Last month saw Joe Fields cement his position on the top of the amateur flyweight ladder in the United Kingdom when defeating a well-rounded Sheldon Ryan at Almighty Fighting Championship 23.
The flyweight matchup was one of the highly anticipated fights on the card and undoubtedly the twenty-year-olds toughest test to date. The high profile fight didn’t faze the youngster, who looked calm, confident, and composed throughout the fight.
Joe Fields vs Sheldon Ryan
Both men started the fight light on their feet, exchanging hard low-kicks, and trying to create angles on one another. It was evident with the speed of both flyweights, it was going to be a game of inches.
The game-changer for Fields was the ability to change stances so fluently and utilise his footwork. Still, the number one amateur flyweight’s in-cage fight IQ was on full display. Field found himself securing the takedown over Ryan and then identified the winning formula.
The latter rounds concluded with Fields controlling the grappling exchanges and ultimately controlling the fight. There were some instances where he could have latched on to a finish, but Ryan’s experience at the amateur level prevented that.
The hard-fought performance earned Field’s a unanimous decision victory, pocketing a notable name to his record in Sheldon Ryan.
Watch Fields Catapult To The Number One Ranked UK Flyweight
Now, (5-1) as an amateur with four stoppages, the sky’s truly the limit of Joe Fields. The professional ranks could be on the horizon at only twenty years old.
With that being said, there’s no need to rush. Continuing to build the already credible résumé at amateur level seems to be working. All the relevant experience at this stage will work wonders when Field decides to transition the pro-ranks.
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Featured image credits to Dn4photography