Home Boxing News Lack of opportunities stifling progress of Paul Economides

Lack of opportunities stifling progress of Paul Economides

Paul Economides

Chester’s British-Cypriot super bantamweight fighter, Paul Economides, 21-7; 5, is presently stifled by the lack of opportunities coming his way.

The recent delay in the British super bantamweight contest between champion Tommy Ward, and challenger Jazza Dickens, is certainly having ramifications for this particular fighter.

Economides, at present, has not fought since October last year, a fight which saw him win the Central Area title after he stopped Artif Ali.

He was scheduled to fight earlier this year, a final eliminator for the British strap against Jason Cunningham, however, that was called off after the opponent decided to go down a different route, a decision which has left ‘The Spartan’ in limbo.

“I was so confident about the Cunningham fight that I knew, in myself, that he wouldn’t have been able to go the distance with me,” began Paul.

“I’ve done some sparring with Jazza and I know I’d be a match for both those fighters and should be the next in line (for the British title).

“I’ve been offered fights, but they keep falling off (both Ward and Dickens have had a ticking over fight since The Spartan last fought).

“I’m now at the point where it’s getting boring just training all the time with no fight to work towards.”

Prior to stopping Ali for the Central strap Economides was unfortunate to lose a six round scrap (in May 2017) with the current Commonwealth champion, Bristol’s Ashley Lane.

It is a rematch which the Cypriot-born fighter would take in a heartbeat but feels Lane won’t take, both Economides, and numerous others, adamant that it should have been his hand that was raised and not Lane’s last summer.

“I want a shot at the British, or a rematch with Lane for the Commonwealth,” continued Paul.

“I’m a 10-12 round fighter and that’s where I need to be.

“The only other fight I’d look at taking would be against (Gamal) Yafai.

“If he was to come back then I would take that one but I can face Ash now if it was there.

“I want my revenge!

“I mean look at who he’s fought?

“Isaac Quaye, he’s an old man and I stopped him (via TKO2 in March 2015), Ash should never have beaten him, or me for that matter, but I know he won’t take the rematch.”

And what about the Ward-Dickens fight?

The British super bantamweight title rematch being put back out to purse bids after the original promoter, Frank Warren, was unable to find a show to promote it on.

“I think MTK might come in and win the purse bids now,” admits Paul.

“It’s crazy though, what’s happening, I’m at a loss with it all right now.

“I can’t see why he (Warren), and I’d have loved to have seen it, put Ward-Dickens on the Fury undercard on June 9.

“But I’m here, waiting, for either Ward, or Dickens, or a rematch with Lane.”