Zelfa Barrett Inks With Eddie Hearn

[emallini]

Ronnie hasnt improved? Course he improved.

He fought ward who is on brink of world title and IMO was unlucky. The first 6 rounds were closer than the last 6 in that fight. Ronnie had him all over the place. Switch the commentary off( Darren Barker actually apologised to me it was that bad, mjw best mate).

Other losses he was robbed against craig Evan's, troy james was a close fight he was terrible that night.

As for cacace ask guys like tom stalker, Derry Matthew's etc ronnie was in marbella with jamie conlan and John thain holding his pads. Messing about, was not ronnie in there and he still gave a good account of himself. It happens and he learns from it.

Ronnie came from kickboxing and nobody has took that many 50.50 fights in their first 10. Should be commended. He was robbed against ryan walsh and Maxi Hughes given draws in their back garden.

And you talk about Zelfa making excuses lol

[fizzjambo]

Twin threads developing here!

To be fair to the JamieM I think he’s either related to Clark or at least knows him well. He’s just sticking up for his man, we’d all do the same. Ronnie’s from my neck of the woods and although I don’t know him at all he’s done well in boxing given he came into it late and has almost always found himself in the away corner. He’s tough as the come and game as fornicate. I’ve not seen all his fights by any means but from what I’ve seen he’s legitimately top end British level and would have won that title in some eras in my opinion. I don’t think he’s a better fighter than Walsh, Ward or Cacace but there’s no shame in that. He’s fought more top ten UK level guys than probably anyone else around just now and deserves respect for that. He’s a hard man and a better boxer than some give him credit for.

I like Zelfa and, with a bit of good fortune, I could see him winning a European title. I’m a wee bit surprised he left Warren as there are plenty of good fights to be made in that stable with Bowen, Sharp, Cacace, etc. He might get a shot at Cordina with Matchroom I suppose but I can’t see Ward wanting to box at domestic level again, he seems to have been trying to line up a version of a world title fight recently, although that seems a wee bit past him tbh.

Either way hope he goes well. I find him a good watch and hopefully it works out for him.

[PredatorHayds]

Ronnie lost or drew a bunch of times, including getting KTFO by Anto, has he not improved throughout his career?

Ronnie beat Zelfa clearly but Zelfa is a good boxer, quick and with some solid skills, though maybe lacking in power and strength. He's not gonna set the world alight but I think he can do well and come on from when he fought Ronster

I had Zelfa nicking the Clark fight. I thought it was close.

[Boxerbeetle]

Ronnie lost or drew a bunch of times, including getting KTFO by Anto, has he not improved throughout his career?

Ronnie beat Zelfa clearly but Zelfa is a good boxer, quick and with some solid skills, though maybe lacking in power and strength. He's not gonna set the world alight but I think he can do well and come on from when he fought Ronster

I had Zelfa nicking the Clark fight. I thought it was close.

Really? I haven’t watched it back since seeing it live, but I don’t remember there being any doubt in my mind that Ronnie won.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[PredatorHayds]

I had Zelfa nicking the Clark fight. I thought it was close.

Really? I haven’t watched it back since seeing it live, but I don’t remember there being any doubt in my mind that Ronnie won.

Have to dig my score out.
When Clark won his rounds he won them big. I had Zelfa nicking a few of the closer rounds.

[JamieM]

No chance in hell zelfa won that fight lol. The 2 score cards I'm sure 116-111 were bang on. Watching it live to on tv with bias is different story.

Ronnie isnt a world beater far from it but he was learning on the job and I believe he has potential to avenge all his defeats. Sadly when you take so many 50.50 fights with odds stacked against you then something has to give. He never once got a full camp for any fight. He pretty much part trained himself and soon as he did be a professional then it was evident. I believe if be fought MJW again he stops him. As much as we are biased we are also pretty accurate, when the David joyce fight was made we stated joyce flaws and it was shown in his golden contract fight, to small, then we said at Bowen and people couldn't see it, he takes to many shots and soon as someone could stand up to it he would be beat and cacace done it. Cacace is the hardest fight in that division as hes huge; that includes ward, barrett and sharp.

[daviddee]

See sometimes you come on a thread and wish you hadn’t!! Some real clueless people when it comes to boxing. People rate Carroll on the back of his win v Quigg.. Carroll lost to Frenois and got a gift and was outclassed by a poor champion in Farmer.. Quigg was finished. Then you look at Zelfa I seen someone put they had him winning v Clark wow is the only word.. This is the problem with boxing far too much hype these lads lack heart and will always get found out at World level.. Exact same for Cacace he dethroned a massively over hyped Bowen who was fighting 2 weights below his natural weight.. Watch what happens when his heart gets tested in a fight. A saying we have in Dundee is “His erse will faint”. I look at boxing now and it’s just a facade.. Everyone jumping on Tyson Fury now.. Eddie Hearn saying Whyte should get the WBC title it’s embarrassing here’s a man who risks his life for our entertainment and has achieved more than all British Heavyweight boxers but we but him down.. Why?? Until the fans stop buying into the hype and actually support the real fighters boxing will always be fake

[black panther]

When I think of Zelfa first thing that comes to mind is that he might possibly have the worst nickname in the whole of boxing.

[Ruthless-RKO]

When I think of Zelfa first thing that comes to mind is that he might possibly have the worst nickname in the whole of boxing.

He’s paying homage to his uncle.

[black panther]

When I think of Zelfa first thing that comes to mind is that he might possibly have the worst nickname in the whole of boxing.

He’s paying homage to his uncle.

Black Flash is a quality name. He could have just asked Pat (cracking fighter) and stuck with that.

But "Brown Flash" ?

Anyhow wish him well in his career some good fooghts out there for him.

[Coco]

He’s paying homage to his uncle.

Black Flash is a quality name. He could have just asked Pat (cracking fighter) and stuck with that.

But "Brown Flash" ?

Anyhow wish him well in his career some good fooghts out there for him.

Perhaps your nephew will call himself Brown Panther!

And also Pat is a lot Blacker than Zelfa

[Stuarty]

I had Zelfa nicking the Clark fight. I thought it was close.

Really? I haven’t watched it back since seeing it live, but I don’t remember there being any doubt in my mind that Ronnie won.

same

[Ruthless-RKO]

He said if he doesn’t win a world title, he’d have underachieved in his career.

[Bigdogsnose]

Reread the thread from start, fantastic read, completely hijacked by Ronnie Clarks team!! Remember some great threads on Ronnie back in the day.

Looking back that was a bad loss for Zelfa.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Zelfa Barrett Declares He's A 'Different Animal', Joins Matchroom's Nov. 29 Show

Zelfa Barrett has spent much of 2025 out of sight and mind but can't wait to reintroduce himself to boxing fans.

Back in February, Barrett was beaten over 10 rounds by current WBA interim junior lightweight champion Jazza Dickens in a defeat forcing him to rethink his entire strategy.

He made the difficult decision to leave his uncle and trainer, Pat Barrett, and join up with Ring Magazine's 2015 Trainer of the Year, Joe Gallagher. He also accepted his days at junior lightweight were over, moving up to 135 pounds.

Barrett and Gallagher committed to a rebuilding program. After two low-key outings to settle at lightweight, getting used to how each other work, they're now ready for a return to the big stage.

On November 29, Olympic silver medallist Ben Whittaker will make his Matchroom debut at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre.

Last week Tuesday, it was announced that Barrett will feature among the undercard bouts. For the time being, the former European 130-pound champion doesn't have a name to focus on but couldn't care less.

"Listen, I'm telling you man: I'm knocking this guy out," Barrett (33-3, 18 KOs) told The Ring. "I don't care who he is. I'm going to show these guys.

"I'm special, man. Sometimes you have to take losses to win the championships, it happens.

"I've had to go up in weight, but I'm going to show them, show everyone. You've got a different animal now. I swear on my mother’s soul, I get a different buzz now, I am different."

It is almost a decade since Gallagher brought Barrett in to help Anthony Crolla prepare for his world lightweight title fights with Jorge Linares. He has always been a true believer in Barrett’s ability and has spent nine months adding more devilment and menace to his style.

Barrett is 32 years old but has enjoyed the challenge of transforming his style. He believes there's still plenty of time to make an impact on the world lightweight scene and whilst the plan is to seek out a major fight for the first quarter of 2026, he's solely focused on showing people his improvements come November 29.

"I'm lucky enough to have lived a good life. I’ve not abused my body and not been in all tough fights. I have got a good three, four years whereas some fighters, at this moment in time, they're at the end of their career," he said.

"I've had a good defence, I thank Pat for how I've boxed. I've got this far. It's mad, I'm like a UFC fighter. The older they get, the better they are. Look at the champions now, they're like 35 or 36.

"Because their experience is so bold, I feel like, 'What are you going to show me in a ring that I've not seen?'

[Ruthless-RKO]

next fight announced.. just need a date and venue. but it's not been promoted by Matchroom..

[Ruthless-RKO]