Burton hopes to be back on track
MANCHESTER’S former British light-heavyweight champion Hosea Burton believes he can kick-start his career with victory in the GoldenContract tournament.
The 31-year-old, who is trained by Joe Gallagher in Bolton, takes his place in the eight-man tournament kicking off at the Brentwood Centre on December 14.
It will be only ‘The Hammer’s’ second fight of the year following his points victory over Edgars Sniedze in July which took his record to 14-1.
And he is planning to unleash his frustrations at being overlooked for some of the bigger fights over the last 12 months on whoever he draws in the quarter-finals when the draw is made next Wednesday.
“Winning this tournament would put my career back to where it should have been three years ago, so this is a must-win tournament,” said Burton, whose only loss is to Frank Buglioni in 2016.
“This will put me where I need to be. I’ve been ducked and avoided for three years now and this will be big for me.”
Liam Conroy, Steven Ward, another former British champion Bob Ajisafe, Tommy Philbin, Serge Michel, Andre Sterling and Ricards Bolotniks are also in the competition, the winner of which will receive a two-year, five-fight deal with sixfigure purses for each fight guaranteed through Matchroom Boxing. The tournament will be shown live on Sky Sports.
“It’s exciting now the line-up is complete and I just can’t wait for it all to happen.
“It’s not an easy tournament because there are a few dangerous names in there, but I’m more than capable of winning it.
“At the end of this tournament, there’s a huge contract. What lies beyond this tournament for me will be big nights and world title fights either here or in America.
“That’s what I want out of this and that’s what’s going to happen.”