Tyrone Nurse has even more of a spring in his step as he makes the final preparations for his English light-welterweight title challenge after being nominated for one of the fight game’s most prestigious awards.
Both the Huddersfield ace and Shayne Singleton, his opponent at Manchester’s Bowler’s Arena on Friday week, are in the running for the Boxing Writers’ Club Young Boxer of the Year accolade, to be handed out next month.
Previous winners include Ricky Hatton, Joe Calzaghe, Naseem Hamed, Nigel Benn, Frank Bruno and John Conteh, who all went on to become world champions, and Nurse’s trainer Chris Aston said: “It’s good to be recognised.
“There are a lot of fighters in this age group out there, and it’s fair to say members of the Boxing Writers’ Club know their business and are totally unswayed by all the hype that surrounds the sport these days.
“For both Tyrone and Shayne Singleton to be among the (10) nominees is a pointer to the quality of the fight which is coming up, and it’s certainly added another dimension, although to be fair, it already had all the makings of a top contest.”
The most recent sparring partner for Nurse, 23, was former Olympic Games competitor Joe Murray, from Manchester, who fights Liam Walsh for the WBO International and Commonwealth super-featherweight belts in London a week on Saturday.
“Murray is that bit lighter and sharper than some of the previous fighters Tyrone has sparred with this time, and he now has 140 varied rounds under his belt as part of an intensive nine-week training camp. It’s been tough, but winning this fight could open some important doors.”
Nurse, who is looking to stretch a record of 26 wins in 27 bouts against holder Singleton, who has won all 15 professional bouts, is hoping to press his claims for a challenge to British title holder Darren Hamilton, of Bristol, who is set for a November defence.
For ticket details, ring Aston on 07917 881114 or Nurse on 07792 543352.
