Busy time ahead for Cleary’s top fighters

Danny Quartermaine…back in action on Scott Murray’s Coventry show

SEPTEMBER 11 is going to be a busy night for Leamington trainer Edwin Cleary, with two of his pros in action.

Former IBF and WBO European super-featherweight champ and hulking heavyweight Joe Guest Bourne feature on Scott Murray’s major show at Sports Connexion, Coventry. Opponents have yet to be announced.

Quartermaine, aged 29, is picking up the pieces after losing his belts to Royston Barney Smith last October – his only loss in 16 contests. Fighting on a Queensberry bill, Danny looked a shadow of his former marauding self and was widely outpointed.

There’s been one outing since, a 10 round March draw with tough Kurt Jackson that also proved bruising.

“Danny wants a title again and there’s no problem with that,” Cleary said. “I’d just like him to get a win.

“Against Royston Barney Smith, Danny didn’t show anything near what he can do, but I also think Royston could’ve done better that night.”

Bourne, a former fine rugby player, began his paid career armed with a promotional deal with Frank Warren’s Queensberry. That has since gone by the wayside.

Heavyweight Joe Bourne….from rugby to punching for pay

The likeable 29-year-old’s debut did not go to plan, it’s fair to say. He could only draw with much smaller Cristian Uwaka and later admitted to me: “God it was awful.

“I was not there, it was not me,” he said. “I don’t know how else to explain it. I don’t remember anything after the first round. I didn’t have time for those fight nerves to build-up – it was my debut, I should’ve been excited and nervous.”

Bourne looked much better in his second outing, a points win over experienced Phil Williams. Hopefully, the improvements continue on September 11.

The highly articulate 6ft 4ins boxer didn’t start boxing until his early 20s, had relatively few amateur bouts and yet hit the road with that major pro promotional contract.

Cleary has told me on many occasions that Big Joe has the ability to go a long way and sticks by that prediction.

This week he said: “He spars everyone. If he can get a little run going, I think Queensberry will regret releasing him. In sparring he does some unbelievable things.”

The Sports Connexion show is topped by the Midlands bantamweight title battle between Coventry’s own Callum Singh and Frazer Morgan.

Cleary’s other heavyweight, former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Lewis Williams, goes for his fifth straight win on Queensberry’s September 26 show at BP Pulse Live arena, Birmingham. Liam Davis tops in a European featherweight title tussle with Nathaniel Collins.

It’s a venue – part of the NEC complex - with happy memories for the 27-year-old.

Lewis said: “The NEC is where it all changed for me, I turned Commonwealth Gold into a career because of what happened in that building.

"Coming back to fight as a professional in front of a Birmingham crowd again, there's not much that beats that feeling.