BRITAIN’S heavyweight hope Anthony Joshua weighed in for his return from injury today (April 3). He’d travelled far from his Watford home to Newcastle but a healthy crowd turned out just to see him step on the scales. Joshua weighed 17st 7lbs, his American opponent Jason Gavern, the shorter man, came in just a pound lighter.
“These things are going to happen,” Joshua said earlier of his injuries, “it’s how you deal with them, you have to stay positive, be smart, listen to the advice of the medial experts and pick up the momentum again and continue on the path I am on.” Click HERE for more from the Olympic super-heavyweight gold medallist.
Joshua-Gavern is scheduled for eight rounds, though none of his professional opponents so far have managed to last the course. Click HERE to read Gavern’s take on the challenge ahead of him.
On tomorrow’s show at the Metro Radio Arena Anthony Nelson, 8st 1/2lbs, boxes Jamie Wilson, 8st, for the Commonwealth super-flyweight title.
Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Scottish hero Charlie Flynn has his second professional fight. He weighed 9st 12 1/2lbs and subjected Andy Harris, 9st 9lbs, to a ferocious head-to-head staredown. Jeff Saunders, who is having his pro debut, brought an edge of aggression pressed his forehead into Sandor Racz, who didn’t back off. Jeff, an ABA champion, is the younger brother of Bradley Saunders, who would have headlined this bill against Commonwealth champion Dave Ryan if a damaged hand hadn’t sidelined him.
Scottish cruiser Stephen Simmons weighed 14st 2lbs. He boxes local favourite Jon-Lewis Dickinson, who was half a pound lighter, in a scheduled 10 rounder. The latter’s brother, Travis Dickinson gets an eight-round outing against Mustafa Chadlioui. The former was 12st 9lbs, the latter 12st 8lbs.
2010 Commonwealth Games champion Simon Vallily, an intimidating 14st 7lbs cruiserweight, has his seventh professional contest tomorrow. He goes in with Wlodzimierz Letz, 14st 7 1/2lbs.
Stephen Smith, 9st 7lbs, is another fighter to look out for on the undercard. Back from injury himself, he boxes for the second time in a week.
