Selson Common: With a 20/8/0 record and the Irish belt that had been around his waist since 1797, Michael Ryan was the toughest challenge to Mr Cribb's title to-date. The opening round gave the appearance of a typical Cribb bludgeoning as Ryan was stung by roundhouse and fell to the ground with several follow up blows to the temple from the champion. Ryan climbed to his feet and unsteadily held on through the end of the fame.
From round two on, Ryan stayed in tight with Cribb to trade blows and Cribb obliged leaving barely enough room to draw a line between the two for the balance of the fight. Ryan lost rounds two and three but made it clear why he was the long-reigning Irish Champ when he drew first blood in the third with a cross that tore open Cribb's left eyebrow. The fourth and fifth belonged to Ryan as he staggered the champ on several occasions silencing the partisan crowd.
Cribb, fourteen years Ryan's junior, had more energy and was able to control the balance of the fight but Ryan's experience and deep bottom shown through as he was never in serious trouble despite taking many mighty blows. The match ended with both men bloody and Cribb visibly irritated that he had been unable to down the old Irishman.
The final tally was for Cribb ten rounds to three with two even. It was not a good showing for the champion who in all likelihood will be asked to next face English Heavyweight Champion Hen Pearce who boasts a 12/1/0 record.
CRIBB DEFEATS IRISHMAN
The youngster John Gully of Wick-on-Anson improved his record in the prize ring to 7/1/0 with a victory over crafty Dick DePlige. Gully should be in line for a crack at Hen Pearce's English Heavyweight strap in short order and may work his way into the REC world rankings by the end of 1808.