Belfast boxer’s husband to make pro debut on DeGale-Eubank PPV undercard

English super middleweights James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jr will clash next month in London and there will be at least one Irish link on the undercard.

The pair will meet at the O2 Arena on Saturday February 23rd and it has been announced today that heavyweight Chezerae Nihell will make his debut on the bill which will be shown live on ITV Box Office.

The Aldershot 31-year-old, a Lance Corporal in the British Army, was an English superheavyweight amateur champion and also won the Services Championships and the Haringey Box Cup multiple times.

Nihell’s link to Ireland comes via his wife Alanna Nihell (née Audley Murphy), the Belfast lightweight who won bronze at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2006 EU Championships.

Married to Alanna, Nihell is therefore also the brother-in-law of welterweight prospect Lewis Crocker [7(6)-0].

Alanna will be heavily involved in her husband’s pro career and the fighter, who was one half of the first Irish women’s amateur bout with Katie Taylor way back in 2001, has taken out a professional trainer’s licence with the British Boxing Board of Control and will be in the corner next month.

‘Chez’ Nihell, who holds a 2017 win over Tipperary’s Dean Gardiner, said that “this is what dreams are made of. You only make one pro debut and to make my debut on a stacked card at London’s O2 live on ITV.”

“Also doing it with the British Army and my wife Alanna. She has been a major part of my army and boxing life – that’s how we got together.”

“With me on this new part of my boxing and army life is very special. I thank them all and all concerned for making this happen.”

An opponent for Nihell’s pro debut will be confirmed shortly.