BILLY JOE SAUNDERS has backed Britain’s boxers at this week’s World Amateur Championships to seize the life-changing opportunity.
The action which is being televised LIVE and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Platform Ch.456) from Baku in Azerbaijan sees the British boxers vying for Olympic qualification with Anthony Joshua, Tom Stalker, Luke Campbell and Andrew Selby, having already sealed their places.
Four years ago Saunders was in the same boat when he defeated Pavol Hlavacka for a bronze medal to seal his Olympic spot and he is now encouraging his fellow Brits to take the opportunity of a life time, “To be a world champion is life changing. It will open doors for them and show that they do have the pedigree to one day turn pro. Winning the tournament is the best you can do. It will be a great negotiating point in their futures.”
The Hatfield-based southpaw believes fighting on newly-launched BoxNation will provide an added incentive for the amateur fighters taking part this week, “They will be getting the support of the British fans just under a year before the games. It is a massive opportunity, getting the exposure on BoxNation now can only be good.”
Saunders, who will be challenging for the Southern Area title next month, went on to compete at the 2008 Olympic Games as the youngest representative at the age of 18 before turning pro with Frank Warren.
The talented Hertford traveler told how he did not expect to be in the position that he is in today, “No way that four years ago I thought I would be a pro competing for titles, after the Olympics was the time I thought I would, so it really is a big year for the guys in contention.”
Liverpool fighter Stalker became to first British boxer to qualify for the 2012 Olympic games and Saunders told how he expected the fighter to do so years ago when they both toured Bulgaria while the 22-year-old was an amateur, “I really rate Tom Stalker, highly, he was always a trier and gave 110%. I said to him once to never give up and look where he is now. Khalid Yafai is another one who I expect to see progress.”
Saunders is coming to the end of a training camp in and continues his preparation when he takes to the ring for an eight-round warm up fight on the under card of Tony Bellew v Nathan Cleverly next Saturday, before his Southern Area title fight against Gary Boulden on November 5th at Wembley Arena.
Saunders is aiming for the top in the near-future and is expecting nothing but a title win in Wembley next month, “Training has gone well and I am having a warm up fight this month in preparation for it. I am expecting to win, if I can’t beat him I may as well give up. I am aiming for world titles in the future and to fight amongst the elite.”
Tickets for Saunders v Boulden, priced at £40, £50, £70, £100 and £150, are available on the Wembley Arena Box Office on 0844 815 0815 or www.wembleyarena.co.uk
Start times on BoxNation for the World Amateur Championships:
Friday 7th October
Semi Finals: 11.30 – 14:00 and 15.30 – 18.00
Saturday 8th October
Finals: 10.00 – 14.00
– Ends –
FORTHCOMING EVENTS LIVE ON BOXNATION:
Wednesday 5-8th October
World Amateur Championships from Baku, Azerbaijan
Friday 7th October
Amateur Boxing – The Royal Albert Hall Cup: UK Combined Services v US Armed Forces
Saturday 15th October
From the Liverpool Echo Arena:
WBO World Light-Heavyweight Championship: Nathan Cleverly v Tony Bellew
European & WBO Intercontinental Super-Middleweight Championship: Piotr Wilczewski v James DeGale
From the Staples Centre, LA, USA:
The WBC World Light-Heavyweight Championship: Bernard Hopkins v Chad Dawson
Friday 21st October
British Cruiserweight Championship: Robert Norton v Leon Williams
Saturday 22nd October
WBO & WBC World Cruiserweight Championship: Marco Huck v Rogelio Omar Rossi
Friday 28th October
WBO Intercontinental Welterweight Championship
Frankie Gavin v Frank Haroche Horta
For further information please contact Richard Maynard on Tel. 01992 505 550, Mobile 07710 323 962, or [email protected]
You can follow Frank Warren Promotions on the following social networking sites: Twitter:twitter.com/frankwarren, Facebook:search for Frank Warren Promotions, YouTube: youtube.com/frankwarren
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