10 BRITISH AND IRISH PROSPECTS TO WATCH IN 2024
Image source: Matchroom Boxing
It’s no exaggeration to say 2023 was another incredible year for British boxing at both domestic and world level, with some future stars of the sport staking their claim as future global stars.
Back at the start of 2023, we picked out Junaid Bostan, Callum Simpson and Rhiannon Dixon as three prospects to watch in the year ahead.
Well, it’s safe to say they certainly lived up to expectations. Despite having just two fights, the Ant Crolla-trained Dixon picked up the Commonwealth Lightweight title with the first stoppage of her career against Vicky Wilkinson, and then backed that up by claiming the European Lightweight title with an impressive points win over Katharina Thanderz.
It was an equally good year for Simpson who was signed by Boxxer before moving to 13-0, and will now challenge for the British title against the winner of Zak Chelli and Jack Cullen.
Bostan, meanwhile, went global, quite literally. After three victories on home soil, he ended the year with a points victory over the previously undefeated Gordie Russ II on the Rodriguez vs Edwards undercard in Arizona and a massive 2024 undoubtedly awaits.
This year, we’ve picked out 10 fighters from the UK and Ireland to keep a close eye on, with each of them possessing the ability to set the world alight in the not-too-distant future.
Matty McHale - Out of the same amateur gym as the former undisputed super-lightweight champion Josh Taylor, McHale has taken to the pro ranks like a duck to water following his debut in November 2022.
With five wins from five, including four knockouts, he’s yet to have been picked up by a big promoter but he will undoubtedly have an eye on a British title clash with Liverpool’s Marcel Braithwaite at some point in the next year.
Dan Toward - A 10x national amateur champion, and ABA champion in 2022, Toward turned professional with Wasserman at the end of 2023 and it didn’t take him long to make a statement.
He followed up a second-round KO of Fabrizio Rubino on his professional debut with an impressive points victory over Nikolas Dzurnak just two weeks later.
It’s unclear what route the 22-year-old light-welterweight will take in the professional ranks but certainly expect him to be knocking on the door of an area title, at the very least, by the end the year.
Cameron Vuong - A fighter you may have heard of already, this is a kid everybody is talking about on the domestic scene.
The 21-year-old won the ABA’s earlier this year and then made the decision to turn professional with Sam Jones and Matchroom Boxing under the tutelage of Jamie Moore.
With three wins from three, including two stoppages, he’s already set to take a big step up against Ishmael Ellis on February 10th in Newcastle where victory could put him in prime position for an English title shot against Lewis Sylvester.
Emmett Brennan - A highly decorated amateur who represented Ireland at the Tokyo Olympics, he outpointed the tough Angel Emilov on his professional debut in July and then backed that up with an eighth-round stoppage of the unbeaten Jamie Morrissey on the Chantelle Cameron vs Katie Taylor 2 undercard in Dublin.
A big ticket seller, this is a fighter who, with the right guidance, has the potential to go all the way and few people would be against seeing him in an Ireland vs England clash against Ben Whittaker before the end of the year.
Kurt Walker - Another vastly experienced amateur who had victories over the likes of Peter McGrail in the unpaid ranks, Walker has built himself an impressive record of nine wins from nine fights so far in his professional career.
He is yet to be really tested having barely lost a round to date and in a stacked division both domestically and globally, he’ll be keeping a close eye on the British or European featherweight title as a potential next step up.
Connor Quinn - A really exciting flyweight prospect, Quinn claimed the vacant Celtic Flyweight Title in October when stopping Chris Liddell in the seventh round.
Boasting a record of 8-0 with five stoppages, it’s no surprise to see that former world champion Sunny Edwards has drafted him in for sparring on multiple occasions. At 25, time is still on his side and with a couple of defences of his Celtic title, expect to see him picked up by a big promoter and enjoy a massive 2024.
Levi Barnes - A 4x national champion as an amateur, he won bronze at the 2022 Youth World Championships before turning professional with Steve Wood midway through this year.
Having won all three of his professional fights to date, albeit with no stoppages, he is a nice box-and-move fighter with slick footwork and incredible hand speed. At just 19, once he starts properly filling out and sitting down on his punches more, this is someone who has the potential to be a domestic and global star in years to come.
Tori-Ellis Willets - A highly decorated amateur who is a former GB podium squad member, she turned professional with Dennis Hobson and FightZone at the end of 2022 and made her professional debut in May 2023 where she became just the seventh lady from 124 to stop Klaudia Ferenczi.
Since then, Willets has claimed back-to-back points wins and she’ll have her eye on European and Commonwealth honours at bantamweight in 2024.
Hamza Uddin - An 8x national champion as an amateur, he was signed by Sam Jones and Matchroom Boxing at the end of 2023, and both have massively high hopes for him.
An extremely talented switch-hitter who doesn’t mind a bit of showboating, it’s unlikely Matchroom will take their time with him because they don’t need to. Expect to see him in a title fight of sorts by the end of the year or, at the very least, a solid 50/50 clash.
Delicious Orie - It’s 2024 which, of course, is an Olympic year so how can we not give a special mention to one of the biggest British amateur prospects?
A fighter who has already booked his ticket to Paris, he’s the next in line of British super-heavyweight stars to participate at the Olympics.
Five of the last six British super-heavyweights have medalled at the Olympics and despite the division looking stacked in Paris, Orie has more than enough ability to do the same. Even if he doesn’t, expect him to enter the professional ranks by the end of the year and start what will definitely be another special journey.