BoxRec

Press Release

Calum French has signed a long-term promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and is set to make his highly anticipated professional debut in November.

The former Team GB star from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear will begin life in the professional ranks campaigning at Super-Lightweight under the guidance of Graeme Rutherford alongside Cyrus Pattinson at the renowned Birtley Boxing Club in the North East.

French, a European bronze medallist in 2017, enjoyed a stunning 35-fight winning streak stretching from 2012 until 2017 during a glittering amateur career in which he frequently medalled for Team GB and reached the semi-finals with the British Lionhearts in the World Series of Boxing in 2018.

The talented 26-year-old was the country’s leading boxer at 60kgs and looked set for a place at the Tokyo Olympics until his weight class was taken away in 2019, forcing him to restart in a whole new division, competing against the likes of Luke McCormack and Thomas Hodgson.

“I’m overwhelmed with the opportunity I’ve been given to be a Matchroom fighter, I grew up watching the Matchroom shows dreaming one day I’d be boxing on them,” said French. “Today is the day it’s manifested into reality.

“I’ve done my apprenticeship at the highest-level representing Team GB and I hope that experience will serve me well going forward into the pro game. I want to thank Eddie Hearn for believing in me and giving me this opportunity and my advisor Charlie Sims at Huge Boxing for making it happen. Let’s have it!”

“I’m delighted to welcome Calum to the team,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “He has been an outstanding amateur for Team GB and will now get all the opportunities to achieve his goals in the professional code. I look forward to seeing Calum shine all over the world over the next few years live on DAZN.”

“I am delighted that Calum has signed with Matchroom Boxing, he is a super talent, capable of winning major titles as a professional and will no doubt headline huge boxing events in the North East,” said Charlie Sims, Professional Advisor at Huge Boxing. “Calum needed to be with a major broadcaster, and we feel he needed the opportunity to showcase himself on a global platform such as DAZN.”

enjoyed a stunning 35-fight winning streak stretching from 2012 until 2017

thats not what his boxrec says

thoughts on the new cal? how good is he

I thought it was Sky who were going to put on shows in the north east!

After being a good amateur, what is a good age to turn pro?

I get many put back turning pro as they are earning well in the ams, but it seems more do well turning over in their teens or early twenties, rather middle to late 20's.

Galahad, Warrington and Lee Selby were all world champs after turning over early compared to Andrew Selby late.
Fury and AJ were both young enough, Calzaghe and Froch too.

Coco wrote: ↑15 Sep 2021, 14:42 After being a good amateur, what is a good age to turn pro?

I get many put back turning pro as they are earning well in the ams, but it seems more do well turning over in their teens or early twenties, rather middle to late 20's.

Galahad, Warrington and Lee Selby were all world champs after turning over early compared to Andrew Selby late.
Fury and AJ were both young enough, Calzaghe and Froch too.

I think for the very very best, early twenties is good as they'd be expected to earn well (although Ogogo's story is a reminder that nothing is guaranteed). But for most fighters, even very good ones, the odds of a big payday are not that great, and I can see why they'd stick around on a salary for as long as they can.

I think 26 is too late.

Apart from the fact you need to be moved on quickly, this no setbacks or promotional issues, you need to think fighting regularly at international level for all those years will take a lot out of you.

On top of that nowadays the game is a bit different so you will quickly need to iron out things that don't work in the pros.

For that reason I don't think the McCormack brothers will win world titles, or Anthony Fowler either.
Tom Stalker is another who springs to mind.

Maybe 26 isn't too late if you don't have the miles on the clock.

ya we seem to be having more of these 'pro amateurs' who stay in that till mid/late 20s

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑15 Sep 2021, 19:40 ya we seem to be having more of these 'pro amateurs' who stay in that till mid/late 20s

But they don't seem to have the pro success, I reckon learning your trade in the pro's is the best option.
Nevertheless with no fanfare you will be probably training yourself in your back yard!
To get on in the pros you need a proper training team behind you.