Neil Sinclair

[Neri]

Boxing: Sinclair signs with US manager Hoffman

By David Kelly
[email protected]

22 December 2005
FORMER British welterweight champion Neil Sinclair will re-launch his career in America in the New Year.

In a shock move Sinclair has agreed to move to New York where he will be managed by American Stan Hoffman.

The Belfast man, whose career seemed to be on the slide after a fall-out with promoter allegedly, believes that the States will offer him a final, golden chance to fulfil his potential.

"It's the change that I need. It's a shame in some ways but nothing was happening here," said Sinclair who should return to the ring on February 14 in New York.

The 31-year-old will be based at a training camp near the Catskill Mountains, the area where Mike Tyson learned his trade with legendary coach Cus D'Amato.

Sinclair, who up to now has been coached by John Breen, will be trained by Tracey Harris Patterson, the son of former world heavyweight champion Floyd.

The move came about after Sinclair had gone to the Big Apple to help Raymond Joval prepare for his successful IBO middleweight title fight with Shannon Taylor in Australia last month.

"I knew I felt good there pretty quickly. After the first day of sparring they were plying me a lot of compliments and they couldn't understand why nobody wanted to promote me in Britain," added Sinclair.

"They were so impressed that they asked me to go to Australia to finish off the training and so I decided to go down with them. I even carried the belt into the ring and the first person Joval thanked afterwards when he got the mike was me.

"They felt that I had worked him hard and got him into shape for the fight and it worked out very well for the both of us.

"So Stan Hoffman will be my manager and I will be trained by Tracey Harris Patterson, who's a good coach and he's already been giving me some pointers."

Sinclair has had his fair share of problems over the years but said: "I can't get enough of boxing now. I'm loving it, watching it and just the whole environment in the States got me buzzing again," he added. "I think that I have turned a corner now."

[theguru]

A man searching for answer when they have been under his nose all along

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

A change is as good as a rest.

Well for one I'm happy for him, I like Neil, and was gutted when he stopped appearing.

[Daveyswan]

Deffinelty I think with the correct training and new hunger he has more than enough ability to make a big impression.

daveyswan