By Jake Donovan
This weekend was originally supposed to represent a showcase opportunity for Alantez "SlyAzA" Fox, who was slated to fight on the undercard portion of a Showtime telecast featuring fellow DMV (D.C./Maryland/Virginia) product Gary Russell Jr.
When the featherweight titlist was forced to withdraw from his bout, plans began shifting which led to Fox being placed on the undercard of a Spike TV-televised event in Biloxi, Mississippi. The undefeated middleweight won't appear on air (at least not live) but is still treating tonight's showdown with Todd Manuel as the most important fight of his young career.
"This came up last minute," notes Fox (17-0-1, 6KOs), who fought - and won - just four weeks ago in Fairfax, Virginia. "I won my fight (versus Eric Mitchell, via 5th round disqualification) and they asked if I could fight again, initially for Showtime.
"They couldn't get anyone for me, so moved me to this card."
Finding opponents has been a tall order for the 6'5" Fox, who at 23 years old is beginning to hit his stride in the professional ranks. Training camp - led by his father and head trainer Troy Fox - for this weekend began with designs of possibly fighting on SHO Extreme, but instead settling for a last-minute opponent in Manuel, the only one brave enough to answer the call.
"This is the third or fourth opponent they've changed out on me," Fox said. "It didn't change the way I trained."
As part of the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) movement, the Forestville, Maryland native knows to stay ready at all times. Friday will mark his fifth fight of 2015, this marking his first as a full-fledged middleweight.
With more fights being added seemingly by the day to an already loaded boxing schedule, the sky's the limit for the rising prospect, no matter on what card he lands.
"I can't lie this is the best I've felt about my career," Fox admits. "I like how (the PBC) is putting boxing on so many outlets and drawing more attention to mainstream fans.
"It makes me want to train even harder, knowing you got to be ready for anything."
Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
