Graham Earl to sacrifice christmas

Photocopier-the revenge! · Post by **Photocopier-the revenge!** » 21 Dec 2005, 13:39

A good read from britboxing.net concerning Graham Earl ...

QUOTE
Luton's Graham Earl will sacrifice Christmas in order to train for his upcoming contest with Russian Yuri Romanov at the Goresbrook Leisure Centre in Dagenham at the end of January.

The likeable British and Commonwealth champion who is currently 23-1 will be away from his family over the Christmas period and locked away in the seclusion of training camp with the rest of the team.

Earl knows that the fight with Romanov will have massive implications on the World lightweight scene as the Russian is 17-1 and hasn't lost since his fourth fight back in May 2002, when he was defeated by top European light-welterweight Krzysztof Bienias over ten rounds in a challenge for the IBF Youth title.

Since that defeat Romanov has won all of his fourteen contests and over the period has won the WBA Youth title and the Eastern European Boxing Association title.

It will be Romanov's third fight in Britain, he stopped Steve Murray and the British title holder of the time Bobby Vanzie, who lost his title on points in his next fight to Earl. Of course Earl has also beaten Murray twice.

Romanov's other visit to Britain was to box at the same venue as where he competes on the 27th January when he beat Steve Conway on points over eight rounds.

Romanov hasn't been seen the squared circle for fourteen months due to a shoulder injury, his last outing being against another frequent visitor to these shores Sergey Starkov, who he defeated in ten rounds to win the aforementioned EEBA title.

Earl who has been a professional for eight years knows full well that sacrifice equals success, "I know Christmas is a time for families and celebration but boxing is the hardest sport in the world and this a major opportunity for me to gatecrash the world rankings".

Earl added "Myself and my team are willing to make this sacrifice to become a major player in the lightweight division".

Earl is risking a lot in taking on Romanov as he has just been made challenger for the European lightweight title against Spaniard Juan Carlos Melero Diaz which is currently out for negotiations which expire just a week after the Romanov fight.

The Maloney promotions show will also feature Gary ‘Hot Stuff' Woolcombe, Cruiserweight prospect Junior McDonald, undefeated lightweight Craig Watson and the hot prospect Sam Webb and will be shown live on Sky Sports.

I know a lot of you think Earl can win this fight ... personally regardless of the result I certainly do not put Graham in the World Class Standard!

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 21 Dec 2005, 13:43

Christmas turkey or no, Romanov, even a rusty version, will have too much for Earl.

Anyone else get the feeling this cat is running out of lives?

kevin · Post by **kevin** » 21 Dec 2005, 16:56

Earl has been made official challenger for the European title so they are obviously confident of beating Romanov

JimmyJamJerusalem · Post by **JimmyJamJerusalem** » 21 Dec 2005, 21:37

I think alot of Romanov, I hope he is not too rusty, but I agree with Terry. He will be too much for Earl!!

Nels · Post by **Nels** » 22 Dec 2005, 05:11

Y'know, might just be me, but when I read something saying "so and so is sacrificing Christmas", images of ritual slaughter on a stone slab in the name of eldritch Lovecraftian Elder Gods spring to mind.

Dunno why...