Hall recovered -and buzzing over debut
Sam Hall…Shropshire welter is in action in March. Picture courtesy RAF
THE pro career of Sam Hall – by day an RAF PT instructor – hit a roadblock even before he’d thrown a competitive punch.
Shingles struck down the sawn-off welter in the countdown to his debut, scheduled for December 20.
Sam – the second new pro from Mitch Roberts and Lou Vidor’s Reload gym in Ketley, Telford – is now recovered and in full training for his revised starting date.
He’ll box on BCB Promotions’ March 21 show at Aldersley Stadium, Wolverhampton, with gym-mate Jacob Lloyd on the same bill.
“You know the worst part?” the 24-year-old said of his enforced break. “I felt absolutely fine, that was the most frustrating thing. But they said it was highly contagious. I couldn’t go to work, I couldn’t go to the gym, I was in self-isolation.
“I thought I’d still be able to run, but the rash blew up. Every cloud has a silver lining. I said to (trainer) Mitch, this time it feels different, I feel fantastic because of the extra time to work on things.”
Sam is a Shropshire lad through and through. His family home is in the tiny, picturesque country parish of Boningale, although he now lives at nearby RAF Cosford.
He began his amateur career at Bright Star Boxing Academy, in Shifnal, had 21 bouts in all – eight for the RAF – and collected a regional title.
He has praised the blue surge service for the backing shown as the countdown to his professional journey begins.
“I’m lucky in terms of my management because they are all behind me and supporting me,” he said.
“I’ve wanted to go pro since I was 18 and this was the right time to do it, in terms of my position in the RAF.”
Powerfully built Sam looks the part, but refuses to make rash predictions of a title-laden future. “Let’s have a pop,” he said, “and go as far as we can go. Is the power there? The power’s there, that’s all I’m saying.
“I’m buzzing about the show and it’s great to be on the same bill as Jacob. There’ll be nerves, but good nerves.” Sam also believes he’ll sell around 100 tickets.
So what can fans expect from the fledgling fighter?
“Just fireworks,” he grinned.