UPTON BROTHERS IMPRESS AT YORK HALL

RICKY HATTON-TRAINED siblings Anthony and Sonny Upton impressed once again as they defeated overseas opponents at the historic York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday night (May 16).

Sonny smartly outboxed Latvia’s Dmitrijs Ovsjannikovs over six rounds despite sustaining a hand injury, while Anthony flattened Istvan Kiss of Hungry with an hellacious body shot in the third round.

Victory extends Sonny’s record to 7-2 (4 KOs), while Antony remains unbeaten at 9-0 (4 KOs).

“It was a learning fight more than anything. I learnt quite a lot. He was a tough fella, I’d watched him on YouTube and I kind of had a feeling it would go the distance. He was a typical journeyman who takes a punch,” Sonny said.

“I hurt my right hand two weeks ago and it went again last night when I was doing the pads. Ricky said if I had to throw it, to throw it, but otherwise save it. I hit him on the top of the head a few times and it hurt, but it was a good performance.

“I like the longer distance fights because I think you learn more in rounds four to six than you do in the first three.

“I think I’m ready for eight rounds now. Ricky is looking for a title fight towards the end of the year and I’m looking forward to that.”

Anthony said: “I’ve been practicing this body shot with Ricky in the past week and I just let it go in the third round.

“The first round I felt him out, the second round I rocked him a few times and then in the third I rocked him a few more and then boom! I hit him in the solar plexus and that was it, he wasn’t getting back up.

“He’s fought a lot of welterweight and light-middleweights and done ok, but I hit harder than my weight.

“I don’t really want to compare myself to anyone else. I’m just concentrating on what I need to do and I’m in no rush. Ricky has asked me what ranking I am because I think he’s keen for a title later in the year, but I’m happy with the way things are going and I’ll be ready for anyone when the chance comes up.”