Sonny Upton put on a masterclass in back foot boxing as he outpointed Ryan Toms in an English super-welterweight title eliminator at York Hall, Bethnal Green on Saturday night.
The Ricky Hatton-trained Londoner had not previously boxed beyond six rounds, but he was in his element over ten rounds as he coolly swerved Tom’s punches and fired back with ones and twos before being rewarded with a 99-93 verdict.
Toms, a former Southern Area champion, never gave up trying and did get off some solid blows when he had Upton, but on the whole Upton’s class and punch variation shone through.
The victory puts Upton in line for a clash with the winner of the proposed bout between current English belt holder Navid Mansouri and Wembley’s unbeaten Gary Corcoran.
“I like fighting southpaws and I like the longer distance fights because ease in them, I find my shots, I find my range and against Tomes I proved it,” Upton, 26, said.
“I’ve said from the start, I’m a long distance fighter and I could have done another ten in there.
“Ryan Toms was a very tough opponent. He was strong, he kept coming and he tried to wear me down, but I stuck to the game plan and listened to Ricky and the team in the corner and it all went well.
“Last time out, Toms stopped a 17-0 kid so he’s a very good fighter and I think this win over him shows the potential I’ve got and where I’m heading in the sport.
“I can’t wait for a title shot. I’m ready. This is what I was born to do. I don’t know anything else other than boxing and I think I deserve a shot now.”
