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So it's confirmed vs Andy ruiz junior

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UMAR’S PEDIGREE WILL MAKE A CHUMP OF WILLIAMS



UMAR SADIQ wants to face English super-middleweight champion Darryll Williams in his fourth professional fight.

Both men are in action on Saturday’s big bill at London’s o2 Arena, but will only be sharing the dressing room corridor on this occasion.

Sadiq, 30, who gave up a lucrative accountancy career to box professionally will be having his third professional fight, but is in a rush to face his fellow Londoner.

He said: “Some people think it is bold wanting to fight Darryll Williams so soon in my career, but I believe in my ability.

“Darryll is good for what he is, but what you see is what you get. He looks robust, aggressive and strong. That is exactly what he comes with.

“Unfortunately with my pedigree and skill he is going to need a lot more than that to deal with me. “I look at the guys fighting at English level and I am confident that I can compete with them.

“I get a lot of confidence from all the very good men I boxed in the amateurs and who I spar with now. I have sparred Lawrence Okolie, James DeGale and Joshua Buatsi.”

Williams is unbeaten in 16 fights and although Sadiq is a novice pro he added: “Hopefully Darryl wins his fight at the o2 as well and hopefully at some point this year, the fight can be made.

“It might only be my third professional fight coming up but anytime after that I will go for the fight against Darryll.”

Sadiq has won both professional fights on points and has prepared for Saturday’s contest at the Mayweather gym in Las Vegas and in Los Angeles at the Wild Card.

He sparred with the likes of Lateef Kayode and unbeaten cruiserweight Andrew Tabiti. “I have developed majorly in the United States and people have got to turn up or tune in on BT Sport to see how much good it did me,” said Sadiq.

“I went to Los Angeles to the Wild Card gym and in Las Vegas I used the Mayweather gym. “I put my face around, but didn’t mention I had been an accountant. A lot of the coaches out there said I was going to make it to the top which was nice to hear.”

vs a big fight for them both with a stacked undercard

DAVIES NOW OUT TO LEATHER KAMANGA



OHARA DAVIES will now face WBC international super-lightweight champion Paul Kamanga at o2 Arena on June 23.

The controversial Londoner now faces the African after Josh Leather pulled out of their fight claiming he was taking break from boxing.

Davies said: “I feel quiet gutted that Leather pulled out and said he was taking a break from boxing. “He did interviews saying what he was going to do and I wanted to see if he could fight as well as he talks.

“He said a few things I wasn’t too happy with, but these things happen and hopefully he will decided he wants fight again eventually and we can meet.”

Congolese Kamanga has won 21 of his 22 fights and confident of causing an upset, but Davies doesn’t intend on finding out too much about him before their BT Sport televised clash.

He added: “As always Frank Warren delivers and has come with Paul Kamanga. I have only just heard the name and I am going to have a look. “Kamanga’s record is good and he looks a real test for a fighter like myself who is all about winning world titles. “I will watch a bit of him, but I don’t think I need to because I am a smart fighter in that ring.

“With the new team that I have, I can adjust to any circumstances. I am in such good shape that I don’t see anyone being a threat to me, right now.”

Davies could face the winner of the Belfast clash between Jack Catterall and Tyrone McKenna, but wants the bigger prize, WBO champion Maurice Ho**er who shocked Terry Flanagan last weekend.

Ohara, 26, added: “Ho**er is someone I want because he is a world champion. I think he would be easier to beat than Terry Flanagan. “I was ringside and Terry should have got the decision. I thought he won and I know what I saw. “Styles make fights and Terry would be tougher to beat than Ho**er who will be easier.”

INTRODUCING SEVEN TIME NATIONAL CHAMPION JAMES ‘SPECIAL’ BRANCH: “I AM THE FUTURE OF BOXING!”

Amateur phenom James Branch is driven by the dream of lifting a barrow load of professional titles that eluded his father (also James).

Senior, a mercurially gifted junior at the Repton conveyor belt of champions in Bethnal Green, east London, was touted to shine on the world stage when he vaulted to the pro sphere under promoter Frank Warren back in the mid 1990s.

However, personal circumstances resulted in his immense potential remaining unfulfilled and he withdrew from the profession in his early 20s, after just four paid starts.

‘I’ve got to finish off the job Dad started,’ states the 22 year old southpaw who lifted seven All-England amateur titles including the 2017 Senior ABA Cruiserweight crown.

‘Dad was one of the best amateurs of his generation, a nine-time national (junior) champion who, like me, just missed out on the (1996) Olympics due to an injury. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for him as a pro. I came along and brought added pressure.

‘But he ‘made’ me. With mum, he’s my rock for every situation, a life coach as well as a boxing coach. He’s steered me through all the s**t side, the injuries and amateur politics.

‘Stylewise, we’re very similar though I’m probably a bit more flash and confident and, as a southpaw, even trickier. I’m quite ‘flairy’. I use my reactions, work off my opponents.
‘Though I started training aged eight, I couldn’t get any bouts in the UK because, one, I was James Branch’s son and, two, I was very big. I finally had my first bouts at a tournament in Denmark when I was 13 and I destroyed the Danish and Polish national champions. They complained afterwards that it couldn’t possibly have been my debut.

‘Initially, there were added pressures. It was always: ‘That’s ‘Special Branch’s’ Boy’. But, winning seven times in two and a half weeks to reach the (2014) Senior ABA final, aged just 17, helped me step out of the ‘old man’s’ shadow.

‘As a kid, I actually wanted to be a weatherman but, once winning became a habit, boxing became my life. There’s no better feeling than having your hand raised inside a boxing ring. I only lost three of my 50 amateur fights and I’m still fuming about them!

‘(Current Commonwealth cruiser king) Lawrence Okolie narrowly outpointed me in one of our two bouts, Warren Baister beat me in that ABA final when I was just 17 and the other loss was years ago against a kid I couldn’t name or even recognise now.’

When a back injury extinguished his goal of participating in the 2016 Rio Olympics, the ‘Special’ one continued in a singlet for a further season - finally adding that elusive Senior ABA title to the impressive family horde – before opting to punch for his lunch under Martin Bowers at The Peacock facility in Canning Town.

‘Twenty-two is very young to turn pro, especially for a cruiserweight but I’d already won all the national titles and couldn’t really work with the GB coaches in Sheffield. They did their best but had this ‘one-style suits all’ mentality and mine didn’t fit,’ says the Hainault born and based ex carpenter.

‘Working with Martin has been a blessing. Another mentor and a proper gent. He’s taken my strength and fitness to new levels.

‘It’d be nice to have three or four fights before the year is out but I’m in no rush. I intend to have a very long and successful career so I’ll take my time to adapt, settle into the profession and improve.’

After a false start at April’s aborted O2 bill, the evasive Branch kickstarts his professional innings in a four rounder on the parade of prospects at the Arena on June 23rd.

‘It’s a brilliant stage, a dream. Fans will see, I am the future,’ warns Jamie.
‘I know professional boxing is more a business and fans will be looking for me to spark people out in style. In the amateurs, you only have three rounds but I still stopped quite a few and plenty more were ‘broke’ by the final bell, didn’t know what was going on. With one more round, I’d have finished them.

‘I think my style will actually be very marketable for the pros. I’ve got excellent reflexes and natural awkwardness, and I can open opponents up with my movement.
‘Often in top amateur matches, fans were on the edge of their seats as a fired back with my hands down. I’m a very cool, relaxed customer who intends breaking opponents down, then stopping them.

‘Of course, it’s good to look a million dollars but next weekend I just intend to win, no matter what. If you keep winning, you won’t go wrong in this game!’

HORNY’ HARVEY HORN: “I’VE ALREADY HAD FOUR MINI WORLD TITLE BOUTS!”

After years of ambivalence and apathy, the small men of British boxing have become sexy again and ‘Horny’ Harvey Horn intends to be in the thick of the o**y.

Ex-European Under 22 king ‘Triple H’ joins former internationally decorated flies Andrew Selby, Paddy Barnes and Sunny Edwards in the paid brigade where the prizes and props will far exceed precious metal.

The 22 year old native cockney dazzled on his December debut, chopping up Czech Republic’s Denis Bartos in three, then bamboozled Bartos’ brother Patrik over four rounds in his second start last February.
Glynn Evans caught up with him ahead of his return to duty against 16-8-1 Hungarian Gyula Dodu at the O2 Arena on Saturday week.

After being overlooked for Rio 2016, weren’t you tempted to stay amateur and try to hit the podium at this year’s Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast or the 2020 Tokyo Olympics?
I was very tempted - two potentially great trips. I’d always thought there was no point us fighters in the lighter weights turning pro unless we had an Olympic medal but the smallest divisions have been generating far more interest lately and it’s only going to get better. Fights like Roman Gonzalez against (Srisaket Sor) Rungvisai are generating big bucks.
Also, I really enjoy the thought of becoming involved in the pundit side of the sport after I’ve retired and a successful pro career would heighten my profile. I always look good in front of a camera and I feel I’m quite knowledgeable.

Given you’re 5ft 7in tall, what weight range do you believe you’ll operate at, throughout your career?
When I develop my man strength it’s possible I could move up to super-fly. But right now, I could still make light flyweight (108lbs) once I get to international level - perhaps even straw weight or ‘Rizla weight’ as dad calls it (!) - but how much interest would there be? I’ve a big following already and would prefer to clean up the domestic (flyweight) rivals first.

And who might they be?!
Already me and Sunny (Edwards) are causing a stir on social media. Up in Sheffield, he was only on the GB Development Squad - the second string, the reserves – and he’s a bit resentful of being in the shadow of Podium Squad guys like myself and Galal Yafai. Sunny only won the ABAs when I didn’t enter! Though he’s quite slick and clever, he was always found wanting when given a chance to step up in the international tournaments. I’m not losing sleep.
Then there’s (Barry’s British champ) Andrew Selby and (Belfast’s Triple Olympian) Paddy Barnes. Fighters like (Commonwealth champ) Jay Harris lack the pedigree we’ve got. Paddy certainly shows no signs of slowing down unfortunately (laughs) but Selby is the main one; a very, very good boxer and a seriously hard bloke. Once, as a punishment for misbehaving in Thailand, he was forced to spar 10 consecutive rounds with Jack Bateson, Joe Maphosa and me...and he absolutely pi**ed it!

Which attributes specifically will help you advance in the pros and what changes have you needed to make to acclimatize?
My main assets will always be my speed and boxing brain. My heroes as a kid were the slick types like Pernell Whittaker and Roy Jones Jr. I’m adaptable and can usually find a way to win.
But I know I need to be more exciting, more explosive for the pros so I’ve made a few changes. I throw a lot more body punches now. On my debut I took the guy out with a body shot.

To what extent will you’re WSB experience accelerate your progression through the pros?
Massively. I couldn’t have had better preparation. Those four bouts were like mini world title fights against world class opponents....and I won three of them. The refs were very slack, forced you to fight your way out of clinches rather than call ‘break’.
The best I fought was the Mexican (Joselito) Velasquez. I was only 19 and it was a man against a boy. I started well but couldn’t keep him off. He nutted me, hit me with rabbit punches and in the kidneys. It’d be a different story if we met now.

What are your plans for the rest of 2018?
I intend to have a fight every two months. After one more four rounder, I’ll be up to six rounders. Mark (Tibbs, his coach) will decide when I’m ready for more but rounds ain’t the problem. The longer I’ve got to work opponents out, the more trouble they’re in.
I’m not seeking titles this year but if I’m gifted a chance at, say, The Southern Area, I’ll jump at it. I just want to get my name up.

..and beyond?
I intend to take every domestic title I can before dominating the international scene. I’ve already been fighting at world level for three years, and without vests, with small gloves in the WSB. Most British pro prospects around my weight haven’t boxed at that level.

What can the punters and TV fans expect to see from ‘Triple H’ at The O2 on June 23rd?
A performance just as exciting as my first two; two midgets really going at each other! I like to be economical and calculated – nothing messy –but I’ll definitely be looking to take the guy out. I’ve only got four rounds to achieve that so I guarantee there’ll be plenty of action.