New English welter champ stepping down to gun for Theophane

By Imran Azam: New English welterweight champion Adil Anwar doesn't fancy an all-Asian showdown for his title and has signalled his intention to move down in weight and go after British 140lbs boss, Ashley Theophane.

The English welterweight championship was held by Adnan Amar who was scheduled to defend against James Flinn a week last Saturday but withdrew citing a chest infection, and Anwar grabbed his chance with both gloves.

With the title being made vacant the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) approved promoter’s Hennessey Sports request for drafting in Anwar. The 24 year-old from Leeds, who has suffered only one defeat in 14 contests, proved to be strong and stopped Flinn in eight rounds.

However Anwar’s manager/trainer Mark Bateson played down a fight with Amar. He said: “We are struggling to get Adil a fight at light welterweight. No one wants to know about him. Therefore we couldn’t turn the opportunity to move up to welterweight and fight for the title. He turned in a great display and in my opinion I don’t think Flinn won a round.

“Adil will be moving down [to light welterweight]. Therefore a fight with Amar is a slim prospect. I will be writing to the Board requesting a match between against the current British light welterweight champion [Ashley Theophane].

“He trains hard and has a good dig. He is a popular figure with plenty of friends and I think he has a very bright future.”

Known as the “Platinum Kid” Anwar himself ruled out a making his first defence against his Nottingham born rival. He said: “I know Adnan both professionally and personally and I consider him to be a friend. It is a fight that I am not actively looking for. I had four days notice for the Flinn flight and was very happy with the performance. It shows that I can carry my power up to a higher weight.

"But I want to concentrate on fighting the best in my own division.”