Shannon Willey

Shannon Willey might be entering his last foray at welter as he ponders slimming down to super lightweight.

He will be at welter when BCB Promotions return to the Hangar Events Venue, in Wolverhampton, on the Sunday afternoon of October 30.

Willey has mainly campaigned at welter since turning pro in February, since when he’s built up a paid record of three victories and no defeats.

The 28-year-old, from Exeter, turned over with a points success over Naeem Ali, appearing again in May to repeat the trick against MJ Hall.

Both of those verdicts came without losing a round, each of the scorelines reading 40-37, with Willey going away from Devon, on each occasion.

His debut took place at the H Suite in Edgbaston, Birmingham, with previous experience of boxing at the Hangar coming with success at the expense of Hall.

A homecoming was his in September, where he was tested at Torquay’s Riviera International Centre, but still managed to beat Karlo Wallace over-the-distance.

Willey did concede a round, along the way, but took the other three to register a 39-37 points advantage. Less than two months later, further action is incoming.

He said: “I’ve had about four weeks notice for this, but I decided to go for it. I was still in the gym, so I’ll be ready. You get what you get with fight dates sometimes.

“I do like boxing at the Hangar, it feels like a big stage and it was a good learning fight for me, the last time when I was there.

“I just want to get back in there, smash it and get as busy as I can. I’ll be 4-0, if I can win this, but I would have liked to have maybe got another one in, by now.

“I’m thinking about getting down to super lightweight, I think I’d be big there but it all depends on which weight I can hit harder at.

“I’ve been working on my movement, so I can surprise opponents with shots they don’t see, which would be another useful weapon. I’m still fine-tuning things.

“It’s all about pushing on, I felt like I took a lot from my last one. Karlo is a good boxer and I think that he will spring a few shocks, going forward.

“I’ve watched it back and there were things that I did well but, sometimes, I like to sit on the ropes and box. That isn’t always the way to go.

“I don’t know which round he won, it could have been the first or second, I was just focussed on what I was doing. It was competitive.

“Karlo was coming forward and throwing lots of punches, which allowed me to counter and get some good shots in. Some journeyman just cover up and let you unload.

“It was brilliant to box in Torquay, everyone enjoyed it and they are all asking when the next one is. Hopefully, I’ll stay undefeated and get back there, sooner rather than later!”

Tickets for the Hangar bill are available, priced at £40 standard or £75 VIP ringside with buffet, from the BCB Box Office by calling 07493 582 261 or visiting myfighttickets.com.

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Next up might well have been pro debut time for Shannon Willey had he not decided to throw caution to the mind some months earlier.

He comes back home when BCB Promotions stage their first show at the Riviera International Centre in Torquay, with showtime set for Friday September 2.

Willey makes the short trip to the venue from where he lives in Exeter and it’s a well-worn road, as he trains in Torquay under the tutelage of Gareth Hogg.

The 28-year-old welterweight instead turned over six months ago, being aware of a fight date in Devon down the line, but not wanting to wait so long.

He instead travelled over 150 miles away to Edgbaston, in Birmingham, competing under the BCB banner and getting going with a points success over Naeem Ali (February 13).

Another ring assignment loomed for Willey in May, back in the West Midlands but this time Wolverhampton, on another BCB offering at the Hangar Events Venue.

That time he outpointed MJ Hall, with both of his pro wins so far coming by virtue of a 40-37 scoreline, meaning no rounds lost as yet in the paid ranks.

Willey also has a grounding from his amateur career, racking up 44 bouts, 19 of them wins, which were mostly for Lympstone Boxing Club, after starting out at Exeter BC.

He said: “I’ve been working harder than ever in training, all of the lads from the gym who are on the show have. It’s an easy one to get up for, so we’ve all been pushing each other.

“I won’t let the occasion get to me. There are two ways to look at it, you can either feel pressure or you can thrive off it. I’m excited to be a part of this.

“It’s time to put boxing back on the map down here again and I’ll be doing what I can to stand out. It would be great to get a few more of the locals following me.

“I’ve already got a couple of wins, on the road, and that wouldn’t have happened if I’d waited to be on a home show before I made my debut.

“I’m glad I took the risk, I don’t mind boxing away and I think that will stand me in good stead. I won’t be bothered about fighting anyone, anywhere.

“I was hoping to be 3-0, I had a third one lined up (on July 10), but it fell through at the last minute, due to an issue with my opponent. That was frustrating.

“I had a couple of weeks off and then I was straight back training so, all told, it feels like my camp has been for about 15 weeks! I’ve got no excuses for not being fit.

“I’m trying to make myself better, it’s all about picking up all the little bits of experience and getting your name out there. It’s going well and I need to keep that up.”

Tickets for ‘Rumble on the Riviera’ are available now, priced at £40 standard or £75 VIP ringside with buffet, directly from the boxers or by visiting myfighttickets.com.

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Shannon Willey vs. TBA

H Suite in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England – 10 July 2022

Shannon Willey is looking to go through the gears and catch the eye when he returns to a city that is becoming a home from home.

He goes again when he’s a part of BCB Promotions’ next offering at the H Suite in Edgbaston, Birmingham, on the Sunday afternoon of July 10.

His pro debut came at the same venue, in February, before he travelled to Wolverhampton for his second contest in May, making the long trip from Devon.

Willey lives in Exeter, which is over 150 miles away from Birmingham, and travels to Torquay for training with his coach Gareth Hogg.

The West Midlands has proved to be a happy hunting ground for the 28-year-old welterweight, though, who has moved to 2-0.

He outpointed Naeem Ali and then MJ Hall, without losing any of the four rounds, to claim a 40-37 points decision, on each occasion.

And Willey is no stranger to travelling far and wide, either, having boxed in Australia, while seeing the world with his girlfriend Georgia.

It was in Sydney where he shared a ring with perhaps his most-illustrious opponent, Valentin Kondakov, who represented Samoa at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

He has significant amateur experience, with a grounding of 44 bouts, 19 of them wins, which were mostly for Lympstone Boxing Club, after starting out at Exeter BC.

Willey said: “I’ve pushed myself through my training camp and, hopefully, it will work out on the day. I’ve been told to keep consistent and tick over, so I’m in the gym a lot.

“My girlfriend certainly hasn’t seen me all that much! We’ve been together for eight years, we went travelling and we’re living together (in Exeter) now.

“She’s a great girl who supports what I want to do with boxing, so everything is fine at home and I can concentrate on building my career up.

“I was pleased with my last performance, I’m not all that keen on southpaws and he was a tricky customer, who knew what he was doing.

“There were a few things that I could have done better, I could have changed the pace up and I shouldn’t have let him tie up in the ropes, so it was a learning one.

“I switched off a couple of times, too, and got caught with a couple of punches, but I soon switched on again and set a few traps back.

“I knew what to expect a bit more, after my debut, which was nerve-racking, and I was thinking about what I was doing.

“I only had one gear, on my debut, but I stepped it up the second time and there’s still more to come from me. I’m just looking to get the best out of myself.

“I’m already 28, so I can’t afford to be picking and choosing when I fight, if I want to climb the rankings quickly. If I can stay busy, I could get to 5-0, by the end of the year.”

Tickets for the H Suite bill are available, priced at £40 standard or £75 VIP ringside with buffet, directly from the boxers or by visiting myfighttickets.com.

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For the list of the latest boxing news and boxing results, click the following latest boxing news & results