Torquay’s Andrews aspiring to be the next Anthony Joshua
NATIONAL champion Ben Andrews is determined to follow in the footsteps of heavyweight star Anthony Joshua after becoming English Elite amateur champion.
Andrews, from Torquay, thrust Torbay Boxing Club into the national spotlight after fighting his way to the title in Manchester.
Andrews’ success was thrown into sharp focus as no boxer from the South West has ever won the England Boxing National Elite Amateur Championships since its inception in 1881.
Previous winners of the championships include Tyson Fury, Frank Bruno and Henry Cooper.
Now Andrews’ heroics has earned him an invitation from Great Britain Boxing for an assessment based in Sheffield where he will spend the weekend training with some of the top coaches in the country.
Having scaled the amateur heights, Andrews is hoping he can emulate Joshua and one day compete in the Olympics.
Andrews, 22, said: “I started boxing at the age of 18 and have never looked back.
“Anthony Joshua inspired me originally given that he was also 18 years old and was a bricklayer like me.
“It made me think I could do the same as him – start at a late age and make my way up the ranks.
“It doesn’t matter when you start a sport, if you want to enough you can make things happen.
“So I would like to say thank you to Anthony Joshua for making me believe anything is possible.
“My dream is to fight in the Olympics just like AJ did and be the best possible fighter I can be.
“One of my other boxing idols has to be Muhammad Ali for what he did in the ring and also out of the ring.”
The Shiphay-based big hitter was imperious as he clinched a quarterfinal victory over reigning champion, Chidi Amanna, of Britannia Boxing Club following a split decision victory.
Andrews secured his place in the final of the Male Under 86kg category after triumphing over Romford’s Timothy Ola in the semi-finals thanks to a second-round stoppage before lifting the crown thanks to a split decision win over Tegan Stott from Sheffield.
The final was televised live on the BBC and Ben exploded into action in the first two rounds of the final, landing some heavy body shots and jabs to the head.
An action-packed final round saw Stott come roaring back, but Andrews had done enough in the first two rounds to seal the title.
Andrews added: “I am so proud to have won the title - all the hard work has paid off.
“I faced some tough opponents along the way but found a way to win my fights.
“To be fighting at this level is a dream come true and it has given me a real appetite to progress and improve in the future.
“I would like to say a special thanks to my coach, Darrell Asplen, who has been a huge inspiration for me. The dedication and commitment he has shown is second to none and he always believed in me.
“The tireless work he does for all the members of the club speaks volumes about the passion he has for the sport and his drive for boxers to reach their potential.”
Darrell Asplen, head coach at Torbay Boxing Club, commented: “Congratulations to Ben on a quite remarkable achievement.
“I could see the potential he had soon after he started boxing and this is a culmination of hard work, desire and a will to win.
“Ben has a tremendous attitude, and he can go far in the sport if he continues to strive to succeed.”