The Light Heavy Mob

Over recent times, Queensberry has rightly become known as the ‘Home of the Heavyweights’ as our Big Fellas dominate all the No.1 contender positions and Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois have been world champions.

If it wasn’t for the Usyk-factor, we’d be sitting very pretty, but all of the mandatory spots are occupied by Queensberry heavies.

Now, in Britain, the light heavyweights have a place to call home too.

Last week we topped up our light heavyweight stock with two significant signings that will see to it that we have plenty of major 175lbs confrontations to look forward to.

Anthony Yarde has led our light heavyweight charge for many years now and he is currently preparing for a WBC world title tilt against David Benevidez on November 22 over in Riyadh.

The cavalry is coming with our teaming up with 2016 Olympian Joshua Buatsi, who I am delighted has come on board and we will be announcing his first fight with us shortly - and it is a good one!

Josh has long been considered as world champion material and I suspect a lack of momentum has stymied his ambitions in this respect. He has been successful in a number of domestic showdowns, recording wins over Craig Richards, Dan Azeez and Willy Hutchinson, before coming up a little short last time out against Callum Smith.

The defeat does not diminish him in any way. In boxing, more often than not, it is not that you lose, it is how you lose and Josh lost in a fight of the year contender where he showed heart and resolve he has never been called on to display before.

It was a setback that will not affect his prospects moving forward and, if he does the business inside the ring, we will complete our side of the bargain and get him in position for a world title challenge before too long.

Unified champion Dmitrii Bivol, plus the winner out of Benevidez and Anthony, will be seeking top-notch defences and Josh fits that particular bill.

European champion Brad Rea has also joined our ranks and, if anyone deserves a breakthrough, it is him.

Somehow Brad, who is a big lad, used to campaign at middleweight until he got outpointed by Tyler Denny at the end of 2022 in an English title fight.

Then, for seemingly no good reason, he was cast into the wilderness and was forced to keep busy - or as busy as he could be - in fights he was always going to win on the local circuit.

What did work out well for the Manchester lad over this period was a jump up to light heavy and he scored five quick fire KO wins.

However, meaningful fights eluded him. Opponents pulled out at late notice and even a dream trip to Riyadh was denied to him by an injury withdrawal.

After a European title postponement, literally at the last minute, Brad finally got his shot in June and made the most of it by defeating Shakan Pitters, which has now put him in the position he finds himself in today.

Like with Josh, we’ll have an announcement of a big fight for Brad forthcoming very soon.

Elsewhere in our light heavyweight ranks, we have the British and Commonwealth champion in Lewis Edmondson, who I feel was highly unfortunate not to get the decision against Daniel Lapin at Wembley Stadium the other week.

He has a natural challenger eager for his shot in Ezra Taylor, The Cannon from Nottingham, who has been making people sit up and take notice of his talents.

Then, don’t forget, at the other end of the A52 in Derby, we have Zach Parker looking to make it big at light heavy after stepping up from middleweight. On his night, Zach is capable of very special performances and he will know himself that he has been a little off-key in his last couple. So he has got it all to prove.

Willy Hutchinson remains a force to be reckoned with. He was on a charge until he lost to Josh by decision last year at Wembley Stadium and we will be getting him going again up in Glasgow on October 4 at the Braehead Arena.

Willy is a naturally skilled operator and, when he puts it all together, he falls into the world class bracket.

Last, but certainly not least, we have Liam Cameron, who can certainly mix it with the best of them and can definitely win titles in his inspiring second coming in the fight game.

Exciting times are looming for the Queensberry light heavies.