Turley v Economides could be small hall classic

For some gifted amateurs, the road to professional success is quite a straight forward one. Yes, they may have to change tactics a little, adjust to the longer rounds, get used to being hit without the protection of a head guard. Still, the class they have brought with them into the paid ranks will see them through. They are our stars of tomorrow.

Then you have those who find it a little tougher.

For one reason or another they don’t find the step up so easy. They lose to guys who, at the start of their journey, they would never see themselves failing against. Still, the talent is always there, they just need somewhere to start and the resurgence will be well on its way.

For 24 year-old Robbie Turley (8-3 1KO), that date could be February 5th , when he faces off against Chester’s Paul Economides for the vacant Welsh area super-bantamweight title. The fight, which takes place in Newport, has all the makings of a small hall classic, Turley’s sublime skills against the all action Economides.

Still, it wasn’t that long ago that Rob Turley was making a huge name for himself in the Welsh amateur scene after getting into the sport due to a rather famous family friend from his home town of Cefn Fforest.

“I started boxing when I was eight years old, had my first fight when I was ten. Robbie Regan (ex-bantamweight world champion) was a close family friend and also my hero. He’s still a good friend and comes to watch all my fights.”

It was onwards and upwards from there. Turley’s skills left those who saw him in awe. Still, despite the success, it seems as though Turley was not fighting at his preferred weight.

“I should have been fighting at 57kg, but Darren Edwards was there and he was the automatic choice, so I fought up at 60kg. I had 75 fights I think and won about 50. These were all against quality lads as I had loads of fights in the Welsh international vest. I won the Welsh title six or seven times as well. ”

There was even a trip to the Commonwealth Games in 2006 to add to his resume. “I fought Peter Ashton to go there. He was certainly the favourite but I out boxed him and got that place. I met a good lad when I got out there but it was a great experience.”

Robbie would go on to turn pro in June 2007, in funnily enough the same hall he fights for the title, when he outpointed Delroy Spencer. Still, it wouldn’t be long before the road got rockier than expected.

“I got beaten by Riaz Durgahed in my fourth pro fight. Or should I say I didn’t get the decision. To be fair I out boxed him, but the referee counted two of my slips and said they were knockdowns. There is no way they were knockdowns, I won that fight.”

Despite ‘losing’ to Durgahed Robbie would go on to challenge Dai Davies for the vacant Welsh featherweight title. It was a fight most expected him to win, including the man himself. However, it was not going to turn out like that.

“I used to spar Dai Davies and I always got the better of him and I didn’t take it as seriously as I should have. I thought I would go in there and knock him out. Then I got cut in the third and I started chasing the fight. I fought completely the wrong fight. It was stopped at the start of the tenth; they wouldn’t let me out for the round. I needed eighteen stitches in the end. You could say it was too early for me, that I had never done the ten rounds before, and you would probably be right. But I learned never to take a fight lightly again. I have gained a lot of experience from that.”

Turley was then to receive national exposure, when he appeared in the ‘Prizefighter’ series. He was to come up against another former Welsh standout Commonwealth games gold medallist Jamie Arthur in the first series of matches. Although he would lose by unanimous decision, Robbie was happy with the performance.

“I did better against Arthur and I think I deserved to get the decision. When you consider that he went on to with the Commonwealth title, it shows I did a good job. I remember losing my cool during that fight. He landed a low blow which didn’t go punished so I head butted him. Once again I learned from that, I won’t be losing my cool again.”

So now it is time for his Welsh title fight against Economides. Despite respect for Economides, Turley admits to not knowing too much about him. I know he has a good record, 9-1, but other than that I’m not too sure. I have seen the guys on his record and I have beaten some of those guys easier than he has. He has fought three guys twice, that makes me think I have a better variety of opponent than him. Style wise I know he is a come forward type so I am looking to box his head off. And who knows, he may look at my record and think I am not as good as I actually am?”

Turley also believes that his camp will also be a huge advantage over the ‘Spartan’ when fight time comes.

“I have a wonderful set up here, I have a great coach in Tony Borg, a good nutritionalist who is helping me get that weight spot on. I am sparring lads like Gary Buckland and other top Welsh guys. How can I fail to come on when I have men like that around me?”

And Turley sees good things happening in his career post Economides, though he falls short of the typical, grandiose statements. “I’m not going to sit here and say I am going to become a world champion. My division is strong, and if you come up against someone who is better than you, you are likely to get beaten. I set myself realistic, achievable targets. I am going to do this step by step, and this starts off on February 5th against Economides. I want to win that, and then I would love a rematch against Jamie Arthur for the Commonwealth title. That would be a great match. I can see myself fighting for big titles in my career, and think I will hold a British or Commonwealth belt before I retire.”

The last word however has to be on the here and now, Paul Economides, Newport Leisure Centre, February 5th. A fight Turley is ever so confident of winning.

“Anything can happen in boxing, you could get caught with a lucky punch. But really, he needs to remember that is the only chance he has got, is catching me with that shot and knocking me out. I win the boxing match; he has to get a bit lucky.”

So let battle commence, let the two warriors collide. If Robbie Turley does win this he is all set for that road to stardom that many once thought was a formality. As the old adage goes, ‘it is not how you start the journey; it is how you finish it’.