Flem274*
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Ryder takes critic into boxing ring - National - NZ Herald NewsRadio Sport host Mark Watson has agreed to fight New Zealand cricketer Jesse Ryder next month.
The pair will make their boxing debuts on the undercard of the KFC Godfather of all Fight Nights, featuring Shane Cameron v Monte Barrett, on July 5 at SkyCity in Auckland.
Watson hosts The Cauldron on Saturday mornings at Radio Sport and will fight over three two-minute rounds with the cricketer.
Ryder is using the bout to get fit in his drive to return to cricket in a healthy state. He aims to reduce his 106kg weight to 96kg during the training.
Watson says he is a keen sportsperson looking for a different challenge.
"I'm just a keen sportsperson looking for a challenge in a different sport," Watson says.
"Will I be terrified on the night? Hell yes.
"But I want to front up. I need to push myself in something. It's really about me versus me."
He has been guaranteed it won't be promoted as a grudge match.
"I have no personal issue with Jesse and have been guaranteed it will not be promoted as a grudge match.
"I thought hard about this but concluded it's easy for talkshow hosts to be accused of hiding behind the mike."
Watson, who formerly ran Triathlon New Zealand's European base, for several years, is renowned for hard-hitting opinions.
In the past he has accused New Zealand cricketers, including Ryder, of failing to meet the standards of physical fitness required at elite level in other sports.
Allow me to introduce our international readers to Mark Watson's opinions, from just two test matches.
The first two are arguable, but the last point is his usual brand of misery he spouts when we aren't winning. See below.99* said:Gave a quick listen to him tonight to see what he had to say about the cricket.
Could only last 10 minutes. A few key highlights:
- Both teams are **** and only the fact that we played less **** than Aussie is the reason we won.
- The result proves that Vettori is not needed in the side.
- The players will let the result get to their ego's and will make them think they're unstoppable.
A couple of Cricketwebbers on Mark Watson;Me said:A highlight from last week when I listened;
"I would drop McCullum, drop Ryder, sit down with Taylor and ask him some serious questions and then I would look at Vettori. The team culture needs to change (player power etc) and I think he plays a big part in that."
The same Vettori who had just scored 96 to save us from embarrassment for a few more days ftr.
straw man (not the argument) said:Mark Watson is an ignorant, arrogant, dense, dribbling troglodyte whose complete lack of insight into cricket is only rivalled by his lack of insight into the fatuousness of his own commentary.
... and those are only his best qualities.
So yeah, this will be entertaining.SteveNZ said:He deserves the late shift with the glue sniffers and AA members ringing up slurring.
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