Frank Warren believes his stable can draw on the burgeoning success of young Premier League talent, when boxing returns on Friday night, live on BT Sport 1 at 7pm.
Hall-of-Fame Promoter Warren will lead boxing’s resumption in the UK behind closed doors at BT Sport Studios, following an enforced four month hiatus, as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
A five-fight bill will be headlined by 22-year-old Brad Foster’s (12-0-2, 5 KOs) British and Commonwealth Super-Bantamweight title fight against 23-year-old James Beech Jr (12-0, 2 KOs), whilst the card also features 23-year-old Heavyweight David Adeleye (1-0, 1 KO) and 21-year-old Mark Chamberlain (5-0, 3 KOs)
Warren highlighted the performances of Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, Manchester City’s Phil Foden and Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood, who have impressed since the Premier League restarted last month and has challenged his young stable to follow suit.
“It’s the first British show in four months so the eyes of the world are on them,” the 68-year-old said.
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime, so my advice would be ‘don’t screw it up’.
“If they can grab the brass ring now, they’ll be box office stars when the fans are allowed back through the front doors.
“I want our boys to emulate the successes of Bukayo Sako, Mason Greenwood and Phil Foden. It’s that simple.
“I’ve been watching on BT Sport and the behind-closed-doors environment has done wonders for the Premier League’s young players, so I want to see a bit of that same stardust from our lads.”
Unbeaten WBO European Super-Welterweight champion Hamzah Sheeraz will face Dundee’s Paul Kean in the precursor to the main event.
The 21-year-old is climbing through the ranks and Warren insists this is an opportunity for the public to familiarise themselves with what he believes are the stars of the future.
“I can’t believe how young some of these lads are,” laughed Warren.
“Hamzah Sheeraz will soon be knocking on the door of World level competition and he was only born in 1999. It’s incredible.”
“This is what Queensberry Promotions is all about. It’s nothing new to us.
“We believe in securing the future of British boxing by investing in and getting behind the next generation of World Champions from this country.
“As British boxing gets back on its feet what fans deserve to see are competitive domestic fights that set the stage for the kids that emerge victorious to become real superstars at the highest level.
“I want fans to get to know these young fighters now from the comfort of their own home so that when audiences are allowed back in they’ll know all about the kids from Lichfield or Notting Hill or Ilford, who are fighting for World titles and headlining arenas.”
😍 IT’S FIGHT WEEK!!
🥊 @frankwarren_tv brings boxing back to Britain with a full fight week schedule ahead of Friday’s show headlined by @BradFosterBox and James Beech Jr.
🤔 WHO’S EXCITED?#Boxing pic.twitter.com/R6xII6Wa3S
— ProBoxingFans (@ProBoxingFans) July 6, 2020
Friday’s card also features the third outing of unbeaten Ukrainian Heavyweight Dorin Krasmaru (2-0, 2 KOs), who shared several rounds with British and Commonwealth champion Daniel Dubois in sparring.
And Warren has teased the prospect of further shows, with Anthony Cacace’s British Super-Featherweight title clash with Lyon Woodstock and Lerrone Richards’ British and Commonwealth Super-Middleweight title defence against Umar Sadiq, already announced, subject to a confirmed date.
“If you think that’s good,” Warren added.
“You should wait to see what we’ve got up our sleeve”
“We’ll be announcing details of the next few shows shortly and fans are in for a real treat. We have the sort of fights that are going to keep fans excited throughout Summer.”
“Boxing is back and I couldn’t be happier.”
