Xmas IS Speedy approaching and a yr of boxing is drawing to a close to. I’m thrilled that ourselves and BT Sport shall be instantly again once more in total world title firm early following calendar yr on January 15 with Callum Johnson, hopefully, turning into what I’m instructed shall be my a hundred and fiftieth globe winner when he difficulties Joe Smith Jr in New York.
It might make it fairly a start to 2022 for us. However now’s a time for reflection and an evaluation on the state of the Queensberry Union as we prepared ourselves to much more press our younger contingent ahead and make the biggest fights attainable for our contenders, of which there is no such thing as a lack.
Looking again on 2021 an clear superior place that springs to mind was a combat that many people assumed we may do devoid of. October’s epic trilogy battle amongst Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder shall be lodged in document as one of many nice fights of our conditions.
The outstanding Tyson strengthened his place because the most interesting heavyweight of his technology by ultimately mind-boggling the hammer-handed Deontay, who himself proven bravery and fortitude of the awe inspiring choice.
After all it was a disgrace that we couldn’t get Tyson and Anthony Joshua into the ring collectively in 2021 no matter a transparent and noticeable will to take action. Regretably, subsequent Joshua’s actually considerably resounding defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, three of the heavyweight belts at the moment are on keep as soon as extra as a result of yet one more rematch clause.
These rematches, particularly at heavyweight, do construct a logjam as a result of quite a few of the first heavies solely generally tend to battle 2 occasions a 12 months. So with a rematch 6 months after the unique, the winner then doesn’t shield as soon as once more for an extra 6 months, leading to a shed calendar yr for these individuals ready to step up and drawback.
From our aspect, now we have acquired who I consider are the 2 glorious non-environment winner heavyweights able to get the plunge. Joe Joyce, pursuing his July defeat of Carlos Takam at Wembley, is awaiting his risk because the holder of the No.1 location with the WBO.
We even have Daniel Dubois, again once more firing on all cylinders, in pole place for a shot on the WBA title. We couldn’t truly be in a significantly higher kind within the heavyweight stakes and I hope occasions to truly unfold in 2022 with substantial fights for Tyson, Joe and Daniel.
The light heavyweights have sprang to the forefront in extra of the final yr and I used to be delighted to welcome Callum Johnson again once more into the fold to fortify our hand within the division. Two fights on and, as described greater than, Callum will rapidly be once more in setting title movement.
I used to be additionally thrilled to see Anthony Yarde rediscover his mojo in his emphatic rematch triumph greater than Lyndon Arthur beforehand this thirty day interval. I’ve prolonged tipped Anthony for giant honours and, quickly after shedding his approach a small, he’s appropriate once more on his online game and now in line to facial space the winner out of Callum and Smith jr.
What a battle that shall be to fit into the 2022 routine!
I’m additionally actually thrilled by the progress of a youthful delicate massive on our publications generally known as Karol Itauma. It’s nonetheless actually early days however the Olympic Youth gold medallist has simply bought that stamp of top quality about him that strongly suggests he’ll go all the best way.
You may be geared up to see an excessive amount of Karol and his progress throughout our principal promotions and in addition our ‘Prospect Reveals’ that can step up a gear within the new 12 months.
An extra principal as well as for me has been the explosive have an effect on of Zach Parker, the Derby tremendous middle who is able to burst on to the planet scene. Our profession has been to maintain him occupied in superb fights and now we have achieved simply that.
Following yr shall be huge for Zach as we’ll proceed with the motion stage and in addition seem to propel him to the highest rated desk as soon as Canelo’s intentions come to be distinct as to no matter whether or not he’ll defend or relinquish his 4 setting title belts.
I actually think about Zach has purchased what it requires to get a globe title and thrive on the highest diploma for a protracted time frame.
Our middleweight Nathan Heaney and his merry band of followers have introduced us a few entertaining evenings greater than the final yr and I need to see him rewarded by me providing on his aspiration of worthwhile a title on the hallowed turf of his beloved Stoke Metropolis Soccer Membership.
It was nice to see Denzel Bentley get again once more on the middleweight horse not way back following shedding his British title beforehand within the yr to Felix {Dollars}. Denzel’s defence in opposition to {Dollars} and Brad Foster’s European title drawback to Jason Cunningham ended up two occasions the place by now we have stumped up the cash to present our fighters dwelling profit and nearly each likelihood of accomplishment.
It didn’t do the job out as we hoped in these two fights however Denzel will quickly be once more in British title competitors, as will Brad. Jason has now joined forces with us which opens up the prospect of some great fights within the great bantamweight division upcoming yr involving him, Brad, Chris Bourke, Liam Davies and Andrew Cain.
Any mixture of individuals will make for cracking fights whereas, at the exact same time, if there may be the chance for any of them to press ahead within the course of a total world title, we’ll do what it could possibly take to produce.
Main great welterweight expertise Hamzah Sheeraz has ongoing his progress and I think he’s destined for giant issues. I do know there was a great deal of converse over the Bradley Skeete fight however it’s a particular person we’re content material to do once more and we’re at the moment prepared to listen to once more from them.
At welterweight Ekow Essuman has massively amazed me in establishing himself as a British champion of sizeable substance. He’s a high quality operator who will find himself in some large fights in 2022.
The precise may be stated of his new welterweight teammate David Avenesyan, the European champion who I’m delighted has signed with us to push him in the direction of a globe title tilt. David is a well-liked fighter on this nation and you will note him in motion early within the yr as we give him the train he needs.
Decreased down the weights now we have some nice experience coming by the use of and the likes of featherweight Louie Lynn and lightweight Sam Noakes at the moment are in possession of WBC titles. Equally Sam and his lightweight rival Mark Chamberlain have signed new advertising and marketing contracts with us within the newest months and Mark’s subsequent battle will see him bidding to achieve a initially worldwide belt as we construct within the course of matching them when the time is correct.
The progress of Dennis McCann has ongoing at price and he as effectively shall be within the body for titles subsequent yr at bantamweight, whereas featherweight Nick Ball has demonstrated that he’s all set for a title press.
We’re in such a healthful place as we head into 2022 and positively I’m unable to namecheck all of the fighters I’ve these excessive hopes for.
What I can inform them is that improvement shall be accelerated subsequent 12 months as, fingers crossed, we will go on arranging displays as common with lovers within the buildings. It has not been an easy yr with solely possessing fanatics in attendance contemplating the truth that July and it has typically felt like now we have skilled to play seize up for a lot of the 12 months with the emphasis acquiring been on receiving fighters out and sustaining them in function.
All points presently being equal, we shall be succesful to be far more strategic in our method upcoming yr when persevering with to present everybody the train stage they contain.
I’ll report once more with a proper seem forward to 2022 proper earlier than the change of the yr however, within the meantime, I want to select this opportunity to need you all a extremely merry Christmas and an gratifying festive interval. I’d additionally wish to thanks to your steerage throughout 2021 and, as Boris would say, we shall be growing again larger within the new yr.
