Jordan Reynolds is out to make a name for himself this afternoon when he takes on Jimmy Egan’s ABC pugilist Callum Holland for a place in the final of the National Association of Clubs for Young People (NACYP) 2011 Championships.
The Luton teenager, who fights out of Stevenage Amateur Boxing Club but also trains at Graham Earl’s House of Champions gym on Hitchin Road, despatched former England schoolboy and Capitol ABC veteran Kaz Mahmood in the quarter-finals on a split decision.
It was only his 12th fight but today he travels to Wakefield, Yorkshire, to do battle in the semi-finals of a competition that has seen Amir Khan and Ricky Hatton contest in the amateur days – and he is aiming to push his name into the national fray.
“My main aim at the moment is to fight for England,” he said. “I’m second in the country as a lightweight but now I’ve moved up a weight I want to go one better at welter.
“I’d love to fight in the Four Nations next year. I can’t wait to turn professional to be honest because I think my style will suit it – but first, I’d love to fight in the World Amateur Boxing Championships in two years time.”
Reynolds admitted he was disappointed not to meet Michael Katsidis, who used Earl’s gym as a training base ahead of his interim WBO lightweight title defeat to Ricky Burns at Wembley last weekend. But that didn’t stop him from asking his mentor if he could get in the ring with the Australian former two-time WBO interim lightweight champion.
“I wanted to spar with him,” Reynolds said. “I didn’t get to see him as we trained at different times but I asked Graham and he said ‘no’. I’m sure he’ll be back at the gym one day.”
But with such confidence the Lutonian said that today’s opponent from Manchester doesn’t scare him.
“I’m so excited and I just want to get into the ring,” he said. “I’ve seen this kid I’m going to face and he stopped his last opponent.
He’s a big hitter but I’ve got A, B, C and D plans to deal with him.”
Victory would cap off a big week for Reynolds who last weekend won the Young Hero gong at the Luton Community Awards.
The prize, which is given to someone under 18 years of age who has overcome a personal difficulty or made a stand to improve their life or the lives of others, came as quite a shock to him.
“I knew nothing about it until I got a letter in the post,” he said. “When they read out my name I’d never heard so much noise.” Shamrock Boxing Club’s Dan Brueilly is also in the semi- finals in the 86kg weight category.
TWO professional boxers from Shamrock BC will be battling it out in Miranda Carter’s Left Jab Promotions ‘Storming Sunday’ event this afternoon at the world famous York Hall in Bethnal Green, London (3pm).
Duane ‘Bang Bang’ Grimes goes toe-to-toe with Scot Moises and light heavyweight Marco Stephenson faces debutant Scot Hartley.
Graham Earl’s heavyweight prospect Tom Little steps back into the ring at York Hall on Friday for the first time since his debut win over Rolandas Cesna back in June.
