23.01.07 – Ecentric light-middleweight contender Anthony Small is hoping green power will propel him to a British title by the end of the year. With global warming becoming an increasingly big political issue, Small is determined to do his bit to protect the environment – and is proud of being boxing’s number one Eco Warrior. Where he’s concerned there are no gas guzzling 4x4s – just his trusty bicycle..
“I see all these pampered Premiership footballers driving around in their big flash motors with their WAGs in tow and it makes me mad,” Said Small.
“Don’t they realise what they are doing to the planet? In this day and age, everyone should be making a big effort to cut down on their carbon foot prints,”
“I used to have an electric scooter but I’ve packed that in now and just have a bike. I ain’t damaging the environment anymore, just opponents who face me,”
“Even as a schoolboy I’ve been interested in the environment, and while you might expect a world class boxer to have a fleet of sports cars, my bike does me just fine.
“The only thing that worries me is that I’m so hot, I might melt the polar ice caps all by myself!”
Small boxes at Wembley Arena on February 17, and looks to make it 16 wins from 16 starts on the big bill topped by Audley Harrison’s EU heavyweight challenge against Michael Sprott, which will be screened live on ITV1.
And he is hoping to get himself in a position to challenge for a Lonsdale belt by the time the year is out.
“The one place I don’t look to conserve energy is the boxing ring,” said the 25-year-old from Deptford, South London.
“Whenever I fight I give it 100 per cent, and my sights are firmly set on the British title. I believe I’m already the best 154 pounder in the country, and I’m going to take great delight in proving it this year.
“Flakes like Jamie Moore, Michael Jones, Wayne Alexander, Thomas McDonagh and Bradley Pryce had better watch out, because I’m coming to get them. I’m all for taking my glass to the bottle bank, but they’ve been bottling it for far too long!”
Also on the Wembley Arena card is Graham Earl’s WBO Interim World Lightweight title challenge against Michael Katsidis, plus Amir Khan, Ross Minter, Vinny Mitchell, Derek Chisora, Tommy Saunders and Don Broadhurst.
Tickets for England Expects are available on 0870 060 3794