SAM MAXWELL has had a hard five years working his way through the professional ranks. He had been a talented amateur on the Great Britain squad, a Commonwealth medallist who was overshadowed first by Josh Taylor, now the super-lightweight world champion, and then an excellent Pat McCormack, who represents Team GB in his second Olympics this week. But Maxwell has advanced diligently as a pro, taking a good points win over Joe Hughes last year. Having outscored Ben Fields earlier this year, he is now 15-0 (11) and has the date set for the most significant contest of his professional career so far. On August 28 at the Arena Birmingham he will box Akeem Ennis Brown for the British and Commonwealth super-lightweight titles.
โItโs been a long time coming but I feel like itโs at the right time. Itโs come at the perfect time for me and Iโm really looking forward to it. Winning this Iโve got so many options after it. Itโs giving me more incentive to win,โ he told Boxing News. โI definitely feel like my career has progressed. Each fight Iโve added something new to my game and my experience so Iโm definitely ready.
โIโm a mature pro now.โ
โIโm looking forward to the fight. I think itโs going to be a good fight, Iโm in a good place,โ he added. โIโm definitely going to beat him, I know I can beat him and Iโm excited for it.โ
Some spite has been exchanged between the two. โHeโs always mentioning my name, messaging me, commenting on my posts. I was responding to it early on, but now Iโm just letting it to fuel me to train harder and just making a positive out of it,โ Sam said. โI just think as soon as the camera goes on him he feels like he has to act a certain way. Let him get to it. Whatever works for him. But itโs not affecting me. Iโm training hard and I canโt wait till the fight.โ
Heโs been working with new trainer Steve Maylett. โYou get a new lease of life, a bit of freshness. Iโm training around Terry Flannagan,โ he said. โI train hard, Iโve got great experience from [Steve], heโs been to the top level himself and also weโve got Terry in the gym. So Iโm learning a lot from him as well. Iโm just really enjoying it. Itโs hard training but I feel like Iโm in a great place and itโs going to get the best out of me come fight night.โ
Maxwell has boxed Josh Taylor as an amateur, losing to the Scottish star in the semi-final of the Commonwealth Games. As a professional Sam is looking to climb the sanctioning body rankings to force a shot at one of the bigger names. โJosh Taylor might have a couple more fights or move straight up, vacating [the sanctioning body belts]. It puts me in a great position once I beat Akeem. So itโs definitely something to look at. Not focusing on it, but itโs definitely something to spur me on after this fight,โ Maxwell said. โIโd love that [rematch with Josh Taylor]! Heโs phenomenal.
โI trained alongside him, Iโve done so many rounds with him. He was good in the amateurs but he just took himself to the next level and heโs the best in the world. Heโs not had it easy. Heโs had tough fights from early on and heโs just come through them and progressed. Now look where he is. Completed the game.โ
But he added, โI feel like I used to hold my own with him in training and I think my fight with him was a great fight and a close fight. So from what heโs done, it gives me confidence knowing how good I must be as well.โ
On the same August 28 bill in Birmingham Leon Woodstock fights Anthony Cacace for the British super-featherweight title while Anthony Yarde gets a tune up ahead an expected rematch with Lyndon Arthur in October. Stokeโs well supported Nathan Heaney will also be in action.