Latest news with #LeoAtang
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Win shows I am something special
Heavyweight boxer Leo Atang says his first-round win on his professional debut shows he is "not just hype".The 18-year-old from York stopped veteran Milen Paunov, 41, with a flurry of body shots on the undercard of Saturday's Jake Catrall v Harlem Eubank fight at Manchester's AO teenager had been compared to two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua by promoter Eddie Hearn in the build-up to his professional bow."It was everything I dreamed of, from the build up to the fight and the outcome. It was perfect, just what I wanted," Atang told BBC Radio York."I saw the opportunity and when I hit him with the first one I thought 'just stay on him and get the job done'."He's a journeyman, I know I've got a long way to go but not many heavyweights like to go for the body so I proved out there that I'm not just hype, I'm something special." Straight after the fight Hearn told broadcaster DAZN that Atang was "the future" and that people should "get on the bandwagon".Hearn said he could now fight twice more in 2025 as he looks to build on his impressive start in the professional who stands 6ft 6ins tall, admitted he had been nervous before the bout and would not be not getting carried away with his victory."It means the world that people from York have come out and spent their hard-earned money to come and watch me," he added."We keep going. I'll have a few days off and then I'll be straight back in the gym to climb the ladder to the top."I want to see it all and hopefully build a nice little fanbase."
The Sun
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Anthony Joshua squares up to teenage boxer tipped to be his heir as awestruck 18 year old told: ‘The world is yours'
ANTHONY JOSHUA 'squared up' to the teenage boxer who's tipped to be his successor as they came face to face for the first time. Leo Atang, 18, is being branded 'AJ's heir' after being snapped up by Eddie Hearn ahead of his pro debut this Saturday. 4 4 4 Awestruck Atang, who calls Joshua his idol, was taken aback when the two-time heavyweight world champion threw air punches within seconds of meeting. AJ broke the ice with the gag as he gave the young fighter his seal of approval. The former world champion told Atang: 'The world is yours.' But the heavyweight isn't ready to bow out quite yet, despite his knock-out by Daniel Dubois in September. Speaking at the unveiling of Matchroom Boxing's rebranding, AJ said: "For the first time in about 12 to 13 years as a professional, not even including the amateur stuff, I took a year out to get my body right. 'I'm at a different stage in my career where I can look at time a bit differently. "I've not got all these years in front of me like the main man here [Atang], so I've got to make really executive decisions about what I do next. "So the minute I come back, you know I'll come back with a bang rather than just keep rolling. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "I just thought, let me take some time out so when I do come back I come back fully active and ready to go and take the division by storm again." Meanwhile Atang is preparing for his pro debut on the Jack Catterall vs. Harlem Eubank card in Manchester this Saturday. Sharing a picture of himself with AJ and Frank Bruno on Instagram, Leo wrote: 'The past, present and the future.' Atang - a former rugby league winger from York - is a five-time national champ. He won the World Boxing Under-19 world championships last year - stopping Korean Lee Geon Hui inside the first round. Soon after turning pro under Hearn, the promoter said: "He's the guy in my opinion to follow in the footsteps of Anthony Joshua. "And ignite the heavyweight division to all kinds of fanbases across the country. "Young man, plenty of work to do, we're going to box him all across the country, all over the world. "Seven, eight fights a year but remember what I say, everybody in this arena, everyone tuning in on DAZN, follow this young man, remember the name. "This is the future of British boxing and the future of the heavyweight division." 4
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Anthony Joshua explains boxing absence, fires defiant warning to heavyweight division
FRAMELESS, LONDON – As the assembled guests gathered around the door, having been ushered in for the main event of the evening, a murmur started to go around. Anthony Joshua was running a little late. The last time this happened in London, Joshua had been caught in traffic near Wembley Stadium and arrived with less time than was ideal to run through his pre-fight rituals on Sept. 21, 2024. A short while afterward, he was brutally dropped three times before being knocked out by Daniel Dubois. Advertisement The sensory overload at Frameless on Marble Arch – a self-described immersive art experience – is not anywhere nearly as painful. Joshua was in town for an event staged by his promoters, Matchroom, with new branding unveiled by the Eddie Hearn-fronted company. He took part in a brief Q&A alongside British boxing icon and former WBC heavyweight champion Frank Bruno and teenage amateur sensation Leo Atang, who will make his professional debut on the Jack Catterall vs. Harlem Eubank undercard in Manchester this Saturday. MORE:Will Anthony Joshua retire? What AJ should do next after Dubois demolition job It was a very deliberate past-present-future framing, and some observers might suggest it is charitable to grant Joshua — who turns 36 in October and has not boxed since the Dubois debacle — the middle description. Advertisement Long-time rival (regrettably, only outside the ring) Deontay Wilder returned to action with an underwhelming win over Tyrrell Herndon last weekend. Would-be rival and relentless motormouth Jarrell Miller has claimed Joshua turned down the chance to fight him four times over the past month. Blocking Miller's number after the second or third call feels a more plausible turn of events, but, not for the first time in his career, Joshua has allowed others to do the talking and shape narratives without his input. The former two-time unified heavyweight champion has recently posted on social media, documenting encounters with an adoring public during trips to Nigeria and Ghana after he underwent elbow surgery to fix a nagging injury in May. While Joshua was keen to keep his cards close to his chest on Tuesday, he acknowledged rest and recuperation have been his primary focus for the first time since being crowned Olympic super heavyweight champion in August 2012. "This [boxing] is my life," he said. "But what I've done is I took a year out for the first time in 12 to 13 years as a professional, not including the amateur stuff Advertisement "I took a year out to get my body right. I'm at a different stage of my career. I can look at time differently. I haven't got all these years in front of me, so I've got to make an executive decision over what I do next." Gently nudged to offer any hints on opponents, Joshua refused to play the game aside from giving a personal statement of intent. "The minute I come back, I'm coming back with a bang rather than just keep rolling through, going through the motions," he added. "Let me take some time, and, the time I do come back, I'm coming back fully active and ready to go, take the division by storm." Francis Ngannou is KO'd by Anthony Joshua Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing Advertisement Hearn would no doubt bristle at the suggestion — right as he is to point out that Matchroom has always trodden its own path since he dragged the family business back into the fight game 15 years ago — but it was hard not to view Tuesday's rebrand as a defiant move in response to boxing's centre of gravity having shifted to Saudi Arabia. Turki Alalshikh found a willing ally in Hearn as he plotted his takeover of the sport, but now he's handed the keys to the September megafight between Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Terence Crawford to UFC supremo Dana White. White has flirted with involvement in boxing several times before now, not least when he sounded out Joshua for a move away from Matchroom, with whom he made his professional debut in 2013. "If you want loyalty, buy a dog," Barry Hearn's erstwhile promotion foe Micky Duff once quipped. Joshua does seem to be a genuine exception to that rule in this "crooked business" — AJ's label and one that Bruno nodded along with in rueful agreement. "The Hearn family hold their name really well. That's the reason that I went with them," he said. "I stuck with them, and I'm still with them today." He makes it sound like a fairytale. It remains to see whether Joshua's booming right hand has one or two more magical stories to reveal.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
First details of Catterall-Eubank undercard emerge
The undercard of Jack Catterall's bout with Harlem Eubank on Saturday, July 5, is slowly being filled out. Catterall, 30-2 (13), makes his welterweight debut against Harlem Eubank, 21-0 (9), in Manchester this summer, with the card set to be shown live on DAZN. Eubank, the nephew of Chris Sr and the cousin of Chris Jr, has been fighting in the 147 division since beginning his career in 2017. Catch all the latest boxing action on DAZN With the headliners confirmed, Matchroom have announced that super featherweight Aqib Faiz, 13-1 (2), will face Michael Gomez Jr, 21-2 (6). Both were in action on the same card in February, with Gomez Jr losing to British and Commonwealth super featherweight champion Reece Bellotti, and Faiz knocking out Lydon Chircop. Faiz was also defeated by Bellotti, retiring in the eighth round as he lost out on the vacant Commonwealth strap in 2023. Highly rated teenager Leo Atang looks set to make his professional debut on the card. His opponent is not yet named. A super heavyweight in the unpaid code, Atang won eight of his 16 victories via knockout, losing just once as an amateur. Such success brought Atang five national championships, as well as victory at the World Boxing under-19 world championships in 2024. Pat Brown, who was spotted carrying Dave Allen on his shoulder following his stablemate's victory over Johnny Fisher last weekend, has also been confirmed as fighting on the card. Having fought at heavyweight for Team GB at the 2024 Olympics, Brown made his professional debut in March of this year as a cruiserweight. Brown ended his first fight as a pro early, stopping Federico Javier Grandone in the fourth round. The 25-year-old had been slated to appear on Matchroom's show in Birmingham two weeks before, on the undercard of Shabaz's Masoud's clash with Peter McGrail. Alfie Middlemiss is a Manchester lad with a perfect start to his pro career, with three wins from three fights that all went the distance. His opponent is TBA. William Crolla is the most experienced fighter out of the three prospects currently without opponents. The super welterweight, 8-0 (6), made his pro bow in 2023, and is no stranger to fighting in his hometown of Manchester, having fought at the AO Arena twice, the Co-op Live Arena twice, and the Bowlers Exhibition Centre once. Crolla has not ventured far from Lancashire, with Liverpool the furthest he has travelled in his professional career. Watch the very best boxing with a DAZN subscription DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. A subscription includes weekly magazine shows, comprehensive fight library, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and podcasts and vodcasts.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Teen York boxer tipped to be next Anthony Joshua after signing pro deal
YORK'S Leo Atang has been tipped to follow in Anthony Joshua's footsteps after signing professional terms with Matchroom Boxing. The 18-year-old heavyweight sensation, who is trained by Ashley Martin out of Legions Amateur Boxing Club, has penned a long-term deal that will see him make his professional debut later this year under the guidance of renowned promoter Eddie Hearn. Atang was a fine rugby league winger before turning his hand to boxing but has emerged as one of the country's hottest prospects, with his natural power, athleticism and physical presence seeing him rise through the amateur ranks. Recommended reading: Undefeated York boxer Willy Harrison 'makes history' in 'thrilling' victory He is a five-time national champion and stopped Korean Lee Geon Hui in the first round to claim gold at the World Boxing Under-19 World Championships in the USA last year. The former Archbishop Holgate's pupil, who will be managed by former World Champion Sunny Edwards, enthused: 'It's a dream come true to sign with Matchroom. 'My team and I have had many good conversations leading to me turning pro. 'But I knew this one just felt right from the start. It's what I always hoped for. "We put the work in and we put the hours in. I live the life. My mentality is - push myself the absolute limit and leave no stone unturned. 'I'm fit, I'm strong and I'll be ready to go with anyone tomorrow. I've got what it takes to go to the top of this sport. The future is here.' The Future Is Here. Welcoming Team GB amateur sensation @LeoAtang to the professional game. Inspired by @anthonyjoshua, the 18-year-old is ready to dominate the Heavyweight division for years to come. Get behind the journey 👊 — Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) April 18, 2025 Hearn, who is known for developing young talent in the sport, believes the sky is the limit for the young York boxer. 'He is the guy, in my opinion, to follow in the footsteps of Anthony Joshua and ignite the heavyweight division to all kinds of fanbase's across the county,' he said on DAZN. 'Young man, there's plenty of work to do, and we're going to box him all over the country, all over the world. Seven, eight fights a year. 'Remember what I say, everybody in this arena, everyone watching, follow this young man and remember the name. This is the future of British boxing and the future of the heavyweight division." 🗣️ "He is the guy that can follow in the footsteps in @anthonyjoshua" Introducing new Matchroom Boxing signing @LeoAtang 🔥 — Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) April 19, 2025
