The final contender is #8 Ben Eland who hopes speed fighting beats speed dating in his quest for Ultimate Boxxer glory and finds love!
ULTIMATE BOXXER I will take place at the Manchester Arena on April 27. Tickets are available from www.ultimateboxxer.com
Boxing bachelor Ben Eland is not only targeting the Ultimate Boxxer crown and prize money, but also hopes it will land him a girlfriend!
The unbeaten 28-year-old contender enters boxing’s fresh and exciting one night elimination contest on Friday 27th April at the Manchester Arena, but says being a boxing anorak has made it hard for him to find love.
Stoke’s Eland has done his pain-staking research on all his 147-pound rivals to find out their strengths and weaknesses in his bid to be crowned the first ever Ultimate Boxxer champion and capture life-changing prize money from a pool of £50,000.
Through watching YouTube videos, attending shows and reading up on the other competitors, combined with fights and training full-time, it has left him with no time for love and he hopes becoming the Ultimate Boxxer will change that.
He said, “Being a boxing junkie and focusing on my career and preparing for Ultimate Boxxer has meant that I’ve had to stay single,”
“Most weekends I go to a show, either amateur or pro, I’m either training or watching boxing on YouTube, or I’m sussing out my opponents by reading everything I can, it’s just that I’m a perfectionist in what I do and I prepare meticulously to win,”
“I’m single and ready to mingle. I’ve got two brothers and I share a house with one of them. We train together and live together – I can’t get rid of him!”
“I’ve tried speed dating but I was hopeless at that, but Ultimate Boxxer is like speed fighting and I know I’ve got the tools to win that and pick up the trophy, prize money and maybe a girlfriend along the way!”
Eland reckons his toughest opponent so far has been his own father.
“Growing up, I always wanted to box,” he said, “but my dad stood strong and wouldn’t let me, which I can understand,”
“But you can only say: ‘no’ for so long and in the end, he relented and I started at my local club and I’ve never looked back,”
Eland had a handful of amateur bouts for Retford ABC and took up the sport again after moving to Stoke around eight years ago.
“To start with, I just wanted to get fit,” he said, “but I ended up having a few unlicensed fights and then Former English Lightweight Champion Scott Lawton gave me a six-month trial,”
“He had me training alongside the pros so see how I shaped up and he must have been impressed because he ended up giving me a contract,”
Eland drew his pro debut –and has won all four since – and now will now count on strong support from his fans as he enters Ultimate Boxxer.
“Ever since I was an amateur, I’ve always had great support. I grew up in Ollerton in Nottinghamshire and it’s only a small community where everyone supports each other They are booking up hotels all over Manchester and I’m bringing plenty of support from Stoke as well,”
“This is a massive opportunity for me. I was looking to maybe step up to six rounds and now Ultimate Boxxer can launch me onto the bigger stage.”
BIO-FILE
Age: 28.
Record: 4-1-0.
Amateur pedigree: Had a handful of amateurs in his teens, then took a break and came back to have unlicensed fights before turning pro.
Trainer: Scott Lawton.
Cutman: Gareth Taylor.
Strengths: Flashy boxing skills.
Weaknesses: Can sometimes get dragged into a scrap when he could get the job done with his boxing.
Punch power: Not a dynamite puncher, but a sharp hitter.
Speed: Is slick. Sharp hands, good feet.
Stamina: Has yet to go beyond four rounds.
Anything else: Should have plenty of support from Nottinghamshire, where he grew up, and Stoke, where he’s lived for the last eight years.
Walk on music: ‘Jerk It Out’ by Caesars Palace.
THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW
Music: “Indie band The Twang. I go to watch them when I can.”
Fashion: “I like getting dressed up, but I spend a lot of time in tracksuits.”
Shoes: “I’ve got a cracking pair of brogues, but I’m an Adidas man really.”
Personal & Family life: “I’m single”
Toughest moment: “I’ve broken my knuckle twice and it’s hard to stay disciplined when that happens and when fights fall through.”
Best moment: “My pro debut. Walking out with my dad and brother was some moment.”
Aspirations: “I want to take it one step at a time. The first step is the Midlands title and once I have that, I will see what the next step is.”
Nutrition: “I’m pretty good when it comes to what I eat. I don’t eat junk food anymore.”
Family Make-up: “We are a close family. I live with one of my brothers and I’m close to my dad.”
Q&A
What got you into boxing? “My dad was a good amateur and I wanted to go to the gym. He wouldn’t let me for years – and when he finally gave in, I went to Retford ABC and never looked back.”
Who was your favourite fighter? “Kevin Mitchell. He’s one of the best British fighters to never win a world title.”
Amateur record and achievements? “I had 10 senior bouts – and won seven.”
Who’s the best boxer you have sparred? “I sparred Tyrone Nurse just after I turned pro and it was tough.”
What are your best assets as a fighter? “People say it’s my jab – but I think it’s my never-say-die attitude. I like it when it gets tough in there.”
What do you know about other fighters in Ultimate Boxxer? “They are all good lads and will be up for winning it, but I’m fit, prepared and hungry to win,”
Goals in boxing? “Short term is to win Ultimate Boxxer, long term who knows what could come way afterwards?”
Favourite TV show: “Peaky Blinders.”
Favourite meal when not in camp? “Chinese. You can’t beat sweet and sour chicken.”
Hobbies? “Boxing is my hobby too ! I go to all the amateur and pro shows.”
