AMATEURS
The boxers look forward to taking on the Kazakhstan Arlans for a place in the World Series of Boxing nal
WSB semi-final first leg preview
FOR the first time the British Lionhearts will contest a World Series of Boxing match in Sheffield, the hometown of GB Boxing. On Thursday (May 17) they will take on Kazakhstan over five five-round contests at the Ponds Forge Sports Centre in the first leg of this season’s semi-finals.
For Galal Yafai [pictured] it means little chance of rest and relaxation. Fresh after winning the Commonwealth Games in Australia he goes straight into action again. “They said I could have a break but I’d rather get back in, do WSB. I enjoy doing them and we’ve haven’t got that many competitions coming up for the rest of the year,” Yafai told Boxing News.
“I’m fit now, I’m confident, I’m back from the Commonwealth Games a gold medallist.”
He is expecting a hard battle in Sheffield against Termitas Zhussupov. “He’s experienced in WSB,” Yafai said. “He’s quite good to be fair, he beat the world champion twice, the Cuban [ Joahnys Argilagos]. It’s going to be a tough night but I’ll be fit and strong. It should be interesting.”
Yafai takes plenty of heart from his performances in Australia. “The best I fought was the Indian [Amit]. I think the best performance was maybe the Sri Lankan [Thiwanka Ranasinghe] in the semi-final. I stopped him in the last round. I’d watched the Sri Lankan in the Asian Games against [Hasanboy] Dusmatov. Dusmatov won but he was having a good little go and he looked impressive. I felt comfortable and strong in that,” Galal said. “I knew I had to put pressure on [the Indian in the final]. I didn’t want to give him room because he’s a good boxer.” Yafai took that decision and the gold medal.
The rest of the Lionhearts team at the Ponds Forge Sports Center will be comprised of foreign heavyweight signing Radoslav Pantaleev, skilled middleweight Ben Whittaker, who has also returned from Gold Coast 2018, and Niall Farrell boxing at 56kgs.
Light-welterweight Dalton Smith, who won the England Boxing Elite championships in April will also be boxing in his own home city. Smith is a veteran of the 2016 WSB final against Cuba in Uzbekistan. “The Kazakhstan team is full of world class boxers but there is also a lot of talent in our line-up and we have a good track record in the competition so, whilst we respect our opponents, we do not fear them,” he said. “It is the third time we have met the Arlans in the semi-final and although they beat us last year, we won in 2016, so it should be another close match.
“It’s great for the people of Sheffield that WSB is coming to the city. Anyone that likes their boxing should definitely come along as they will see some top quality action from two world class teams.
“The tickets are great value for money and people would have to pay a lot more for a pro show. Every bout will be a 50-50 fight, that could go either way, and it is guaranteed to be entertaining.”
Tickets are on sale now, priced £11 (including booking fee), at https://www. seetickets.com/event/british-lionheartsworld-series-of-boxing/pond-forge-intlsports-centre/1224730.
‘IM FIT, I’M CONFIDENT AND BACK FROM GOLD COAST 2018 A CHAMPION’