ONCE IN A LIFETIME
Heavyweight prospect Michael Webster looks back on his amateur career, writes Adam Steel
MIDDLESBROUGH big man Michael Webster is ready to make his mark as a professional cruiserweight after an “inspiring” year training in the shadow of Anthony Joshua on the GB Podium Potential squad.
The towering Teessider - a multiple late stage maker in the national Elite championships and a national Novice champion - has signed a three-year management deal with Rothwell’s Michael Marsden and is aiming to make a Spring debut.
A tall, upright boxer at 6ft 6in with a high workrate, the 26-yearold never got to box for GB while hampered by hand injuries, but is now niggle-free and excited about his new challenge after relishing the 12 months training with and around Sheffield-based Joshua and the top amateurs.
“GB was great and a once-in-alifetime experience that not many people get to do,” said Webster, who will combine his boxing career with a job in social care.
“I learned a lot with all of the different training regimes, and you can’t help but be inspired seeing Anthony Joshua all the time and what he has achieved to become world heavyweight champion after coming from nothing.
“I’m from somewhere where there’s not a lot either, but seeing what Joshua’s done gives us all hope as boxers.
“He was always encouraging me to work hard, and gave me some advice about turning pro, and I got to spar him and Frazer Clarke, and sparred Solomon Dacres a lot.
“I just think now is the right time to turn over, and I believe I’ve got the skills and determination to go a long way in what I think is a wideopen division.”
It will be a case of foes reunited for Webster when he travels to Marsden’s gym to spar Doncaster heavyweight Dave Allen, who beat the Teessider on points in a CYP Championships bout when they were both raw teenagers. “I was a skinny 15-year-old and never a heavyweight,” Webster recalls. “For the first two rounds I hardly let my hands go, but still managed to break my thumb... I finally threw some punches in the last round and nearly stopped him - Dave admits even now he was knackered.
“We still talk on social media and it will be good to do some rounds with him. He’s big, strong and experienced.”