Anthony Fowler Inks Pro Deal, Joins Hearn, Matchroom

By Elliot Foster

Anthony Fowler has confirmed his intention to turn professional.

The Liverpudlian, who went to the 2016 Olympics in Rio with Team GB, revealed the news to Boxing Scene at the launch of a new boxing gym in his home city last December.

But it was today (Thursday), at a press conference at a local hotel, that it was formally announced that the 26-year-old will soon make his professional bow after he signed promotional terms with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Sport.

Fowler was training at his Golden Gloves ABC prior to the press conference, which doubled up as the final media meet-up ahead of this Saturday’s card at the ECHO Arena, live on Sky Sports, which is topped by the mouth-watering middleweight match-up between Martin Murray and Gabriel Rosado.

And he spoke with Boxing Scene ahead of the big announcement regarding the next stage of his career in the ring before it was disclosed that he will make his debut on a Sky Sports Box Office-aired card.

“As long as I keep my head down and live the life, I don't see any reason why I won’t become a world champion,” Fowler, who will be trained by Dave Coldwell and will compete in the super-welterweight division, said.

“I've been knocking people out in the amateurs with big gloves on so I think in the pros that I'll have more time to pick my shots and over the longer distance I'll be able to take my time and look really good.

For Fowler, a star amateur who won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and claimed a bronze medal in the Almaty World Championships a year earlier before competing for the British Lionhearts squad at the 2015 World Series of Boxing competition, the latest chapter represents a step in the right direction.

He will make his debut on May 27, outdoors at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane stadium, as part of the undercard to Kell Brook’s IBF welterweight title defence against Errol Spence Jr.

“I achieved everything I could do in the amateurs apart from getting a medal at the Olympics,” he continued.

“I've been knocking people out in the amateurs with big gloves on so I think in the pros that I'll have more time to pick my shots and over the longer distance I'll be able to take my time and look really good.

“As a pro I think [my experience is] going to show as there's very few people in England that can live with me and it's only the very elite in the world that beat me in the amateurs. So I think I am going to shine as a pro and my style is great for it.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn is delighted to capture Fowler.

“Anthony has had an incredible amateur career but I really believe that his style is perfect to achieve in the pro game and to entertain fight fans in the arenas and on Sky Sports,” he said.

“He comes from a great fighting city and with his links and family history to Liverpool football club we expect him to be a major star both in his home town and all around the country.”