‘I’m very grateful to be back doing what I love’ – Connor
Connor Edney pledged to put on a show for his Portsmouth backing as he prepares to get his professional career back up and running.
The Horndean-based featherweight had to put boxing on hold after his pro debut victory on South Parade Pier in October 2019.
Unable to find the necessary sponsorship backing to keep him going with smallhall shows hard to come by following the coronavirus outbreak, Edney has gone more than two years without a bout.
But, finally, after a ‘hard’ period away from the sport he loves, the 26-year-old is returning to the ring tonight in the Bendall's Boxing promoted South Parade Pier show - the same venue where he defeated Pablo Narvaez on his debut.
This time around, his opponent is 1-19 Lancashirebased Stephen Jackson and Edney could not be more hungry to provide his supporters with an explosive performance given such a prolonged spell out of the ring having briefly been forced to give up on boxing.
‘It was October 2019 I last boxed at South Parade Pier. Since then, Covid kicked in I wasn't able to box - I didn't have the sponsorship or backing to box at all,’ said Edney.
‘All my fights come off ticket sales and I wasn't able to sell tickets at that time. I made the decision to halt off my career for a bit, now we're back again, back in action and I feel great.
‘I feel very grateful to be back doing what I love because it was hard for me not to continue boxing because boxing is all I've ever known, really. Stopping doing that because of money was quite hard for me to make that decision.
‘Now we're back, I'm really excited to fight again, we're going to put on a show. With me, all you get is action, you're going to get value for money with me.
‘I'm not going to rob the fans of good money that they've paid to come watch me, they're going to get a show as per usual.’
But given such a long period between his debut and second pro bout, Edney wants the fights to keep coming quickly after his welcome ring return.
He added: ‘Hopefully the crowd is as loud as they were for the first one (pro debut), hopefully we can raise it again and just keep going. I just want to keep the fights flowing now and have a full and successful career.
‘I made the decision to halt off my career for a bit, now we're back again, back in action and I feel great.’
Edney’s contest is one of six bouts scheduled for the South Parade Pier show.
Bognor’s Liam Griffiths makes his ring return after more than two years out against Dale Arrowsmith.
Locks Heath’s Matt King meets Sussex’s Carl Turney in a four-round welterweight battle, while Robert Caswell bids to extend his 1-0 record when he faces professional debutant Myron Patrick in a four-round super featherweight showdown.
Completing the card are 1-7 pro Eric Nwankwo in a four-round super middleweight contest and Gemma Reug comes up against Slovakian Claudia Ferenczi in the evening’s only femal bout over eight, two-minute rounds at super bantamweight.