No Fun In The Spanish Sun For Lanzarote Bound Upton

Sonny Upton says he’ll have no time for sightseeing when he boxes in Lanzarote later this month.

The welterweight ace has been to Bulgaria, Italy and Ireland in his seven month professional career and will look to improve his international credentials further against an as yet to be confirmed opponent at El Pabellon in La Villa de Teguise on May 31.

Most Brits head to the Canary Islands for sun, sangria and nights on the tiles, but Upton says the only clubbing he’ll be doing will be with his fists.

“It’s great to be boxing in a new place and showing people what I can do,” Sonny, 24, said.

“Like everyone else, I’d like to be laid on the beach sunbathing in Lanzarote, but I’ve got a job to do and I can’t afford to let a bit of sun distract me.

“I was robbed on my debut against a boxer from the Canary Islands (Nabil Krissi) so I hope boxing close to his backyard will make him take notice and he’ll agree to the rematch I’ve been chasing since last October.”

Upton is trained and promoted by four-time world boxing champion Ricky Hatton and the Hitman is certainly expecting an explosive performance from his charge.

“Sonny has really come on leaps and bounds since he started training with us and I think the fans in Lanzarote will go away raving about him,” Hatton said.

“He obviously had a bit of setback on his debut, but he’s never let that get him down. Some fighters sulk after a controversial loss, but Sonny just became more determined than ever and I think that has shown in his two fights since.

“I know people in Britain haven’t seen much of him yet and, after a couple more international fights, I’m hoping to get him on some home shows later this year.”