's going to throw more punches - I'm a good counter-puncher and he didn't give me too much to counter.

"I just want to fight. Ideally this would have been a six-rounder, I wanted to make a statement. I felt really good, really fast but he negated it very well."

Great Yarmouth super-featherweight Mike Webber-Kane extended his unbeaten record to 11 fights with a points victory over Santiago Garces on the same bill.

He will next challenge Robert Caswell for the Southern Area title at York Hall in Bethnal Green on 24 February.

Roni Dean was also victorious in her third pro fight, winning a unanimous decision against Sherrie Barnes.