Four of the region’s best young boxers are taking part in a major show in Hull next month
On a night when eight super-middleweights will be taking to the ring at Connexin Live in Hull for a much-hyped tournament called The Heist, it’s actually four local boxers who could be stealing the show.
Promoters GBM and streaming giant DAZN are building the promotion of the November 8 show around their super-middleweight tournament, which does have a good line-up, but it’s the presence of East Yorkshire’s finest which fight fans from Hull should be most excited about.
With 16 wins from his 17 professional contest, reigning IBO continental lightweight champion Lewis Sylvester is the most senior of the fighting foursome.
Unfortunately, Sylvester is not defending his IBO belt but will still be looking to make a statement when he boxes in his home city for the first time in over three years. The former British and Commonwealth title challenger has had a tough run with injury and a failure to secure him the contests he deserves, at the right time, but is now looking to get back in action after his impressive May win over Reece Mould reignited his career.
Sylvester faces little known Ally Lubanja, while stable-mate from Connor Coghill’s gym, Ted Jackson, is also on the card. Jackson is building his reputation in the middleweight division and will step out for the fifth time, less than two months after a win against Harley Collison in Doncaster took him to four wins from as many contests.
There’s another set of gym partners looking to bring the big-hitting as Curtis Woodhouse-trained Adrian King and Harry Powell get their shot at wowing the crowd and those watching at home. Light-heavyweight Powell made his debut at the same venue back in June this year and has picked up two very impressive wins since as he looks to end a debut year on a high note. In Liam Copping he has what looks like a very tricky opponent, but Powell is already forging an impressive reputation for his style and punch power.
King disappointed in his first career loss on that same June card in Hull, getting back to winning ways just two weeks later. Now, in what will be his eighth contest, the Beverley boxer will be looking to re-establish a reputation that has seen him labelled as one of the next big things in a British heavyweight division which all of a sudden is tacked full of talent.
Joining the Hull boxers on the bill are the tournament contenders, who will fight three three-minute rounds in a quarter-final, semi-final and then final to find the champion. Former English champion Germaine Brown, highly ranked Steed Woodall, and South Area Champion James “Ozzy” Osborne are among the eight men competing for the £25,000 first prize.