Interviews
Britain’s youngest coach? Hasan Al-saigh learns from Angel Fernandez
At just 20 years ancient, Hasan Al-saigh is already gaining experience and knowledge that he can relish.
Al-saigh has become an integral part of trainer Angel Fernandez’s Loughborough-based stable, which includes former British cruiserweight champion Richard Riakporhe, who will face Olanrewaju Durodola for the WBC silver title this Saturday night.
It all started with a two-hour phone conversation, and over eight months later he will be working in his second professional corner.
“I knew a boy named Charles Frankham who was in his stable at the time,” Al-saigh said proboxing-fans.com.
“At first I just said, ‘Do you have Angel’s contact information? I’m a huge fan.
“By then I was training amateurs and he gave me his phone number and we exchanged a phone conversation and it lasted about two hours, just talking about philosophy, boxing and life.
“So much so that he said, ‘Would you like to come to the gym for a week?’ and I did and it went from there.
“It was the best eight months of my life. I learned a lot there.”
Hasan ensures that he is not just an understudy, he is involved in all aspects of the gym, including road work with Riakporhe, as well as studying fights and perfecting his craft.
Gripping the gloves of one of the most explosive fighters in the cruiserweight division can take its toll, but with advice from strength and conditioning experts, the adolescent trainer is able to break through the pain barrier.
“It is tough!
“But I’ve had some S&C advice from Chris Baird in Loughborough who has given me joint and muscle strengtheners so I’m not in as much pain as before.
– But he’s still very sore.
Hasan’s mentor, Fernandez, has been a key part of Anthony Joshua’s coaching team in recent years, alongside head coach Robert McCracken.
Appointed before his rematch victory over Andy Ruiz Jr in December 2019, the Spaniard supervised his last two fights against Kubrat Pulev and Aleksander Usykin which he was vacated as the World Heavyweight Champion.
Al-saigh says Fernandez is always one step ahead and admits his goal is to dedicate his success in the sport to his behind schedule former coach Derek Ashcroft and also become a head coach.
“With Angel, he is always one step ahead.
“There are always three or four things that maybe I wouldn’t have noticed at first, and the longer I stay around an angel and he makes me aware of these dangers, I slowly start to notice it and, as I say, it’s nice to be around him, I learn a lot I taught.
“When I was boxing my coach unfortunately passed away, Mr Derek Ashcroft and he were everything to me.
“So my goal is to continue his legacy as best I can and, of course, build my own.
“But the main motivation is that I want Ash’s name to be in the spotlight where it belongs.”
Watch the full interview with Hasan Al-saigh below:
Eddie Hearn believes Tyson Fury will retire after a legacy-defining clash with Anthony Joshua.
Fury stunned the boxing world on Monday when he announced his retirement from the sport, leaving behind a megafight with Joshua.
The “Gypsy King” announced his shocking decision less than a month after suffering, among other things, second defeat in a row against Oleksandr Usyk in Riyad, but Joshua’s promoter, Hearn, is convinced that the fighter from Morecambe will return to the ring to fight the long-awaited showdown with “AJ”, who is returning after a fifth-round defeat to Daniel Dubois.
“In my opinion, I think he will come back,” the 45-year-old said talkSPORT.
“But I don’t know him well enough to judge that.
“He’s coming back after two defeats, and these defeats hurt the boys.
“AJ was devastated by the defeat to Dubois and I’m sure Fury was too [with his defeats to Usyk]both are winners.
“I don’t know if Fury can leave one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport on the table.
“I know he’s a competitor. I know he will want to give the British fight fans what they want and I hope we see more of him.
“But if we don’t, God bless the speed and all the best.”
Fury hung up his gloves after defeating Dillian Whyte in April 2022, only to return eight months later for a third fight with Derek Chisora, whom he defeated comfortably at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Hearn said Joshua will now look to secure a clash with the winner of the February 22 fight between his former rivals Dubois and Joseph Parker, who will fight in Riyad for the IBF heavyweight world title.
If Fury returns to fight AJ, the Matchroom boss insists the loser would have nowhere to go.
“They would both be devastated by defeat,” he added.
“It’s one thing to lose the world heavyweight title, but at the same time losing in a fight of this magnitude is the biggest bragging rights.
“At this stage of their career, the last word is goodbye.
“Whoever loses this fight is finished and whoever wins it moves on and that’s what you fight for.
“You’re not just fighting for a legacy, you’re fighting to save your career.
“It’s a huge fight, but it’s not on the table right now.”
Callum Simpson defended his British and Commonwealth super middleweight titles after a second-round victory over Steer Woodall on Saturday at the Park Community Arena in Sheffield.
Simpson (16-0, 11 KO) proved too good for Zak Chelli in his last competition and went on to sweep wide and claim the British and Commonwealth titles last August. Woodall (19-3-1, 12 KO) picked up his best career win, stopping Lerrone Richards in six rounds in an upset in Bolton last June.
This attack ended quickly in the second round, with a right uppercut that left Woodall on wobbly legs, and then another attack punctuated by another right uppercut, leaving “The Stallion” on the deck.
Despite beating the count, referee Mark Bates waved off the fight shortly afterwards.
Simpson dedicated his victory his dead sisterwho died tragically in August in a road accident.
“It’s bittersweet,” the 28-year-old said Heavenly sports after the fight.
“I won these titles in front of all my fans, but there’s one person that I think everyone knows who I wish was here, but I know she’s looking down on me and I make her proud.”
Dubois is tied with Camara
On the card below, Caroline Dubois (10-0-1, 5 KO) made her first defense of her WBC lightweight title against Canadian Jessica Camara (14-4-1, 3 KO), but the fight ended in a technical draw.
The fight was stopped due to a cut to Camara’s left eye from the head collision, and she also went down in the first round.
Forrest stops Miller
Cruiserweight prospect Scott Forrest needed just two rounds to defeat Deevorn Miller.
Miller (8-3, 6 KO) lost once in the first and second rounds, while Forrest (7-0, 4 KO) won outright.
Undercard remaining
In the featherlight heavyweight division, where Billy Deniz defeated Mickey Ellison (15-8, 5 KO) by one point.
Deniz (13-0, 5 KO) won with a score of 77-76.
In the six-round middleweight division, Sam Hickey (2-0, 1 KO) stopped Lewis Howells (3-2) three times en route to a first-round victory, and Mauro Silva (7-0, 3 KO) scored a 59-56 victory against Emmanuel Zion (6-3, 3 KOs).
Ellis Price (2-0, 1 KO) stopped Liam Fitzmaurice (0-1) twice en route to a first-round lightweight victory.
Lauren Price believes Natasha Jonas was pressured into fighting her ahead of their March 7 unification clash.
Price will put his WBA and IBO welterweight titles on the line when he faces IBF and WBC champion Jonas live at the Royal Albert Hall. Heavenly sports.
Jonas’ coach, Joe Gallagher, has said he would prefer to see the 40-year-old retire, and Price, who won Olympic gold in 2021, is doubtful whether her rival wants to face her.
“I don’t think either of them wanted this fight,” the 30-year-old said proboxing-fans.com.
“But like I said, she has two belts, I have three and it’s just a great fight.
“The fight is signed, sealed and announced, so on March 7 we will see who will be the best.
“If you look at my amateur record, Olympic gold medalist, I haven’t lost a single round as a professional.
“The performance I am up against [Jessica] McCaskill in Cardiff against the legitimate world champion, the proof is in the pudding.
“I’ve got it. I’m in my youth.
“She’s coming to the end of my career and I don’t blame her, but in the end she has something that I want and that’s really it, there’s nothing personal.”
Jonas secured the WBC crown with a unanimous decision victory over then-champion Ivana Habazin in December in Liverpool, moments after Price defeated Bexcy Mateus in three rounds on the same bill.
The pair then clashed during a heated post-fight interview to confirm their upcoming match.
The Welshwoman believes that her youth, speed and dominance in the ring will allow her to defeat the experienced Liverpool resident on Friday in eight weeks.
Asked what her advantage was over Jonah, Price added: “Probably my youth.
“Reading the fight, my ring IQ, my speed.
“The little feints, the triggers I do, people reading me.
“Everyone says they will do it, they will do it until I stand in front of them, so we will see on March 7.
“But overall I think I’m just better and I believe I’ll win.”
Watch the full interview with Lauren Price:
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