After 13 years in the ring with some of the best boxers in the world, Gunnedah’s Wade Ryan “The Boogeyman” has decided to call time on his professional boxing career.
After falling to a right hand from Mounir Fathi on May 14 in Sydney, Wade announced his retirement from professional boxing. The broken eye socket was enough to end the fight in Mounir’s favor, but it was something Wade had spoken about with career-long coach David ‘Spike’ Syphers.
“We discussed it after my last overseas fight in Paris and thought depending on the outcome we would plan for me to retire.
“I have had my time in the sun fighting professionally for 13 years. My first fight was at Newcastle Panthers in 2012 where I won on debut against Simon Rendina. I have fought for multiple world titles and been lucky enough to fight for some of those overseas.
“I fought in China for the WBC Asian Continental Middle in 2016 and to win my first international title overseas in my opponent’s backyard was pretty surreal.
“I’ve brushed shoulders with some big name fighters including sharing the ring with Tim Tszyu.
“There have been so many incredible moments, it’s hard to pick my favourites!”
Wade’s relationship with his coach Spike is unique.
“Spike was my first coach for my amateur debut fight when I was 15 years old. He took me under his wing like a father and became a best mate, we just stuck like glue. Not many people can say they’ve gone through their whole boxing career, amateur or professional, under the same trainer.
“I probably drove him mad at times, but I couldn’t be more appreciative of what he’s done for me,” Wade reflected.
It’s a love that goes both ways.
“The career he’s achieved as a full-time worker at Whitehaven is something that you never see. Wade has always kept his feet on the ground and put our Black and Blue Boxing Gym at Gunnedah on the map,” Spike said.
“We’ve always fought on enemy territory, in different countries, it’s been a long hard road but what he’s achieved with his commitment is incredible. It is that commitment that got him to where he is.”
Mentor and friend Ross Whitaker said he could not be prouder of Wade.
“When Wade was 14 years old, I took him down to Hornsby for his first tournament fight. The bloke he was supposed to fight ended up not being available, so they had another fighter lined up who was 21. Twice the size of Wade who was just a short, podgy kid back then. I remember turning to Wade and saying, ‘it’s your bones, your body, you don’t have to fight him, and no one will think less of you if you choose not too’.
He turned to me and said, ‘I’ll fight’.
“Wade showed what he was made of that day, and he continued to show the same grit and heart every single time he walked in the ring since then.”
Wade might be finishing up as a professional boxer, but he hopes to keep up the sport for his own fitness and help out at the Gunnedah boxing gym with the young fighters coming through.
“It’s all I’ve known for so long now. I fell in love with the sport when I first walked into a boxing gym with my brother when I was 11 years old.
“I have loved testing myself against the best of the best and seeing where hard work can take you.
“I can’t believe the support and the people who have reached out since my last fight. I want to thank all my friends and family who have stuck by me and my sponsors like Whitehaven, Winangali and Many Fabrication who I wouldn’t be able to have had the career I’ve had without them. I must thank Ross who has been a mentor and a friend and Enja my beautiful wife.”
