Malone in no rush to push for title belts

Huey Malone and Joe Gallagher. Picture: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry

FORMER amateur star Huey Malone – already tipped for big things in the paid ranks – is looking to fight again in November.

That’ll be bout number three for a 23-year-old guided by the best in the business: he’s managed by former world middleweight title contender Matt Macklin, promoted by Frank Warren and trained by Joe Gallagher whose Manchester gym is crammed with champs.

The high hopes harboured for super-lightweight Huey – I’m old school and will always refer to the division as light-welter – are understandable.

Trained by dad Brendan at Coventry’s Christ the King club, he won pretty much every amateur accolade going.

He represented England nine times, winning eight, was part of the Team GB set-up for a year-and-a-half, won three national ABA titles – two as a senior – and three GB titles. In all, he lost only nine of 68 contests.

That’s the CV of a pro star in the making.

Brendan told me: “It’s about getting used to the pros. He’s concentrating on his strength, he’s looking good. He’s looking big, filling out, but still looking to go down in weight. The next fight will be at super-light, then go down to lightweight.”

It’s very early days, but so far Huey has ticked all the boxes. Last time, usually durable Karl Sampson was sunk in two by body punches.

It is, Brendan stressed, too early to talk about titles.

“We trust Joe (Gallagher),” he said, “he knows the business better than I do. Huey’s at six round level, but I think he cruises eight rounds. If something came along, I’m sure Joe would jump at the chance, but now it’s about getting rounds.

“We haven’t gone out and pushed the publicity about Huey. I think he’s a slow burner, people know what he’s capable of, he’s looking a far better boxer today than he did a year ago. I thought he was fit before, he’s super-fit now. We have to take our time and our time will come.”

Huey has upped sticks from Coventry to Gallagher’s Manchester gym in the quest for glory.

“It had to be done,” Brendan said. “You have got to learn to be comfortable in the uncomfortable and Huey is well travelled enough to be comfortable with the move. The environment he’s in can only breed ambition.”

The prospect harbours hopes of one day headlining in his home city and Coventry now has a band of young, talented boxers who could perform on a future major televised show.

Brendan added: “Things come around in cycles and there are some good boxers in Coventry coming through. I believe in the next two years, perhaps sooner, we’ll have a really good show in Coventry.”