A penny for Ben Davison’s thoughts when Tyson Fury returns to the corner at the end of the first round on December 1 at Los Angeles’ Staples Center and the young trainer catches a glimpse of Freddie Roach crouching by the ring post.
If there wasn’t enough pressure on him already, Davison, the man partly responsible for getting Fury back to somewhere near his best, will now be joined by legendary trainer Roach the night Fury attempts to snatch the WBC world heavyweight title from Deontay Wilder.
Roach, head honcho at LA’s Wild Card gym, confirmed his participation to Sports Illustrated, having been asked by Tyson if he could fulfil the role of cut man on December 1.
“He asked me if I’d work in his corner,” Roach said. “He asked me if I could do cuts. I said, ‘Yeah. I have guys better than me, though.’ He said, ‘Do you know what you’re doing?’ And I said, ‘Of course I do. I have everything you need.’ So, I’m the cuts man.”
Fury is currently based at Roach’s Wild Card gym after taking the decision to leave Big Bear in California.
Roach, of course, is the former trainer of Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, James Toney and many others. His appointment comes as a welcome shot in the arm for Team Fury following the news that John Fury, Tyson’s larger-than-life father, has reportedly been blocked from obtaining a visa to attend the Wilder fight on account of a previous criminal conviction.
Croatian heavyweight Filip Hrgovic, considered one of the best prospects in world boxing, looks to make it a magnificent seven in a row when he fights Ecuador’s Ytalo Perea on December 8 in Zagreb.
Announced today, this fight will be Hrgovic’s seventh as a pro and comes three months after a third-round stoppage win over Amir Mansour in a WBC international title fight.
“I am pleased to have my next opponent confirmed,” said Hrgovic, 6-0 (5), the 2016 Olympic bronze medallist. “Perea is a good boxer with a strong amateur pedigree and I expect him to provide a tough test. He’s shared the ring with some good boxers and he’s never been stopped.
“I look forward to the challenge and I look forward to fighting again in Zagreb. With the support of the Croatian people, I believe I will reach the top of the heavyweight division, and I promise to deliver them another entertaining fight and a great victory on December 8 at the KC Dražen Petrović.”
A capable amateur in his own right, Perea claimed gold at the 2011 Pan American games and defeated Dominic Breazeale and Simon Kean en route to qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Once there, he lost out to the Beijing 2008 gold medallist Roberto Cammarelle.
Since turning professional in March 2013, Perea has secured seven of his eleven victories via stoppage and gone the distance with former world cruiserweight champion Guillermo Jones and Polish hot shot Adam Kownacki.
“I am excited to come to Croatia to fight Filip Hrgovic,” said Perea, 11-3 (7). “I have travelled the world fighting as an amateur, so I have no fear facing him in his backyard. I have watched his fights and I know he’s a good boxer, but I’m confident I will win. He has never fought anyone like me before.”
