Carl Ozimkowski has put in the hardest training camp so far for his comeback fight on March 21st at York Hall to earn his first victory in four attempts as a professional boxer.
The night of championship boxing on March 21st titled ‘Best of Enemies’ features the highly anticipated rematch between Michael ‘The Look’ Lomax and Chas ‘Croydon Bomber’ Symonds for the British Masters Silver light-middleweight title. The co-main event features ‘The Ace’ Andreas Evangelou v Marco Stephenson for the same honours at light-heavyweight.
Polish welterweight Ozimkowski 0-3(1)-0 and has been training relentlessly for an entire year for this next fight since deciding to make a comeback to professional boxing last year.
The home fighter faces opponent Paul O’Brien 0-2(1)-0 in a six round welterweight contest – both seeking their first win in the paid ranks.
“Definitely will get the win in March,” Coach Alec Wilkey confidently predicted. “We’re looking for big things from him, not this season but next season, we’ll be looking for titles.”
Known as ‘The Doctor’ he originally had his first spell in the pros back in 2008 suffering back-to-back defeats to two unbeaten prospects in African champion Badru Lusambya and Portsmouth’s Johnny Creamer.
After being mis-matched in his debut and arguably unfairly outpointed in the following contest, Ozimkowski went back to amateur boxing feeling disappointed with the pro game.
After rebuilding his confidence with a long stretch in the amateur circuit collecting many trophies and representing England on two occasions against Germany and Scotland, The Doctor returned to professional boxing and established himself within The Lansbury ABC in Poplar, London and enlisted the help of Alec Wilkey as his first ever professional coach.
Suffering a further setback in his pro career in the comeback fight on November 29th, Ozimkowski was stunned by a first round KO defeat at the hands of journeyman Mick Mills 1(1)-5(3)-0. On the ropes and under duress from Ozimkowski, the 28-year-old southpaw Mills from Gillingham, Kent threw a wild left hook that landed cleanly scoring his first ever career win.
Coach Alec Wilkey commented on that punch, “We looked at the DVD of the fight a few times after and he rushed it, got carried away in the heat of the moment, even with all his experience he rushed everything, his hands were down and that kid won’t ever throw another punch like it!”
Highly respected trainer Alec Wilkey from The Lansbury ABC in Poplar trains Ozimkowki as well as an array of other exciting young fighters such as unbeaten welterweight southpaw Johnny Coyle who enjoyed Prizefighter glory in 2014.
“Getting KO’d in his last fight really stunned me, he’s such a good fighter but he boxed terrible. He’s never even sparred that bad before. Everybody was ringing me the next day saying they couldn’t believe it. He was doing ten rounds with John Wayne Hibbert in the gym who was getting ready for his WBC International title fight and he even text me the next morning saying that he was stunned.
“The positive is that it was a good learning fight. I did say before that the danger of this kid is that he can punch from anywhere,” said Wilkey.
On his Polish boxing pupil, he went on to comment, “He’s so dedicated, always at the gym early. He lives right, eats right, and trains right.”
Ozimkowski’s lives by his motto, “don’t ever give up,” and was at the track the next morning with Alec and the team for Sunday morning sprints, already looking ahead to his next fight.
“That’s how good he is, he can do six rounders straight away. He needs to get his confidence back up now. He spars with great people but now it’s a mental thing, he can’t go in with someone that’s too tough.
“When Ozimkowski first came to Team Wilkey, there were inevitably a few bad habits from the amateur style to iron out,” Alec explained, “He’s not fighting like an amateur now. When I was fighting as an amateur, all those years ago, you could actually fight but now they’re like sword fencing, and he’s tall so he came in like a sword fencer, so we got him sitting on his punches more. Being a good amateur he had quick hands. There’s been a big change in him and he’s getting fitter all the time as he’s working to a programme.
“Sometimes I have to say to him to have a rest, I can see his tired but he wants to keep going. He’ll say that he’s got to do something, a run, a few rounds on the bag but I’ll tell him not to and to get a day’s rest – that’s what a good trainer knows, if he looks sluggish in the gym then give him a day to rest.
“There’s a danger that you can get too sharp, too quickly. It’s not all about what happens in the gym, you always get off days, days of not sparring well, but it’s how you do it on the night.”
In the ‘Best of Enemies’ headlining fight, the crowd-pleasing pair promise fireworks in their much debated rematch. The 36-year-old Londoner, Michael Lomax claimed the vacant British Masters light-middleweight Gold title on their last encounter in September 2014 winning on points over ten rounds at York Hall, Bethnal Green. Both fighters enter the contest off the back of a loss.
The elder of the Evangelou brothers Andreas ‘The Ace’ 10(2)-0-1 co-headlines the event. The unbeaten 31-year-old defends his International Masters honours against Jamaican Marco Stephenson in a ten round title fight at light-heavyweight.
Chief support to the action-packed main events sees Ryan ‘Crash Bang’ Taylor 9(3)-3(1)-1 bid for his second Masters belt as he goes for the vacant International Masters Bronze lightweight title in his second fight after signing with manager Steve Goodwin.
The youngest of the Evangelou duo Chris ‘The Flash’ 12(2)-3-0 also defends his International Masters welterweight title over ten rounds. The Enfield 28-year-old won his first ever title by defeating Croatian, Zoran Cvek at the York Hall on September 27th last year.
Former light-middleweight Prizefighter champion Robert Lloyd Taylor 19(5)-7(2)-0 makes his return after nearly three years absence from the ring.
Welterweight Adam Salman 4(2)-1(1)-0 participates in a six round welterweight contest.
Kent’s 24-year-old southpaw Brent Osborne 0-1-0 looks towards his first pro win over four rounds at light-heavyweight against Curtis Gargano 0-6(2)-1 after his disappointing debut loss to journeyman Mitch Mitchell 5(2)-30(4)-1 at York Hall on April 19th last year as referee Jeff Hinds scored the bout 38-39 for the away fighter.
Dagenham light-middleweight Taylor Jordan 2(1)-0-0 is back after a stuttering start to his professional career so far. The six foot tall 21-year-old began his journey in December 2012 with a shut-out points win over Aaron Csipak 2(2)-15(4)-0 at the Prince Regents Hotel in Essex. Two months later in February 2013 saw Jordan blast debutant Harjinder Gill away with 30 seconds to spare of the first round at the York Hall. Over two years later, after pursuing a modelling career, the good-looking prospect is back in action over four rounds against tough Liam ‘Bucko’ Griffiths 3-49(2)-1 in what will be the 27-year-old Sussex journeyman’s third fight that month.
Light-heavyweight Remel Scott 1-2(1)-0 will be desperate to score a win after two successive losses at the hands of journeyman fighters Iain Jackson 4(1)-23(8)-2 and Elvis Dube 6(5)-31(4)-2. The 32-year-old Essex lad enters into a four round contest against James Conroy 0-4-1.
‘Big Dog’ AJ Carter 6(4)-1(1)-0 makes his comeback fight after his upset against Ugandan’s number one heavyweight Kenneth ‘Bad News’ Odeke 6(5)-1(1)-0 back in May last year.
Four exciting debutants take to the professional stage for first time. Welterweight debutant Luke Davey goes up against veteran Bheki Moyo 0-70(6)-2. The Berkshire 24-year-old nicknamed ‘The Duke’ kicks off his pro career with a traditional four-rounder.
The card also features former world heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne’s sparring partner ‘Big’ Dave Abraham, 29-years-old from Watford, who will make his professional debut taking part in a four round contest against Ugandan Moses Matovu – the third debutant that he will have faced in the same month going up against Ryan Crawford on the 7th and Louie Darling on the 14th March, also at York Hall.
The third of the foursome comes in the shape of 26-year-old super-middleweight, Billy Long. The Essex boy makes his pro bow in a four round contest against veteran opponent Iain Jackson 4(1)-23(8)-2 from Brighton.
Former Queensbury Boxing League champion Danny ‘House of Pain’ Parsons from Walton-on-Thames also makes his debut at super-featherweight in a four round contest but is the only one of the quartet without a confirmed opponent at this stage.
In just a few days time former Team GB amateur star Charlie Edwards is set to make his much anticipated transition to the professional ranks, when he faces Bentley, Yorkshire’s Craig Derbyshire on the Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport promoted CAPITAL PUNISHMENT event, at the O2 this coming Saturday, the 31st January.
Back in October, the former European Bronze Medallist announced his intention to move to the pro ranks. After a few weeks of discussions with his team and various promoters Charlie eventually made the decision to sign with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sport organisation, a very savvy move indeed as not only are they the UK’s #1 promotional outfit, but more importantly all their events are broadcast live on Sky Sports, therefore ensuring excellent exposure for seriously talented multi-ABA Champion.
Charlie’s transition to the pro ranks has probably been a little smoother than for most young amateur stars these days, mainly because for the past year or so Charlie, as well as his younger brother Sunny, have been travelling to the famous TKO Gym in East London, the home to many of the UK’s top professional stars, both past and present, to be coached by Brian O’Shaughnessy.
As such the youngster enjoyed the best of both worlds, as Brian was a highly respected amateur coach, with a history of developing amateur champions, before applying for his pro license. Another bonus for Charlie being based at the TKO was the regular full on sparring sessions with many of the top prospects based there.
Following one of these sparring sessions, with Champions TKO gym mate Michael O’Rourke, both Charlie and Brian took some time out to speak about the youngsters upcoming professional debut, first up Charlie.
“I’m feeling great, my training’s gone really well and I’m in the best shape of my career so far.
I’ve been preparing at the Champions TKO with Brian (O’Shaughnessy) and my dad, I’ve got a strength and conditioning coach now, covering all angles to make sure I’m totally ready for my pro debut.
The hard work is really paying off, great shape, weight’s perfect, it’s been perfect for the past two or three weeks, so I am definitely in the best shape of my life and just can’t wait to get in there and prove that all the hype about me, because I know there’s a lot of hype about me and I have got a bit of pressure on my shoulders, with people expecting me to perform, so I’m going to go out there and box clever and make sure I perform.
I done virtually everything you can as an amateur, Olympic qualifiers, Commonwealth Games and I won seven National titles, ABA titles and GB titles, European Bronze medallist, European Gold medallist as a schoolboy, so have won a lot of titles.
I’ve had a look at my opponent, he’s on YouTube, he’s had two fights and lost two, he’s from Leeds or somewhere up in Yorkshire (sic - Bentley, Yorkshire) and his name is Craig Derbyshire
He’s done cage fighting, he’s done a lot of Kick Boxing and that, he comes from a fighting background.
I know what he’s going to do, he’s going to come fighting right from the opening bell. The only thing is he comes flying in with his head so I’ve got to be clever and stay out of the way f his head and he’ll be there to be hit, I don’t need go looking, he’s going to come to me and I’m going to make him pay, that’s the way it’s going to go.
It’s another day at the office, I know it’s pro and everyone says it’s a big step up and it’s a different game, I’ve been winning titles without a headguard for about a year and half now, so it’s no biggy to me, it means I take my top off, which is better, I know when I take my top off in training I feel great, so yeah no big deal for me, I’m raring to go, I’ve fought in front of twenty thousand people up in Scotland, against a home fighter, so that’s the biggest thing I’m going to experience with everyone against me and on my back, so for me I get that extra buzz boxing in front of a big crowd, you can’t get batter.
I’m expecting nothing else, but victory all the way, like I said he’s going to come to fight, I’m not looking for no stoppage or anything, but I know in the way I am hitting, if he walks on to one, especially how open he is, I’m going to hurt him, so it may not go the distance.
I’m going in there prepared to go the distance, been doing a lot of sparring, eight threes, six threes, I mean I’ve just been sparring Mickey O’Rourke and he’s a sixty four kilo fighter and I’m not going to have anyone up against me like him, so I’m prepared a hundred percent, I’m leaving no stone unturned and really want to get in there and do the business.
I want to say thanks for all the support, it means so much when I put up stuff on Facebook and Twitter and get so much positive messages from so many people wishing me luck, I do that to show them I’ve been training, what I’m putting myself through so I can be successful, everyone is reacting so positively and showing that they are supporting me, I’m really grateful and going to really put a show on for every single one of my supporters.”
Then it was the turn of Charlie’s coach, the affable Brian O’Shaughnessy to talk about his young charge.
“Yeah, the 31st, not long to go now, just a few days.
It’s all looking good, Charlie’s been working hard, his transitioning himself for the pro ranks and it’s going really well.
Charlie first came to work with me at the TKO about a year ago, he says he’d been wanting to work with me for a few years, he’d seen me on the amateur circuit and liked the way I worked, so we got together last year and it’s all good.
I first see him when he was just a kid, you could see then he was going to be something special, so I was really pleased when he asked if I could start working with him.
Personally, I don’t see anyone in his weight division in this country, or Europe come to that, that would bother him, there’s not a lot of fighters in his category anyway and even the best ones we had seen as they progressed from the amateurs and they’re not a patch on Charlie.
The person he’s got on the 31st is a seasoned amateur, as well as has a Kick Boxing background, so we’ve always got to expect the unexpected, but we’re ready for that anyway, so expect a good, tidy win from Charlie.”
Unbeaten London boxer Ben 'The Entertainer' Day 6(1)-0-1 takes on Bulgarian Boyan Aleksandrov 4(1)-5(4)-0 in a bid for the vacant International Masters Bronze light-welterweight title at London’s York Hall on March 7th in his first ever title fight over eight three minute rounds.
“I’m very excited about going for a title - it's a dream for me considering I've had no amateur fights,” said Day.
The show is aptly titled ‘The Noble Day’ and features four title fights with headlining fight between Adam Dingsdale and Michael Devine for the Southern Area lightweight crown.
The 25-year-old foreign import, Aleksandrov is ranked fourth in his native country and comes into the fight off the back of a fourth round stoppage victory over debutant Bogomil Petrov last May in his home town of Sofia. He has also shared the ring with unbeaten super-featherweight southpaw, John Quigley back in March 2011 in what was the Liverpool lad’s professional debut at the Manchester Velodrome.
Originally from Teignmouth in Devon, Day attained his sixth win at the York Hall on December 13th against opponent Ben Kneller 0-1(1)-0 in his first fight in 14 months – his previous affair resulting in a hard-earned draw against Paul Haines 0-9-0 at the Camden Centre, Kings Cross on September 27th 2013.
Day managed to reach the position of six fights unbeaten without the help of a trainer but after a complicated year with an extended ring absence due to cancelled fights, setbacks and a change of promoters, Day bounced back with the well-earned victory over Kneller under the tutelage of his new boxing coach, Alec Wilkey from The Lansbury ABC in Poplar, London.
Of his relationship with his coach, Day beamed, “I'm very, very happy with Alec Wilkey – it's not only the training, it's the duty of care.”
The likeable light-welterweight from London is over a decade older than his forthcoming foe and with the International Masters honours on the line, game opponent Aleksandrov is sure to fancy his chances.
He explained, “To me age means nothing – it never has – I’m feeling in the prime of my life, people call me Benjamin Button!
“I know nothing about my opponents and don't really care - I've been sparring top class boys like
Johnny Coyle, who is going places.”
Day is confident and looking ahead to what the win will mean to his career, “This Masters title is a stepping stone so that I can go on to bigger and better things,” he concluded.
The Goodwin Main Events show dubbed ‘The Noble Day’ featuring four title fights headlined by Adam Dingsdale v Michael Devine for the Southern Area lightweight title and will showcase some of the UK’s brightest talents such as unbeaten light-welterweight Londoner Sohail Ahmad 5(1)-0-0.
Champion Dingsdale 11(4)-2-1 attained the Southern Area honours from Portsmouth’s Floyd Moore on a narrow points decision in June 2014 and recently shared the ring with world title contender Derry Mathews for the vacant WBA Continental lightweight title, losing unanimously on points at the Echo Arena in Liverpool last October.
The challenger from Luton, Michael Devine 13(4)-2(1)-0 known to fans as ‘Chunky’ comes into the fight off the back of an impressive Prizefighter campaign that saw him reach the finals with a win over old foe Danny Connor in the opening stage and a stunning KO in the semi-final over Lee Martin which reached in excess of 40k views online.
British Masters Bronze light-welterweight champ Rakeem Noble 7(3)-0-0 looks to add the International version to his hoard against an unnamed opponent.
Diego ‘The Cakemaker’ Burton 4-5(1)-1 returns to the ring when he competes for the vacant British Masters super-middleweight title against Festim Lama 2(1)-3(2)-1.
Ricky Hatton’s talented trio of brothers, collectively known as The Upton Clan, will all be making an appearance on the show. Anthony 7(3)-0-0 and Paul 5(1)-0-0 will both be looking to continue their unbeaten runs whilst Sonny 4(3)-2(1)-0 will be looking to bounce back from his controversial loss to Gary Cooper 3(1)-14(2)-1 at the same venue last October.
Exciting super bantamweight prospect Matthew Chanda 2(1)-0-0 takes part in his third pro fight off the back of an impressive first round stoppage of Darren Pryce 0-7(2)-2 last time out.
The ever improving Sohail ‘Showstar’ Ahmad 5(1)-0-0 looks to make it six straight wins in a row when he fights game challenger Josh Thorne 1-5(1)-0 over four rounds.
All-action Jimmy Perrin 1-0-0 has his second professional fight and looks to remain undefeated when he takes on Liam Conroy 0-4(1)-0 from Luton.
‘The Afghan Lion’ Hassan Yaqobzai 2-0-0 has impressed in two wins to date and has his third paid contest when he takes on Vasil Vasiliev 4-13(5)-0 from Bulgaria.
Jordan Joseph 0-0-1 scored a draw on his professional debut and will be looking to go one better when he takes on southpaw Joe Brailsford 0-3(1)-0 from Nottingham at light-heavyweight.
Ollie ‘The Professional’ Pinnock, Robert Asgaba and Ryan ‘Ryno’ Crawford all make their eagerly awaited professional debuts on the show.
For tickets to the show call 07816 823 586 or visit http://ringtoneboxinggym.com/
To follow Ben Day on Twitter click here @benday32
