‘Troy’s is a mate, but I’m picking Sains to win’ - Adam Harper

Troy Coleman…big fight Friday night. Picture: Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer

ON Friday warrior Troy Coleman adds another high-risk assignment to a punching portfolio littered with gambles.

And again, the odds are stacked against the Midlands middleweight champ.

At famed East End venue York Hall, Coleman faces big punching southpaw Jimmy Sains for the vacant English title knowing not many give him a prayer of taking the belt.

Londoner Sains is a 24-year-old being groomed for stardom. Already Southern Area titleholder, he has won all 10 pro contests – a staggering nine inside distance.

Burntwood’s Coleman, brave and battle-hardened at 30, relished the role of underdog. He’s made a career out of proving wrong those who didn’t give him a prayer.

Before the fight was confirmed, Troy told me: “There’s news coming soon. It’s a nice big one, and people will have their doubts. That’s the reaction that drives me on.”

Let’s be honest. No one outside his own BCB team, gave Troy a prayer of beating red hot prospect Bradley Goldsmith last time out. Yet on that memorable night, he came from behind to win in seven.

Let’s be honest. Who believed Coleman would be where he is today following his 2020 crushing KO loss to River Wilson-Bent?

He’s done it through grit and supreme sacrifice. He has used both to create a story that is truly remarkable.

After losing to Wilson-Bent, Coleman resumed his career in Thailand and collected Asian continental titles.

He has crossed the globe in searching of glory and faced true iron. The man’s heart is as big as a spit bucket.

Former Cuban amateur great Yan Marcos beat Coleman on points in Dubai. He travelled Down Under to face thunderous punching Isaac Hardman and lost in five.

Troy argues he is what he is because of those tests: “I’ve done things the hard way, but it’s led me to where I want to be. There are no regrets – I don’t believe I’d be doing what I’m doing now if I’d gone down a different path.”

Facing Sains in front of the prospect’s own fans is not going to give Troy sleepless nights. It’s another roll of the dice in an 18 bout career spent rolling the dice.

And he’ll enter the ring armed with something Sains does not possess. Experience in tough championship battles.

Adam Harper…” just can’t see Troy winning this fight”

Will that be enough? Fight analyst Adam Harper, former English light-middleweight champ, now a pro manager and trainer, gives his honest assessment of the big fight:

“Troy Coleman is a great lad. What I love about him is the way he’s come back from brutal defeats to have a great career. Everyone, apart from himself and BCB, backed Bradley Goldsmith, yet he tore up the script in a Rocky Balboa fight and probably one of the best ever Midland title fights.

“But on Friday he faces a thunderous puncher and former exceptional amateur, someone I believe will be too big, too fresh and punches too hard.

“Troy Coleman has had the kind of career the vast majority can only dream about, but I see him getting stopped in another great fight between rounds four and seven, I think the fairytale ends on Friday night. I hope I’m wrong because Troy Coleman is one of the good guys.

“I class Troy Coleman as a boxing friend, I just can’t see him winning this fight.”