SPENCER Brown, manager of Tyson Fury, Joseph Parker, Jarrell Miller, Justis Huni and more, has a new heavyweight.
Brown has teamed up with Mick Carney of Steel Hub Management to steer the career of 2-0 Arlo Stephens.
The 29-year-old from York has been out of action since pulling off one of the best knockouts of 2024.
In Coventry last June, Stephens, trained by ex-pro heavyweight Billy Wilson, ironed out Viktar Chvarkou in the opening round with a sledgehammer right to the jaw.
Stephens returned to the ring when sparring Matty Harris and Huni – and should be back in competitive action at the end of next month.
He outlined the plan Brown and Carney have set out for him.
“I’m looking to get out every month until the end of the year and then fight for a title,” said Stephens.
“I’m making up for lost time, and if I’m not ready for titles next year, I’m wasting my time.”
Stephens sees nothing to bother him in what he calls a “saturated” domestic heavyweight division.
“The boys at the top, fair enough, but as for the rest of them, I don’t rate any of them,” said Stephens, who represented England during his 38-bout amateur career after taking up boxing at 21.
“It’s been hard sitting here watching rubbish heavyweights get big pay days while I’ve been injured.
“I don’t think any of them would be a hard fight. They are just big and tough and I’m big and tough I can box as well.
“They can all hit, but they will be hitting fresh air against me.”
Stephens says he borrowed his tactics from Gervonta Davis to chin Chvarkou.
“Davis loses the first few rounds and then cleans them up,” he said, “and I knew if I let him win a couple of minutes, he would relax set his feet and then I could take him out.”
Footage of that KO convinced Brown to get on board and got him the job sparring with Huni ahead of his fight with Fabio Wardley in Ipswich on Saturday night.
Stephens says the Aussie is “fast, a good mover, a good boxer” and “will give Wardley a hard night.”
