20.09.06 – Scottish super-middleweight hotshot Kenny Anderson won’t have far to go in his chosen profession if he needs advice – legendary 168-pounder Steve Collins is part of his team. Anderson, who won a gold medal at light-heavy at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year, makes his professional debut at the M.E.N Arena on October 14. The best super-middleweight in the world, Joe Calzaghe, headlines the show with a defence of his WBO and IBF titles against Sakio Bika, and Anderson hopes that in a few years time he’ll be following in the Welshman’s footsteps..
And if he does reach the top, then Irishman Collins will be one of the men he has to thank.
“It’s great to know that Steve is always on the end of the phone,” said Anderson. “When I was growing up he was my ultimate hero,”
“He’s already given me some great advice about the fight game, and what I should do be looking to do as a professional,”
“But the best advice he has given me so far is pretty simple – work as hard as I can, always give 100% and knuckle down, and that’s what I intend to do,”
Former WBO World Super-Middleweight champion Collins was on hand, along with WBC World Champion Nigel Benn, when Anderson, 23, announced he would be leaving the amateur sport earlier this year.
Anderson is under the training supervision of Peter Harrison, father of WBO World Featherweight Champion Scott, and is looked after by former pro Barry Hughes and promoted by Frank Warren.
“I feel my style is better suited to the professional ranks,” said Anderson. “I’ve already got some good tips from Peter and Billy, and although we are all mates outside the ring, they push me incredibly hard during training. It’s not been easy,”
“I really can’t wait until October 14, fighting on such a big card will give me a huge buzz,”
“People talk to me about pressure, but I fought five times in 10 days in Melbourne in front of 8,000 people at the venue and millions watching world-wide on television, so I won’t be too nervous,”
“I love doing what I do on a big stage, and I want to go out there and prove myself on a world level,”
“There’s a great feeling to Scottish boxing at the moment with the likes of Scott Harrison, Alex Arthur and Willie Limond doing so well, but on a wider scale the British scene is doing fantastically too.”
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MURRAY WILL GET BURNT
Ricky Burns is preparing for his British Super-Featherweight Title Eliminator against Manchester’s John Murray by sparring with former foe Alex Arthur.
The tough Coatbridge scrapper took British, Commonwealth and European king Arthur the distance in February and has enlisted his help for the big-fight on the Calzaghe-Bika undercard.
Arthur said, “Ricky is looking fantastic in our spars together and has come on well since our fight. I’ve always rated Ricky as a very good fighter but it wasn’t his time when we fought. However, that loss is the making of him, like my loss to Michael Gomez was to me, and I expect him to go all the way to the top from here. He’s got a tough fight against Murray but Ricky has the style to beat him.”
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SMITH IS THE DADDY
Middleweight puncher Paul Smith has become a father for the first time ahead of his Central Area title fight against Dean Walker.
Smith’s partner gave birth Janine to a baby boy weighing in at 7lb 11oz and will be named Paul.
Smigga won Silver at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and has since rocketed to an unbeaten record of 17-0 with eight knockouts – seven have been inside the first two rounds.
“I feel great and with becoming a dad for the first time I’m over the moon,” said Smith
“I’ve been getting my hands dirty changing nappies but now I can’t wait to get in the ring and win my first title. I’m fully focused on my fight against Walker and I don’t reckon Walker will stand up to what I’ve got.”
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WOODHOUSE ADDED
Curtis Woodhouse will have his second professional fight on the big M.E.N show.
The former Sheffield United captain made his pro-debut earlier this month on the DebRA charity show at the Grosvenor House Hotel and beat Dean Marcoantonio on points – despite never having a fight (in the ring!) before.
Woodhouse will go in again over 4 X 2 minute rounds at welterweight.
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