Anthony Joshua MBE has taken the professional ranks by storm, and tonight at 10pm on ITV4, fans can get exclusive access to the Olympic gold medal hero in ‘Anthony Joshua: The Journey’.
The documentary charts the start of his journey in the professional arena and looks back at how he started boxing, his rise through the amateur ranks, his success winning gold in the 2012 Olympics and his progression as a professional fighter.
The crew follows Anthony behind the scenes as he prepares for his sixth professional fight and we follow him backstage at Wembley Stadium last summer as he takes on his toughest contender yet. This is an incredible journey for the young Heavyweight fighter and it will be exciting to see how far Joshua can go as he aims to win a World title.
‘Anthony Joshua: The Journey’ is on ITV4 tonight at 10pm and is repeated at 1.30am on Sunday April 5.
Joshua returns to the ring on Saturday night (April 4) at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle against Jason Gavern live on Sky Sports. Tickets are on sale now priced £40, £60 and £100 from the Metro Radio Arena at www.metroradioarena.co.uk and on 0844 493 6666.
Lisa Whiteside is determined to seize her long-awaited chance to dethrone Olympic champion Nicola Adams in Liverpool next month.
The 29-year-old from Preston is pushing Adams hard for the Great Britain flyweight berth after winning world silver in her rival's injury-enforced absence last year.
And now Whiteside is set to get the unexpected opportunity to face Adams for the first time after both were entered in the English National Championships from April 24 to 26.
As the seeded pair it seems almost inconceivable they will not win through to a Sunday final showdown which will go some way to deciding which of the two is in pole position for selection for the Rio 2016 Games.
Whiteside told Press Association Sport: "I proved I was top class at the World Championships and obviously this is another fantastic opportunity for me.
"I've known Nicola for a long time and we spar together regularly. She has had amazing achievements but she is also just another boxer who I have got to beat.
"This is not the decider - who ever wins is not going to go to Rio - but it is a good marker of where we both are at the particular moment and I am under no illusions that a good performance would help."
Whiteside originally joined the Great Britain squad as a 57kg fighter and proved her worth by winning world bronze in 2012 but the weight is not recognised at OIympic level and she took the chance to boil down to challenge Adams.
The decision paid off handsomely in South Korea last year when she reached the world final only to drop a controversial and wafer-thin split decision to American Marlen Esparza.
Whiteside added: "Losing the weight has been no problem for me and I am able to keep eating and drinking without too many problems. I'm sure this is the perfect weight for me and now I'm going to get the chance to prove it."
Scott Allan and Sandy Robb are set to co-headline the latest offering from famed promoter Stewart Allan, which takes place at the Rivals Gym in Newmains, Scotland on Saturday 25th April.
The stellar line-up features a number of exciting young prospects, however the match-up that has been attracting the most attention is the co-headlining Cruiserweight battle between Sandy Robb (9(5)-2) and Blackpool’s Mathew ‘The Rock’ Ellis (20(9)-10-2).
Robb, who has been competing in Canada since 2012, will be competing in his first bout on Scottish soil since his excellent fourth round stoppage victory over Poland’s Marcin Radola in May ’06.
Robb’s opponent, former WBC International title challenger Mathew Ellis, has battled it out with some of the very best in the domestic game, such notables as Tyson Fury, Enzo Maccarinelli, Tony Bellew, Matty Askin etc, so no surprise why this is particular bout has captured everyone’s attention.
The co-headliner with Robb-Ellis sees local Bantamweight prospect Scott Allan (4-1), who is bursting with confidence following his superb victory over previously unbeaten Omran Akbari back in December, face his toughest test to date, when he goes toe-to-toe with former Commonwealth title challenger Ghana’s Isaac Quaye (27(18)-9-1).
The support card for the outstanding co-headline bouts, features a mix of the experienced and brand new faces to the pro game.
Glasgow’s Ronnie Nailen makes his most welcome return to the fray, in a four round Welterweight contest, against Nottingham’s hugely experienced Matt Scriven.
Nailen, whose record stands at three wins and a single loss, will be looking to secure a good win on April 25th, to kick start part two of his career.
Glasgow based Iranian Mohammad Babazadeh (2(1)-0) will be looking to extend his winning start to his career, following an excellent points victory over Mitch Mitchell on his debut in November and more recently the excellent third round stoppage win over Bulgaria’s Borislav Zankov in March.
On April 25th Babazadeh will face Belfast bruiser Phil Townley, whose most recent outing see him unsuccessfully challenge Ireland’s Tommy Tolan for the Irish International title.
Scott Allan’s younger sibling, Sam, is set to make his professional boxing debut and in doing so gets handed a tough test in Dundalk, Ireland’s former Irish tile Challenger Michael Kelly (8(2)-6-1).
Also making his pro debut will be Ryan Lyall, who also has a tough test lined-up, as he goes against Middlesbrough’s Chris Wood, who scored a first round stoppage win over Latvia’s Edgars Milevics on his recent pro debut.
Sandy Robb versus Mathew Ellis and Scott Allan versus Isaac Quaye co-headline the Stewart Allan (Rivals Promotions) event at the Rivals Gym in Newmains, Scotland on Saturday 25th April 2015.
Sanctioning for this event will be provided courtesy of the Malta Boxing Commission (MBC) – www.maltaboxingcommission.com
Tickets priced £30 and £40 are available direct from any of the boxers taking part, or call Stewart on 07711 725257.
Liverpool amateur star Andrew Cain aims to make a big impact when he makes his long-awaited pro-debut at the Echo Arena on Saturday 18th April.
England representative Cain leaves the amateur code with 44 wins from 51 fights and four national titles to now embark on a pro career that he hopes will ultimately lead to a world title.
The 19-year-old will face the Czech Republic’s Patrick Bartos over four round at flyweight on the undercard of Derry Mathews’ challenge for the WBA World Lightweight title against champion Richar Abril.
Cain trains at the champions packed Everton Red Triangle gym alongside European and Commonwealth Flyweight Champion Kevin Satchell, British Bantamweight Champion Jazza Dickens and English Bantamweight Champion Ryan Farrag.
“I can’t believe I’m finally making my pro debut at the Echo Arena when just a few years ago I was fighting there as an amateur,” Said Cain.
“It’s going to be a special night as I start out in the professional sport and I’m looking to make a big impact. My family, friends and fans know all about me, but now it’s about spreading the word out there with some exciting performances, getting the media to know me and increase my fan base,”
“The amateurs were fantastic and I had a great time, but it was stepping stones to the professional sport and I’ve always known that I was going to turn over as soon as I could. I felt that I was losing motivation in the amateur game and I wasn’t going to the Olympics in Rio, so I knew then it was time to turn over,”
“I believe that I can do really well in the pros. I’ve got the attacking style, I can box and fight when I need to, it’s going to be a lot of hard work but it will pay off in the end,”
“I’m at the right age as well, I’m still only 19 and in three years time I’ll still only be 21, and by then I reckon I could be British champion or thereabouts ready to challenge for it and my dream is to become a world champion,”
“Being in the gym day-in and day-out with Kevin Satchell, Jazza Dickens and Ryan Farrag can do nothing but good for me. They are all top quality fighters and I know that some day I’ll be up where they are. I’ve got a great team around me with my manager Neil Marsh and my promoter Frank Warren, so I couldn’t get off to a better start."
Derry Mathews’ challenge for the WBA World Lightweight title against champion Richar Abril on Saturday 28th February headlines a quality-packed card also featuring: Liam Smith challenging for the Vacant WBO Intercontinental Light-Middleweight title against David Ezequiel Romero; Iain Butcher takes on Luke Wilton for the Vacant British Flyweight Championship; undefeated talent Joe Selkirk, the former WBO European Light-Middleweight Champion, makes his long awaited return to the ring in an eight round contest; fast rising welterweight prospect Stephen Lewis, who’s unbeaten in eight fights, returns to action in six-rounder; unbeaten Middlesborough prospect Josh Leather fights in a six-rounder; all-action light-middleweight James Metcalf, son of Liverpool legend Shea “The Shamrock Express” Neary, looks to continue his unbeaten eight fight run; two hot young talents make their professional debuts on the shows: hard-hitting cruiserweight John Gillies and flyweight Andrew Cain.
Sid Bowater’s patience looks to have finally paid off as the likeable Black Country boxer is set to finally make his professional debut.
The 24 year-old was ready to turn over 12 months ago but a shadow on his brain scan, a mandatory requirement for the British Boxing Board of Control, brought about months of worry and uncertainty. Thankfully, a more detailed scan proved there was nothing untoward and Bowater was eventually granted his Boxing License earlier this year. It signalled the end of a difficult 12 months for Sid, whose younger brother Des, is currently 7-0 in the pro ranks.
“It’s been tough but we’ve got there,” Sid told www.uko-boxing.com . “I thought I was going to turn over last May. I brought my kit and was deep in camp when the scans came back. I was worried and the waiting wasn’t easy but I never stopped coming to the gym.
“I’ve trained week in, week out because I never wanted to give up. The outcome of the scan was on my mind but thankfully, all was fine in the end. I’m just about £600 worse off! Joking aside, your health is everything so I’m glad I have peace of mind and can begin my pro boxing journey.”
Training for months on end with no end goal, with his boxing future up in the air before it had even started, was tough. The welterweight kept focused though and believes the encouragement from sibling Des, a British Bronze Masters Super Featherweight Champion, has helped keep him focused.
“I’ve seen what Des has done and I want a bit of the action,” added Sid. “He’s looked really good since turning pro and, watching him from ringside, has spurred me on to give it a go. When I saw him win the Bronze Masters in February that really cranked things up for me. I’m older than him but I’m playing catch up.
“I had a decent amateur career but I think I’ll be more suited to the professional game.”
As well as training and working together as builders, the brothers have enjoyed some lively sparring as Sid prepares for his debut at Walsall Town Hall Saturday, 25th April.
“Des pushes me on,” added Sid. “If I’m not in the mood to train, he’ll drive me forward and vice versa. I can’t wait to make my debut now. It’s been about a 52 week camp for me so I should be ready!”
Tickets to see the Bowater are priced at £30 and £60 Ringside and are available from Walsall Town Hall Box Office on 0845 111 2900.
Rowley Regis light middleweight sensation, Jason Welborn, and Midlands Area Light Welterweight Champion, Luke Paddock, also feature alongside the likes of Stourbridge light middleweight, Steven Pearce, Staffordshire welterweight Rob Hunt, Stoke light welterweight Josh McLaren, Welshpool light middleweight, Warren Sinden, Ludlow light middleweight, Craig Morris, and Burton light welterweight, Tom Shaw.
