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Anto Upton – “Ireland is my home, I want to fight back here more”

Anto Upton [14(5)-1(0)] topped the bill last night in his Belfast homecoming, and he wants to make it a regular occurrence.

In what was just his second pro fight in Ireland and his first in three years, Upton dominated Zaurs Sadihovs over six one-sided rounds at the Devenish Complex.

The youngest of the three boxing brothers brought a large and loud support ith him who were upstanding and chanting throughout.

Indeed his fans were the first thing that Upton mentioned post-fight, and he stated that “my fans are brilliant. They’re f*cking loud. They’re the best fans in the world, in any sport, they’re amazing.”

They certainly created the loudest atmosphere of the night on the Ginley Promotions ‘Dust Up at the Devenish’ bill, and Upton certainly doesn’t want to wait another three years before his next fight here.

“Ireland is my home, I want to fight back here more. I sold enough tickets for them to bring me back I think,” he said.

In terms of the fight itself, Upton was presented with an exceedingly negative Latvian foe, but it presented him with a good opportunity to adjust to life under new trainers Barry Smith and Harry Andrews at the West Ham Boxing Academy.

Upton described how “it was kind of frustrating, but the main thing was that I wanted to use my jab, I never used my jab [before] but I used it tonight. I’m just happy to get my first performance under my two new trainers, I’ve a lot of love for them, so onwards and upwards.

Trainer Smith added that “it was our first fight after him changing trainers. What I wanted him to do was box, get back his timing, his rhythm. As you saw as the fight went on, it’s coming back, that’s the feeling. I’m very happy, very happy.”

Going forward the 25 year old now has his eye on the British title, and he noted that “Tyrone Nurse is defending it against Joe Hughes, I think Tyrone wins that, then he’ll vacate. So hopefully, that’s my goal.”

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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