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It has been a solitary existence in the gym for Deptford’s light middleweight prospect Anthony Small, 12-0, (7), as he prepares for his return to action next weekend.
The 25-year-old Muslim, who celebrates Ramadan later this month, is currently fasting during the day and consequently has been forced to train predominantly at night. However, he believes that such nocturnal activity may actually benefit him come fight night.
Small’s next fight takes place at the Elephant & Castle Recreation Centre on Saturday, October 21. Headlining the bill will be Ryan Barrett and Henry Castle, who meet to decide the Southern Area featherweight title. His opponent is expected to be announced on Friday.
Although another Londoner, former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Danny Williams chose to withdraw from a fight because of Ramadan, Small is confident that he can still perform and predicts an emphatic victory.
He said: “I do most of my training about 9.30 to 10pm at night, and then I’ll have some food afterwards, but I fast throughout the day. It isn’t going too badly at all, and because I’m training later, I’ll be totally tuned in for the fight at about that time a week Saturday night.
“It definitely looks that I’ll be getting plenty of fights this year, the real target is to get the British title, and maybe a couple of defences this season.”
The unorthodox fighter is being tipped for British success before too long by trainer Adam Booth, who praised his fighter for working at nights in order to stay active.
“It’s during Ramadan at the minute,” Booth said, “but he is doing really well. He’s been training during the night, and then doing his sleep during the day, and he’s doing it the right way around.
“We’re definitely making big strides towards a British title fight before the end of the year, and he’s also fighting on November 17, and we’ll be looking to give him opposition which will put him in the frame for that title.
“He’s an unorthodox fighter, and very evasive. He’s a little bit like a Naseem Hamed but with longer arms, very heavy handed and hard to hit. Until he’s challenged in the ring, it’s all potential, but he has all the physical and mental attributes to be a great boxer.”
The fight card at Southwark’s Elephant and Castle is scheduled for next weekend, and his second fight of the autumn will be on the undercard of David Haye’s European title bout against Italian Giacobbe Fragomeni.
Courtesy www.frankmaloney.com
