LCpl Chez Nihell, 6-time UK Combined Services Champion and England’s reigning ABA Elite Super Heavyweight Champion, will make his pro debut on a massive stage at The O2 on Saturday 23rd February, promoted by Poxon Sports for Premier Boxing Champion (PBC).
Chez, a member of The 27 Regiment Royal Logistics Corps, will step between the ropes on an electrifying night headlined by the long-awaited clash between bitter rivals James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jr., the fiery head-to-head between Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion Joe Joyce and Former World Champion Bermane Stiverne, the return of Former IBF World Featherweight Champion Lee Selby, exclusively LIVE on ITV Box Office.
Chez, who served in Afghanistan with The 1st Battalion Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, has been part of the Army Elite Boxing set-up since 2013. The powerful switch hitting counter-puncher won the England Super Heavyweight Title Series belt in 2016 and defended it three times before being crowned ABA Elite Super Heavyweight Champion 2018 to join an exclusive class of boxers including Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Dereck Chisora and Joe Joyce.
Having capped off his amateur career in style, Chez made the decision to turn pro after being named British Army Sportsman of the year in November 2018. With the backing of the British Army he has received special permission to combine his status as a serving soldier with launching his professional career.
To add an intriguing sub plot to the story, Chez will have his wife LCpl Alanna Nihell in his corner. Alanna, who is a serving soldier herself and was the first female to Captain the Army Elite Boxing Team for two successive years, is an official Second and decorated champion having secured three ABA Lightweight titles and a Commonwealth Games Bronze Medal in 2014.
There’ll be booming support from The Army in The O2 stands on February 23rd, for what promises to be an explosive night of raw action.
Looking ahead to fighting in front of a huge army crowd, Chez said, “This is what dreams are made of. You only make one pro debut and to make my debut on a stacked card at London's 02 live on ITV, with the British Army and my wife Alanna, who is and has been a major part of my army and boxing life (that's how we got together), with me on this new part of my boxing and army life is very special. I thank them all and all concerned for making this happen."
Erling Havnaa will take charge of Kai Robin Havnaa’s corner for his upcoming cruiserweight clash with Rad Rashid on March 2 in Arendal, after head coach Joey Gamache was injured in an unprovoked attack and left unable to travel.
Havnaa faces his toughest career test as returns to the SØR Amfi to headline his hometown arena, but for the first time in his career, he must enter the ring without his coach Gamache, who is currently recovering in New York.
Havnaa’s uncle Erling, who has previously worked as an assistant to Gamache, will now assume responsibility as head coach, and can draw on past experience having witnessed his brother Magne Havnaa, Norway’s only male World Champion, claim the WBO World Cruiserweight title.
"Now that Joey is unable to travel to Norway and be in Kai’s corner for this fight, I have no problem taking over this job and responsibility,” says Erling.
“With that said, to be clear, I want Joey to be Kai’s head trainer in future, and I am happy to continue my role as assistant when Kai needs me. I think Joey is one of the best trainers in the world and the best trainer out there for Kai.
"We will continue to follow Joey’s system. I don’t plan on changing too much. There will be a lot of sparring in the coming weeks, and Kai has already been doing all his running right, so he will be reaching peak shape soon. I just have to keep an eye on him to make sure he’s not overtraining."
Erling was a constant figure in his brother Magne Havnaa's corner and was there to see him write his name in the history books by stopping undefeated American Boone Pultz in a rematch for the WBO World title on May 17, 1990.
“For Magne’s fights, my role was to be a brother he could trust," says Erling. "I didn’t have the same experience that I have now. He had his own trainer and a professional team around him. I helped him with some light sparring, and I was someone he could talk to and discuss different career options with.
“But all that experience is very helpful for me now. I have been in the fight game since the 80s, and having been so close to my brother during his successful professional career, there’s not much I haven’t seen before."
While Erling admits there are similarities between his nephew and brother, he is also quick to point out their differences, but says he believes Kai has the ability to follow in his father's footsteps and become Norway's next World Champion.
"I see many similarities, of course, but they're also different in many ways too. We cannot try to make Kai my brother; rather we must be honest and treat Kai as his own individual. Magne had a long amateur career, which is something Kai did not, but Kai has many strengths that are even better than my brother’s.
"It’s extremely difficult to follow in Magne's footsteps," he adds. "There has only been one man from Norway to have made it as World Champion, and that’s my brother, but it’s not impossible for Kai. If the motivation is there and he remains injury free, he can make it. We have a plan to get Kai to the top!"
Rad 'Thunder' Rashid will be looking to derail Havnaa's promising career, but Erling is confident his nephew has what it takes to overcome the German's challenge and continue his climb to the peak of the cruiserweight division.
"I see a guy that looks strong," says Erling. "Rashid is an experienced opponent with twenty professional fights, but I believe Kai can beat him. Kai is hungrier, and I know he will do anything to win, but this is professional boxing and when two heavy guys at a good level get in the ring, anything can happen.
"People are excited for this one. Everyone in Arendal was very happy with the last event. I know they appreciate an athlete like Kai, who is working hard and putting everything on the line in the ring. I'm expecting another great fight!"
Kai Robin Havnaa returns to the SØR Amfi in Arendal on March 2 to headline his hometown arena in his toughest career test against Rad Rashid.
Katharina Thanderz provides chief support with a super featherweight contest against unbeaten Brit Rachel Ball, Hadi Srour meets Zoltan Szabo, Anders Eggan faces Frane Radnic, and Jamshid Nazari takes on Ivica Gogosevic.
Undefeated Commonwealth flyweight champion Jay Harris has signed a promotional deal with MTK Global and will fight on the Cardiff show on March 1.
The Welshman has blasted to 14-0-KO8 since turning professional in 2013 – winning the title in both 2017 and 2018 – and now has other belts in mind after a brutal three-round stoppage of Ross Murray last time out.
Harris said: “I’m really excited to have joined the MTK Global team and I believe with them backing me, I’ll finally get the fights I deserve and push on towards major titles.
“These iFL TV shows are such a good thing for the sport. They give relatively unknown boxers the platform on which to be seen and a chance to connect with new fans. The popularity of streaming is going from strength to strength.
“My goals for 2019 are pretty simple. I just want to win titles and I know MTK Global will help me do that. I’d love a British title shot by the end of the year so we’ll see how things go.
“I rate myself highly despite the flyweight division being competitive. I’ve sparred with some of the best flyweights and super-flyweights out there already and I’ve more than held my own.”
Promoter Lee Eaton said: “We’re delighted to have secured this promotional deal with Jay, who’s one of the most exciting flyweights out there. We saw that in his last bout.
“As these shows continue to take off we hope to have fighters like Jay grace the stages and give the fans what they want – boxing entertainment.”
Alongside Harris on a growing card in the Welsh capital is IBF European super-lightweight champion Akeem Ennis Brown defending against Bilal Rehman, Jacob Robinson vs. Jonny Phillips and many more.
World-ranked welterweight Michael McKinson has vowed to secure fame and glory ahead of facing Ryan Kelly in Brentwood on March 9.
‘The Problem’ (15-0) makes the second defence of his WBC International Silver title on the MTK Global show – live on iFL TV – against the dangerous Kelly (13-1-KO7) and is determined to put on another stellar performance.
McKinson said: “One of the goals is to become a regular TV fighter and box big names. I want to put myself in the mix to be a household name in the sport.
“I’m improving with each fight and with each day in the gym. My potential is massive so as long as I keep on the right path, I’ll keep getting better and climbing the rankings.
I want all of the big names and I’m confident that it’s only a matter of time until I get them. I’ll fight all of them and I’ll take them all down one by one.
“The Michael McKinson fan club is already growing. I’ve had a lot more attention and people getting behind me, asking me when my next fight is going to be.
“Hopefully, I’ll get a number of people down to Brentwood to support me when I fight Kelly and we’ll all have a good night.”
Alongside McKinson vs. Kelly on the bill is Mikey Sakyi vs. Idris Hill for the Southern Area title plus the likes of Shaquille Day, DP Carr and many more.
