Tyson Fury Vs Dereck Chisora: THE BOXING UNDERCARD
By Donald C. Stewart
Recently transatlantic travel for UK celebrities has been much in the news. The accent of one Cheryl Cole from the North East of England is hard enough for us in the UK to comprehend at times but the fact that she was allegedly sent packing from the X Factor gig because she was too hard to understand does not come as a surprise to any of us this side of the Atlantic.
Having a career that has success on both sides of the pond can be hard.
One Ashley Theophane 29-4-1, 7 KO’s, is attempting to do just that. The much respected light welterweight fighter has managed a career that has seen him start his career in the famed York Hall in Bethnal Green in London and continued with bouts in Connecticut, Texas and New York as well as Germany and St Lucia. His determination to succeed has seen him travel but also win abroad.
You would think this included a long career with 50+ fights but Theophane has had only 34 fights in an 8 year career that started that night in York Hall in 2003. His second fight of the year on 23rd July sees him defend his British light welterweight title against Welsh Champion Jason Cook. Live from Wembley Arena the card includes the British Heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury, 14-0, 10 KO’s, and Dereck Chisora, 14-0, 9 KO’s.
Splitting his training between London and New York City – his adopted home, Theophane is preparing for the next step on his journey towards World title fame. Theophane came across to the US because he saw the big fighters train there and hail from there as he grew up as a kid.
The four losses on his record may have held him back as a 34 fight record would suggest that, though he has travelled and fought well with plenty of experience under his belt, he ought to already be there – fighting at World level. It was going to Gleason’s Gym in New York and sparring with some world class fighters that convinced Theophane he had a future and a career in the game. He now wants and needs to prove himself to the rest of the world.
He now dreams of bigger fights and has even suggested taking on the winner of the Judah – Khan contest. Defending the British title not once but a few times should be his reality. Then the European belt would be the next step. In the Light Welterweight Division in the UK, having beaten Lenny Daws for the title and now taking on Jason Cook 28-3, 14 KO’s, in his first defense, he could see himself up against the likes of current European Champion Paul McCloskey or Nigel Wright or even Willie Limond who has re-discovered his desire for the ring.
First of all he has to get past a former IBO and European Lightweight Champion who is no slouch. Of his three losses, one was in a Prizefighter Semi Final, one in only his sixth professional contest and one fighting for the IBO lightweight title. Jason Cook will be no pushover and Theophane has the opportunity to show the World just how good he could be.
In the World there are so many decent Light Welterweights including Maidana, Alexander, Soto, Peterson and Guzman that, should Theophane defend his title this time round and impress, he could be within a shot of a very attractive fight.
Fighting on terrestrial TV, on Channel Five in the UK, means that Theophane will get decent exposure at one of his homes but he will need more than that. He will be fighting on the “Big Brawl” undercard and, with the Heavyweight Division looking for a hero the attention this card will get can do nothing but help his cause. He admits he would love a couple of defenses of his British title before moving on through the European route and has dismissed his need to move divisions. He is a natural light welterweight but has fought at welterweight for most of his career. He can make light welterweight easily and as said before, the division is highly competitive. It would benefit from Theophane’s increased presence and his increasing confidence might give us all something to look forward to in 2012.
Mind you Jason Cook winning would not be a disaster for UK boxing. Cook lost in prizefighter to Gavin Rees, 35-1, 16 KO’s – current European and British lightweight holder- who went on and won the Prizefighter tournament. Cook is looking for a way back in and the contest has come at the right time for him to get back on track for another shot at a World title.
With equally matched ambitions this could be the fight of the night and it being a dangerous contest for both boxers, which means we are in for a good contest. For UK boxing we have been sorting this out domestically, all we need to do is find the right prospect and match it on a world stage.
