UPTON AIMS TO GAUGE HIS PROGRESS IN LONDON

UNBEATEN Anthony Upton sees his clash with Arek Malek this weekend as an opportunity to gauge his progress against that of other prospects.

The Ricky Hatton-trained 22-year-old faces the experienced Pole on Hellraiser Promotions’ show at the Camden Centre in London on Saturday night and says he’s planning to make a statement of intent.

“He [Malek] has had a lot of fights and he’s won 13 so he’s no mug, but if I want to get to where I want to get to, I’ve got to beat him convincingly and impress people,” Upton, 3-0 (1 KO), said.

“He’s fought Danny “Cassius” Connor, who has been the Southern Area champion and he’s fought Ricky Boylan, who is one of Matchroom’s prospects, so he’s been in there with good fighters.

“Every fight you want someone who is better that you’re last opponent. Malek comes to have a go, which is what I want, and this will give a me a chance to see how I compare to other people he’s been in with.”

Anthony joined his older brother Sonny at Hatton’s stable in Hyde, Great Manchester at the beginning of this year and feels his skills have improved incredibly since.

So far he’s had two outings under the Hitman’s stewardship and on both occasions he’s put in show-stealing performances.

“I think I’ve have progressed a lot since I stated training with Ricky,” he said. “I’m hitting harder, I’m filling out more and I’m maturing.

“My punches are a lot better. I’m picking my hard shots now. Before I was trying to hurt my opponents with everything and you can’t do that for 12 rounds because it’d tire you out.
ENDS