Promoter Frank Warren is delighted to announce his first signing of 2014 – double ABA Champion Simon Barclay. The hard-hitting 24-year-old from Corby in Northamptonshire will fight in the cruiserweight division and his professional debut – which will be televised on The Channel Of Champions BoxNation – will be announced shortly.
Barclay had a sparkling amateur career finishing with a record of 52 fights with 38 wins that includes winning ABA titles at cruiserweight and heavyweight, Three Nations honours and representing England.
He will be managed by Jason McClory and trained by his amateur coach John Mulheron who will take out a professional trainer’s license.
Corby, which is famous for manufacturing steel in the 1930s, has never had a major professional boxing champion and Barclay is the first pro fighter in the town in almost 20 years
But Barclay is looking to change that and put Corby on the map with his own steely performances.
“It’s a dream come true to sign with Britain’s best promoter in Frank Warren and I’m sure he can guide me to the top,” enthused Barclay.
“Frank has promoted Britain’s best talent and created the biggest stars in the last 30 years so it was a no-brainer for me and I’m really excited to join his team and aim to fulfill my potential,” Said Barclay.
“The time was right for me to professional. I felt I got as far as I could in the amateurs and didn’t want to enter the ABAs again. I had a great career proudly wearing the England vest and now I want to become a British and World Champion,”
“I’ve really developed my strength and power now and I’m just looking forward to boxing in the pros and showing what I can do. I’ve got an all-round style, good footwork, fast hands and I can punch with either hand,”
“I’ve sparred plenty of rounds with current pros Chris Kean and Simon Valily plus I’ve worked with Michael Sprott and Roman Greenburg which has given me great experience and I believe I’ll move quite quickly to challenging for the British title.”
“Of course, down the line, a meeting again with Deion Jumah could happen again if he stays on course and keeps winning. The would be a massive fight between me and him, reviving our amateur rivalry,”
“I’m proud to come from Corby, it’s not had a boxing champion before so I’m looking to make that piece of history for the town and be that man.”
Warren, who’s last world champion at cruiserweight was big-hitting former WBO king Enzo Maccarinelli and also promoted the division’s biggest all British showdown between Maccarinelli and David Haye in 2008, is thrilled with his latest signing.
He said, “I’m looking forward to working with Simon and welcome him to Queensberry Promotions. He’s a very talented fighter and he’s the only boxer to have beaten Jumah as an amateur plus he’s beaten some good up-and-coming heavyweights which shows his quality. I’ve got a good track record with cruiserweights over the years with world champions Enzo Maccarinelli, Johnny Nelson and Carl Thompson and if Simon remains dedicated, trains hard, doesn’t cut corners and listens, then there’s no reason he can’t join them.”
