TYRONE NURSE is ready to give Huddersfield fight fans a glimpse of the future when he takes on Ben Lawler on Saturday’s professional boxing bill at Halifax.
It’s a clash of the British Masters light-welterweight and welterweight champions – with Nurse the man giving away the pounds.
It’s not a worry, because welter (10st 7lbs) is where trainer Chris Aston sees the 21-year-old with the 100% record fighting in a few years’ time.
"We’ve been working on building Tyrone up for a while now, but it’s not a process we want to rush," explained Aston.
"He’s still growing naturally, and while he could get back down to lightweight (at 9st 9lbs, his original division) if necessary, light-welter (10st) suits him at present."
It was expected promoters would have to go abroad to fix an opponent for the North Bridge Leisure Centre show which also features Huddersfield fighters Burt Warren, Jason McCalmon and Michael Smith.
But Lawler, a former solider from Skegness who is a previous Midlands area light-welterweight champion, emerged as a potential foe – and both Nurse (16-0) and Aston fancy the challenge.
"Lawler is a decent fighter who has built up some experience, and with his weight advantage, it’s going to be a useful gauge for us," added Aston.
Now 26, Lawler left the Royal Logistics Corps in 2008 to turn pro with trainer Carl Greaves, the former British featherweight champion whose gym is in Newark.
He has a seven wins (two by stoppage) from 17 bouts, his defeats including a third-round stoppage by Halifax favourite Patrick Liam Walsh, who tops Saturday’s bill.
Former amateur rugby league international Walsh (6-0) faces Londoner Mark McKray while 23-year-old middleweight Warren (6-1-1) takes on Walsall’s Bobby Wood as he bids to bounce back after a draw against Latvian Pavels Lotahs.
Former Rawthorpe amateur McCalmon, also 23, aims to stretch his 100% record at super-middleweight to four against Welshman Steffan Hughes.
For ticket details ring Aston on 07917 881114.
