The promotional bandwagon rolled into Liverpool yesterday (August 21) as the build-up began for Nick Ball’s WBA featherweight title defense against Ronny Rios.
As Ball and his Everton Red Triangle gym mate, British and Commonwealth bantamweight champion, Andrew Cain, were whisked away to speak to one camera after another, two other members of the ERT contingent sat quietly at the back, watching what was going on and waiting to be spoken to. Neither Boma Brown or Lucas Biswana had ever been involved in a major press conference before.
Both fighters have signed for Queensberry and will fight on television for the first time on the undercard of their stablemate’s maiden world title defense on October 5.
The instantly recognisable Brown towers over his gym mates. The unbeaten heavyweight was born in London and grew up in Birmingham but made the move to Liverpool two years ago.
“Years ago, I boxed one of Paul’s [Stevenson, the lead trainer at ERT] lads in the amateurs. After that, we just sort of stayed in contact. A couple of years ago I was umming and ahhing about whether to turn professional or stay as an amateur. I didn’t really know what to do. I got a call from Paul asking if I wanted to go up to his gym, train and see how I felt. I decided to turn over,” Brown told BoxingScene.
“I’ve enjoyed it. I’m 4-0 now and I’ve won two by stoppage. I just want more.”
The Everton Red Triangle gym has always been renowned for producing skilful, small fighters. Over the past 15 years, the gym has churned out a constant stream of champions in the lower weight classes. Stevenson is selective about who he works with and clearly felt that Brown had what it took to fit in with his tight knit team. Not that he ever would, but he hasn’t altered his methods to cater to the bigger man.
Brown stands 6ft 5in tall and weighs around 240lbs but don’t expect to see a powerful but slow fighter, held back by leaden feet. If he follows the ERT pathway, Brown will be quick, fit and aggressive.
“It’s different for sure. They work at a crazy pace. I like Paul because he doesn’t give me an easy way out. He wants me to work just as hard as they do. I like the fact that I’m around smaller fighters. They push me on,” he said.
“[My style] Is a little bit of everything. I’d like people to watch and decided for themselves. What I’d like to do is give everybody an early night.”
Heavyweights are bigger business than ever these days. Brown has been able to find his feet without carrying any weight of expectation but although he is still a novice, he is 29 years old and now finds himself at the stage where a single spectacular finish will fly around the internet and catapult him to the forefront of people’s minds. He is ready for his step up and has already begun to study the long list of top British heavyweights.
“This is what I want. I want to be on these big shows and get as many fights as possible. There’s no rush at all but I look at those fights and I want them tomorrow. At the same time, that’s why I’ve got Paul. I’ve just got to keep working.”
A row in front of Brown, Lucas Biswana sat chatting to Cain. The 20-year-old has yet to make his debut but has already earned the respect of his gym mates. Biswana can punch and is, by all accounts, ruthless. This spring he won the Senior ABA’s as a welterweight and decided the time was right to turn professional.
“Six fights, four knockouts. Three of them in the first round. I was number one in the country and now I’m gonna turn over,” Biswana said proudly. “I fit right in. They’re all killers in the gym. It’s the place to be.”
Biswana certainly should fit in. ERT’s current crop of fighters all seem to possess the same nasty finishing streak and a cold attitude towards what they do for a living.
Biswana doesn’t believes that it is an instinct that needs to be taught or instilled, it is an ability that is either inside you or not and something you need if you are to survive and thrive in the gym.
“I think we all just have that mentality anyway. It’s in us. We’re all champions. There’s an aura around the gym.” he said.
“The talking is done in the ring. We’re not big talkers, we show what we can do in the ring. You’re gonna see some world champions coming through that gym.”
Biswana doesn’t talk like a young, starry eyed fighter. He has seen the way his gym mates have succeeded by going about their work calmly and quietly and doesn’t see any point in feeling his way into the business.
“I want to keep winning and keep knocking them out. I want to show that I’m a different level. I’m a top prospect but I’m not like anyone else. I’ll show that in the ring and keep taking them out.
“Put them in front of me and I’ll keep taking them out. Whatever Paul thinks is best is what I’ll do.”
John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X @John_Evans79
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