Fells makes 200 mile trek for his pro debut
Brandon Fells in amateur days. Picture courtesy BCB Promotions
IT’S debut time for the highly rated Brandon Fells, writes PAUL WEBB.
And he is looking to put on a statement when he steps through the ropes at the Dudley Town Hall on BCB Promotions’ “Infiltrate” show on December 5.
The 20-year-old welterweight from Plymouth was an excellent amateur and is turning professional under coach Carl Goldsborough while being managed by BCB, who have a strong presence in the southwest.
“I was playing football when I was younger, and it was my brother who boxed,” said Fells. “We would go into the garden and he would have me practicing with him, slipping and ducking punches. I joined Carl’s gym and have been there ever since. Had my first fight at 14, a few club bouts, got to 8-0, won a national title and never looked back. I liked football, but in boxing it’s all on you - there’s no relying on a teammate. It’s all down to yourself and nobody else. It’s a gladiator sport. Only one can win - just me or him – and I won’t ever let it be him.”
After a successful amateur run that saw Fells box over 50 times in domestic and international tournaments, he was already thinking about joining the paid ranks. A questionable judging decision hastened that decision.
Fells said: “I boxed in a tournament over in France, boxed a French lad in the semi-finals and I felt like I easily won the fight, but they gave him the decision. A big part of me thought, 'I don’t want to do this anymore’, so there was no better time to turn pro. I started my transition before my licence and all the paperwork was done, working on my strength and conditioning and getting myself ready.
“Camp has been hard, it’s lonely. I’m not seeing my friends, as my focus is all on my training. I was in Wales sparring Romeo Costa and then up to BCB in Wednesbury and sparred some of the boxers there. It’s been a great experience and now I just want to fight.”
Despite the 200-mile journey to Dudley, Fells is thrilled to be on the card and will still have plenty of support in the Town Hall.
“I’m really grateful to Errol for making it possible for me to get out on this show,” he added. “Even though we are far from home, I’ve still got plenty of supporters making the four-hour trip, staying over in hotels and spending a lot of money to see me. It’s not a home show, so in a way the pressure is off. People in the venue might not know about me before, but after the fight they definitely will.”
The show is headlined by former European middleweight champion Tyler Denny against Grant Dennis. The rest of the card sees unbeaten Liam Carey take on Khya Preston in a potential show stealer, as well as the unbeaten Mia Holland and big-hitting Ben Collins.
*Tickets are available now, priced at £45 for general admission and £85 for VIP, from the boxers directly or by emailing info@bcb-promotions.com.