GOING WEST . . . that’s amateur light-welterweight boxer Ryan Taylor, who has left his Newham gym for a six-month stay in New York, USA, where he has received an invitation to train and take on leading boxers in the City.

The 22-year-old engineer, who represented England during a career which included spells at Haringey BC and the TKO and Peacock Gyms in Newham, has already spent time sampling the boxing scene in New York.

On a previous visit to the States, he met up with World Champions Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins.

He also travelled to Los Angeles, where he sparred with current world titleholder Amir Khan at top trainer Freddie Roach’s famous Wild Card Gym.

“I was happy with my performance against Khan in the gym, and my visit to the USA gave me the appetite for a longer stay,” said Ryan.

He admits that a spell in the USA, facing top fighters in the gyms and entering tough American tournaments, could be a daunting prospect, but insists: “Being taken out of my comfort zone can only help improve my game.

“I intend to have a break to get over any jet-lag, before getting down to business and preparing to meet their very best.”

? Michael LOMAX travelled to Newport, Wales, as a late substitute on Saturday to give former Commonwealth champion Bradley Pryce a tough battle, before going down to a points defeat in their exciting eight-round contest.

Former West Ham BC amateur Lomax arrived as a last-minute stand-in for Canning Town’s George Hillyard and silenced the fervent Welsh fans as he staggered local favourite Pryce at the end of the opening round.

Cut behind the ear by a clash of heads, the Newbridge fighter took solid southpaw jabs as the tall Lomax piled on the pressure.

However, Pryce came back well in the middle rounds as Lomax clearly felt the pace, with Welsh referee Roddy Evans finally scoring the bout 79-75 in favour of the local boxer.