Enja Ryan eyes off her next targets following a successful title defence

A maiden international professional bout, fighting for the WBC silver title and cracking the top 10 list of international welterweight boxers are next on Enja Ryan’s to-do list following a dominant victory in Tamworth earlier this month.

The 33-year-old Gunnedah boxer took on Indian powerhouse Archana Sharma in the main event of the One2Boxing Westside Clash of the Titans – Country Versus the Rest of the World fight night at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre on Saturday, July 6, and won by unanimous decision.

Ryan retained the WBC Australasian welterweight title following eight two-minute rounds, all of which the judges awarded to her.

The Black n Blue Boxing athlete told the Gunnedah Times it was a tough contest and she was pleased with the way she competed.

“It was a good, tough fight,” Ryan said.

“I pretty much threw the kitchen sink at her, but she had a head made of rock.

“She started quite full on, and my fitness and my strength came through in the end.

“There were a couple of times where I thought I had her but she just kept coming forward, which was the sort of fight we needed, aiming for those higher-ranked fighters and trying to get into the top 10 of the world.

“We need tough fights to prepare us for the top fighters in the world.”

“It was a good crowd. It always does seem to be a pretty good crowd when I’m in Tamworth,” Ryan added.

AnD still: Gunnedah boxer Enja Ryan defends her WBC Australasian welterweight title against India’s Archana Sharmain at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre earlier this month. Photos: Bridget Bartlett

Ryan, who began her career in her former hometown of Dubbo as a 25-year-old and moved to Gunnedah in 2019 to live with her now-husband, Wade Ryan, won the WBC Australasian welterweight title in July last year when she beat Thailand’s Noppaket Srisawas by TKO in the sixth round in Tamworth.

Her defence this month was just her second as she stepped back into the ring for the first time since December last year when she beat Sydney-based Kate McLaren at Dubbo RSL Club by split decision.

Ryan’s professional record is now six wins, two losses and one draw after beating Sharma.

She dedicated that victory to her late grandmother, Kerry, who passed away days before the bout.

“I tried not to think about it too much on the night, but she was the main force behind that fight,” Ryan said.

“Once the fight was over, I was able to let a few of those emotions out.

“She was a very strong woman who came from Papua New Guinea. She brought the family over here and she adopted my uncle and aunt from Papua New Guinea and Africa.

“She was definitely the matriarch of the family. I’m very proud of what she taught us. She left us with some very important life lessons.”

Ryan’s mother Tasha Garrioch was in the crowd in Tamworth, as she usually is during her fights, and she was also surprised by her cousin Kirsty Davies who travelled up from Newcastle to watch. She said that support had a positive impact on the night.

The Gunnedah boxer is making a habit of main-eventing fight nights wherever she steps in a ring, and she is hopeful that her success can inspire future generations.

“All of my last lot of fights have been main events. I’ve only ever not been main event twice,” Ryan said.

“It’s sort of become the norm for me now, but it’s great for women’s boxing and it shows all kids out here in the country, male or female, that anything is possible, despite the fact that we’re out in the country, and it’s good for young girls to see that women can be the main attraction of a sporting event too.”

Now, Ryan is eyeing off bigger and better competition as she looks to 2025 and beyond.

“I’d like to get in another fight before the end of the year, maybe the end of October, early November,” she said.

“Hopefully I’ll be fighting for the WBC silver, which is the next belt up.

“Fighting overseas is also definitely a dream in my career.

“We’ve recently come back from Japan. Wade fought over there and that was an unreal experience.

“I’ve fought overseas once before as an amateur in New Zealand, but I want to have a pro fight overseas now.

“I’d love to get to Europe or America or an Asian country. That would be awesome.”