BoxRec

mickey1975 wrote: ↑06 Jun 2025, 17:39

MasterG wrote: ↑06 Jun 2025, 17:34

mickey1975 wrote: ↑06 Jun 2025, 17:29
Leo has some. Add him on fb or Instagram.

Mick, I'm just watching the Joe Garside fight. Where his the fight at?

Manchester Arena

Mick are you getting tickets? I'm off to bed now but check in tomorrow

I watched his interview on IFL (I think) & he seems like a nice, funny, confident lad for an 18 year old.

Best of luck to him.

As someone who grew up in the 70s & 80s seeing British dominate the Heavyweight scene (if Ukraine didn't exist ) is great as the Yank mags that I used to read back then were very very critical, especially Bert "Smug Wanker" Sugar

Taansend wrote: ↑06 Jun 2025, 23:07 I watched his interview on IFL (I think) & he seems like a nice, funny, confident lad for an 18 year old.

Best of luck to him.

As someone who grew up in the 70s & 80s seeing British dominate the Heavyweight scene (if Ukraine didn't exist ) is great as the Yank mags that I used to read back then were very very critical, especially Bert "Smug Wanker" Sugar

The short Q&A he did that came out yesterday was funny.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑03 Jun 2025, 04:51 I've seen just about all of his fights. He's very, very good. He's not fully matured yet so will probably get unfairly compared to Itauma but I suppose that just comes with the job. He's been sparring top pros for the last couple of years. The plan is to build him slowly. I'm just ready to defend his trainer.... I know everyone will jump on him the second Leo puts a foot wrong! Leo is his third European champ from scratch alongside loads of other champions and he's a friend of mine.

And sounds like a really good trainer gets them from NOVICE to champion , Then the sharks circle

Is there a reason he's gone pro at 18? Or just wanted to go over earlier than most?
Olympics 3 years away and that would of been a target if staying in the amateurs.

Old bones Ian wrote: ↑07 Jun 2025, 03:56 Is there a reason he's gone pro at 18? Or just wanted to go over earlier than most?
Olympics 3 years away and that would of been a target if staying in the amateurs.

All the best youths this year have gone pro. It's a big thing waiting for the Olympics and so much can go wrong in that time. As I said above, the Irish kid, Olaniyan got stopped the other night, that would wipe value from him instantly and the fight would have been a much higher standard than he'd have faced as a young pro. Loads of GB boys haven't turned over that well recently. Then you have someone like Itauma who will be a millionaire before he'd have got the chance to try and qualify for the Olympics.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑07 Jun 2025, 04:51

Old bones Ian wrote: ↑07 Jun 2025, 03:56 Is there a reason he's gone pro at 18? Or just wanted to go over earlier than most?
Olympics 3 years away and that would of been a target if staying in the amateurs.

All the best youths this year have gone pro. It's a big thing waiting for the Olympics and so much can go wrong in that time. As I said above, the Irish kid, Olaniyan got stopped the other night, that would wipe value from him instantly and the fight would have been a much higher standard than he'd have faced as a young pro. Loads of GB boys haven't turned over that well recently. Then you have someone like Itauma who will be a millionaire before he'd have got the chance to try and qualify for the Olympics.

Fair enough, but for every Itauma there's 10-20 kids that don't make it and career written off early , best of luck to him though hopefully he's a diamond

mickey1975 wrote: ↑07 Jun 2025, 04:51

Old bones Ian wrote: ↑07 Jun 2025, 03:56 Is there a reason he's gone pro at 18? Or just wanted to go over earlier than most?
Olympics 3 years away and that would of been a target if staying in the amateurs.

All the best youths this year have gone pro. It's a big thing waiting for the Olympics and so much can go wrong in that time. As I said above, the Irish kid, Olaniyan got stopped the other night, that would wipe value from him instantly and the fight would have been a much higher standard than he'd have faced as a young pro. Loads of GB boys haven't turned over that well recently. Then you have someone like Itauma who will be a millionaire before he'd have got the chance to try and qualify for the Olympics.

We need some fresh talent to replace what we had. It's great that young lads are coming into the pro game, just as long as they aren't rushed.

Leo Atang Urges Patience On Future Moses Itauma Fight: Let Us Build

One of boxing's most well worn cliches is that heavyweight boxers reach their prime later than fighters who campaign further down the weight scale.

Moses Itauma’s rapid rise through the rankings could well redefine those norms.

Itauma is a very rare exception to a long established rule but after just 13 fights, the 20 year-old is already widely regarded as the eventual heir apparent to the heavyweight throne.

So far, 18 year-old Yorkshireman Leo Atang has boxed just twice and spent the grand total of five minutes in the ring but the 2024 World Under-19 champion has been touted as a future star since the moment he decided to turn professional.

Boxing is increasingly becoming a sport of comparison and the two young, British heavyweights are already being mentioned in the same breath.

"I get it every interview but it's nice. He's a fighter who I definitely look up to a lot," Atang (2-0, 2 KOs) said during an appearance on Matchroom's Flash Knockdown show.

"He's very, very good, but this is a fighter who's borderline world level now. He's knocking on for world titles now so the fact that after two fights I'm getting compared to him or even in talks with him, it's nice because it knows that I'm doing something right."

Heavyweight boxing is almost an entirely different business to the rest of the sport but the one thing common to elite fighters throughout the divisions is an unshakeable confidence in their own ability and potential.

Atang's reaction and attitude when Itauma's name is mentioned is notable. He doesn't shrink away from the idea of fighting him, wring his hands and put Itauma on a pedestal.

Neither does he make headlining grabbing but unrealistic statements and claims.

Atang speaks realistically and respectfully about Itauma but doesn't shy away from the possibility that whilst they are currently on complete different career paths, those routes could well diverge at some point in the future.

"Oh, yeah. It can happen down the line, but the longer it goes on, the more hype is going to build," he said.

"I know people who know of us now are going to be like, 'Oh, let's get the fight tomorrow' But it's stupid. You should let us build.

"Let me build, let him build. He's done a lot of building but I'm sure he's got a lot of improvement as well to do. I've got a lot of catching up to do but, when it does happen, shut down."

Leo against Moses has a Bibilical feel to it.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑14 Oct 2025, 05:31 Leo Atang Urges Patience On Future Moses Itauma Fight: Let Us Build

Boxing is increasingly becoming a sport of comparison

surely not

Leo looked good in his 1 min in Africa…

The speed of refs standing stoppages in prospect mismatches has definatly gotten quicker over the last 5-10 years… and I don’t really mind because do these guys need brain damage when they have no chance… but then also why fight at all…

My question is: are these earlier stoppages negatively effecting prospects development? You never going to learn to Finnish someone if you never actualy Finnish someone..

Also some of these guys are never ever going to get the rounds they need with the currant safty first approach (not saying it shouldent be safty first just raising the issue)…

My personal view is that they just should never make matchups so one sided that the second a 3 punch combo lands the ref steps in. But that’s not the boxing way, mismatches are the lifeblood of inflated boxing records..

Taansend wrote: ↑14 Oct 2025, 11:59 Leo against Moses has a Bibilical feel to it.

Moses tames the lion

Boxrec has Leo weighing in at 263.25 for todays fight. His opponent weighed 263.5.

I think this might be a mistake as Leo usually weighs about 235 & didn't look like he'd shoved on an extra 30 pounds.

7 fights in 1 year at age of 19, decent. Just keep fighting and bring decent tests after 10 or 12 fights

Ridiculous stoppage by ref last night, Shaili was taking some stick on the ropes but had been throwing shots back, he dipped slightly from a right hand but had his hands up and looked ok and ref jumps in.

I haven't watched a single fight of his yet. Not much point at this stage

I just looked at his last fight.



He looks strong and relatively fast, but not really accurate.
He looks exited as soon as things go well for 3 seconds.

Is this something with English referees btw that they randomly stop fights really early and then point out a winner while his opponent is wondering why the fight get's stopped?
I assume this fight will be ruled a No Contest now right?

Either way, I can't really say much about this yet,
He gained 25 pounds in under 50 days. At this speed he will be more heavy then Tyson Fury ever was before the age of 20.

I just looked up some other fights as well, he got 6/7 KO wins, but in reality they were all standing stoppages.
I'm starting to wonder how serious I really need to take this sport.
It's allmost like I'm watching dancers instead of fighters.

Maybe he can beat Tyson’s record. Hmm

Matchrooms promotion for Atangs US debut is class.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑07 Jun 2026, 07:45 Maybe he can beat Tyson’s record. Hmm

The thing about Tyson's record, is that he only won a WBC strap, he didn't beat the man.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Jul 2026, 06:59 Matchrooms promotion for Atangs US debut is class.

What have they been doing that's so impressive?

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑02 Jul 2026, 07:54

mickey1975 wrote: ↑02 Jul 2026, 06:59 Matchrooms promotion for Atangs US debut is class.

What have they been doing that's so impressive?

Just a funny clip. Ruthless-RKO can probably put it up.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑07 Jun 2026, 07:45 Maybe he can beat Tyson’s record. Hmm

lmao how many times we heard this over the years. remember hughie fury was going to do it too

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑02 Jul 2026, 12:31

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑07 Jun 2026, 07:45 Maybe he can beat Tyson’s record. Hmm

lmao how many times we heard this over the years. remember hughie fury was going to do it too

I’m sure he can still do it?