On Wednesday evening, at Johnny Eames’ TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, British Cruiserweight title challenger Leon Williams completed the final sparring session of his training camp, for next Friday’s highly anticipated showdown with current Champ Rob Norton at the York Hall in Bethnal Green.
Whilst it’s not unusual for other fighters to catch as much of a sparring session as possible, it is rare for a whole gym of top class fighters, that includes the likes of Frankie Gavin, Erick Ochieng, Billy Joe Saunders, Mitchell Balker etc, and trainers such as Jimmy Tibbs, Mark Tibbs and Bryan Lawrence to halt their training regimes in order to watch the ensuing battles, which in itself speaks volumes of the intensity and quality of the session.
As the bell rang to bring the final round to a finish, the suffocating air of tension that encompassed the gym was shattered by the sound of thirty or so pairs of hands erupting into enthusiastic applause for the sensational performance.
At the very same moment Williams’, as well as co-trainers Johnny Eames and Barry Smith’s, serious expressions broke into beaming smiles, as the knowledge that the job was done and they were well and truly ready dawned on them.
Once the round of congratulations came to an end Johnny Eames just couldn’t hide his contented smile as he said, “We’ve just finished the last twelve rounds of Leon Williams sparring.
He’s sparred with three different big southpaws, who all fought in the style of Rob Norton. To be honest he dusted everyone of them up.
He’s ready, now I can’t wait ‘til fight night, Leon can’t wait ‘til fight night.
I’m really confident and looking forward to the TKO having another British Champion in the house.”
Leon ‘Solid’ Williams versus Rob Norton for the British Cruiserweight Championship headlines the Francis and George Warren’s Queensberry Promotions event at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, and broadcast live on BoxNation (Sky Platform Ch. 456), on Friday the 21st October 2011.
Heading up the support card for this battle of the big boys will pitch Cromer, Norfolk’s Ryan Walsh against Melsham, Wiltshire’s Liam Richards for the vacant English Super Bantamweight title.
The stacked undercard also features the UK debut of unbeaten Irishman Dean ‘Irish Lightning’ Byrne, Penge’s unbeaten Welterweight Bradley Skeet,
Croydon Light Welter Danny Davis and the debut of Peckham Welterweight John Garton, all against yet to be named opponents.
Tickets, priced £40 (standard seated) and £60 (ringside) for Williams vs. Norton are available now, either direct from Leon Williams – tickets are also be available at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA and on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com
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