Costello returns on a major arena bill and against top prospect

Danny Costello….a ring return after more than two years away

DANNY Costello is back – and back on a major show against an opponent groomed for super-stardom.

After more than two years away from the game, Danny returns on Queensberry’s huge January 24 show at the Co-op Live Arena, Manchester. It’s a bill, screened by DAZN, topped by heavyweight sensation Moses Itauma and featuring the mouth-watering scrap between Liam Davies and Zak Miller.

Costello, part of Lee Spare’s thriving Nuneaton gym, faces former amateur sensation John Joe Carrigan over four rounds.

The Carlisle boxer – one fight into his pro journey – is being groomed for very big things. As an all-conquering amateur he won multiple national titles, two European titles and was crowned world under-19s champion.

Costello, aged 25, isn’t coming to merely warm the away corner stool. “I know he’s a talented lad,” Danny said, “but I wouldn’t take it if I didn’t think I could win it. The plan is to cause an upset.”

It would be one hell of an upset.

Danny had four fights on the small hall circuit, losing only to Midlands champ Kirk Stevens – and that was over three rounds in Tommy Owens’ welterweight knockout tournament.

As an amateur, Danny had 11 bouts for Spare’s Boxing Clever club: “I was beating lads who had 30 bouts, national champions, and thought, why not turn pro?”

He last boxed in October, 2023, outpointing journeyman MJ Hall. With a young family – he has three children – Costello had to turn his back on the game and seek employment that provided a weekly wage.

“What happened? Life, really,” he explained. “Turning pro so young on the small hall scene, you don’t know how hard it is to make a full-time living. The kids, the mortgage – I had to go into full-time work to provide for my family. Things happened, I had a bad 2025. It wasn’t the right time to come out and fight properly.

“But I’ve been preparing to go back in for the last 10 months and asked Jon (manager Jon Pegg) for matches in the away corner.”

It was originally planned for Costello to plunge straight into a 10 rounder. He was put forward as a February opponent for Tyler Rivers, with the Midlands welterweight title at stake.

Understandably after such a long time out of the ring, the Board refused to sanction the step-up.

The time away hasn’t blunted Costello’s ambition.

He added: “I want to go as far as I can and believe I can compete at British level. I want to show what I can do and look at this fight as like a job interview.

“One hundred per cent I’m a better boxer now. When I first turned pro, I don’t think the man-strength had fully developed. Now I’m stronger, fitter and ready to go.”

Costello has nothing to lose against Carrigan: he’s not expected to be victorious. But a gritty, competitive performance would pave the way for other good paydays.

Danny Costello is back – and has jumped straight in the deep end.