Potential: Aloys Junior was offered a five-year contract with Frank Warren despite losing his professional debut

Aloys Junior’s reward for losing his professional debut was a promotional deal with Frank Warren, writes Matt Bozeat

WHAT was Aloys Junior considering?

Why would a teenage cruiserweight with ambition comply with struggle a 3-0 puncher on his professional debut at solely a day’s discover?

“My phone kept ringing after the fight was made,” remembered the South Londoner with a smile, “and I didn’t bother answering. I knew people would be saying: ‘You’re crazy, why are you taking this fight?’”

Junior thought his professional debut was nonetheless a week away till he checked his telephone after a sparring session and noticed he had missed a name from his supervisor, Simon Legg.

He was on the weigh-in for a Queensberry Promotions present and discovered Michal Soczynski was with out an opponent.

“We had asked for the fight [against Soczynski] six or eight weeks earlier,” remembered Legg, “however had been advised: ‘It’s his debut, it’s not a good struggle.’

“I heard a Welsh lad had pulled out of combating him on the weigh-in and the matchmaker stated: ‘Would your lad take it at this notice?’

“I rang Aloys and advised him: ‘He’s unbeaten, but it surely’s on the telly and it’s a large alternative… If it was me, I’m unsure I’d take it. I’d have taken it at six weeks’ discover, however 24 hours…’ Well, Aloys didn’t assume twice.

“I got pelted for it on social media. Aloys was getting messages telling him: ‘Get rid of your manager, he’s a clown.’ It was a massive gamble.”

Within 30 seconds, Junior discovered himself on the ground.

“My defence is usually tight,” he stated, “however he threw a jab and I couldn’t catch it. The gloves had been a lot smaller to those I’m used to.

“I felt a sharp ache and the following factor I knew I was on the ground considering: ‘What’s occurring right here?’

“There was so much for me to take in. I was thinking: ‘I’m not a victim, I’m not letting anyone do this to me. How do I sort this out?’”

Junior did kind it out, getting his jab working, making the Pole miss and touchdown eye-catching uppercuts.

“I had to learn on the job,” he stated. “I was calm enough to adapt and come back.”

The knockdown was the distinction between the fighters on the referee’s scorecard on the finish of the 4 rounder. Junior was crushed 39-38, however Legg stated: “Within 24 hours, I had Frank Warren on the telephone to me saying: ‘Are you interested in a promotional deal?’

“We got a five-year contract – after losing his debut.”

364 days on from his debut, Junior is matched with Pawel Strykowski, 3-20-1, inside Bethnal Green’s York Hall on Friday evening, a struggle that might be screened reside on BT Sport.

Junior, who stopped Bulgarian veteran Tayar Mehmed in a spherical in March, seemed again on his debut and admitted: “I rushed. I might have constructed myself up, obtained used to the texture of the professional gloves and the lights, however I was solely 18 years previous on the time, very hungry and I wasn’t considering an excessive amount of.

“I noticed one thing I needed and didn’t give it some thought an excessive amount of. I was attempting to dash when my profession is a marathon. I’d positively give it some thought extra if I obtained the identical kind of name now. I must assume long run and the way I can progress, however I’m comfortable with the choice I made.

“I’m known by more people, selling more tickets and getting more exposure.”

Junior made headlines domestically by successful NABGC and Youth honours in a 21-bout newbie profession with Double Jab and Repton ABCs. He quickly grew to become recognized round professional gyms for his willingness to spar anybody. He was 16 years previous when he sparred Daniel Dubois on the Peacock health club.

“I asked Martin Bowers to spar him,” remembered Junior, “and so they had been hesitant as a result of he was knocking everybody out and Daniel doesn’t know management his energy.

“They kept saying no, until they finally agreed and when I felt one of his jabs I thought: ‘If that’s what his jab feels like, what’s his right hand going to be like?’ I had to work go in and out, work out his feints, learn how to handle him.”

Junior has furthered his schooling over the past eight months sparring Chris Billam-Smith, Joshua Buatsi and extra.

“I’m only 19 years old and I’m sparring these guys,” he stated, “so in five or six years, where will I be?”