Huddersfield boxer Tyrone Nurse says he’s looking forward to getting back to winning ways against Bulgarian Radoslav Mitev in Manchester on Friday, writes Luqman Liaqat.
It’s a first fight for the 24-year-old since he lost out on points in a memorable Commonwealth light-welterweight title clash with Derby’s Dave Ryan in Leeds last month.
Nurse, who has 29 wins and just two defeats to his name as a professional, will fight Mitev (five wins, 19 defeats, one draw) over six threes at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre.
Stablemate Mohammed Fahim, an 19-year-old lightweight, will make his professional debut against Reading campaigner Ibrar Riyaz on the same Dave Coldwell-promoted bill.
“I am really looking forward to stepping into the ring and getting back into winning ways,” said Nurse, who trains under Chris Aston at the Gladiators gym at Linthwaite.
It’s going to be a busy weekend for Aston, who has super-featherweight Ismail Anwar up against Romeo Romaeo on the big London ExCel Arena show on Saturday.
Anwar, 23, has four wins and four defeats to his name.
Nurse, who still has designs on a British title challenge, has worked hard on his defensive skills since the Ryan bout, and explained: “It’s a case of small adjustments.
“The Ryan fight is in the past now and I am ready to move on. The more I work in the gym, the better my boxing feels.”
Aston will tell Nurse to ignore 23-year-old Metiv’s record, pointing out: “He’s a decent operator and he always works hard during fights.
“The main thing for Tyrone is to show he is up there with the best. The likes of Bradley Saunders, Willie Limond and Chris Jenkins are fighters he can take all the way.”
On Fahim, who was born in Pakistan but is based in Manchester and will fight four threes against Riyaz, Aston said: “He has the talent to go a long way.”
The trainer is also pleased with Anwar’s preparations for a six threes showdown with 19-year-old Bristol-born southpaw Romaeo, who is unbeaten in five fights as a professional.
“Ismail is in the best shape possible, I’ve never seen him better in training, to be honest,” added Aston.
“He’s looking lighter on his feet than ever before with quick movement and I am impressed with his workrate.”
Anwar fights on the same London bill as Dewsbury’s Gary Sykes, who puts his British super-featherweight title on the line against Cromer southpaw Liam Walsh.
