Remi to make debut against the Pitbull
Remi Boxill…makes his long awaited pro start on August 16
IT’S been a long time coming, but Remi Boxill’s pro bow is only weeks away.
His debut, on manager Anthony Manning’s August 16 show at the Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, comes 15 months after the light-middleweight was scheduled to start his career.
Setbacks outside the ring have pushed back the plans for Remi, Manning said. But now the super-welter, from Birmingham’s Bromford district, is again firing on all cylinders. At the age of 22, time is on Boxill’s side.
“Remi has the boxing ability, he has the looks, he’s a likeable lad and sociable, he’s a marketable kid,” said Manning.
He’s been given no push-over on August 16. Opponent Connor Meanwell may have lost the vast majority of his 30 bouts, but he’s a hard man who always comes to scrap and entertain.
Just ask Solihull’s Rob Jones who made his debut against “Pitbull” Meanwell in February and was held to a crowd-pleasing draw.
Remi turned over after 36 amateur bouts with 2nd City and Pat Benson gyms. He says he won around 20, but failed to claim major honours.
“Remi has been giving a good account of himself,” Manning said. “When he was originally scheduled to make his debut he sparred (former British welterweight champ) Harry Scarff and they were quite impressed with him.
Connor Meanwell…tough Nottinghamshire fighter loves a scrap
“I’m hoping to get him out again November, then look to see where we go from there. It’s a case of learning the pro game – we’re looking to slow the pace down, get him picking his punches and measure him on the next couple of fights.
“He’s looking good. It (the debut) has been a long-time coming and he’s chomping at the bit, he wants to get going, the energy is good.
“I have a personal relationship with Remi so I’m looking forward to developing him.”
Boxill is a new name in Manning’s rapidly expanding gym. And Manning, Birmingham’s newest promoter and manager, appears to be taking things to another level with two of his lads bagging big fights on major shows.
Next week, Amir Abubaker travels to Bournemouth to face Carl Fail in a British light-middleweight title eliminator. Mykey-Lee Broughton fights for the English super-lightweight belt at York Hall, Bethnal Green, in November.
“There are easier ways to make a living,” Manning admitted. “We’re doing this with a vision that one day we’ll get the reward for the work we put in, but there’s no guarantee.”