Sam Webb makes the first defence of his British light-middleweight crown at the Troxy in Limehouse against Martin Concepcion tomorrow evening, more than six months after he took the coveted belt from Anthony Small.
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Webb puts the long gap between his last fight down to available TV dates, but adds that it hasn’t been an excuse to slack off.
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“I’ve had really tough training. I enjoy getting fit and am in the gym all the time,” he says.
He combines his boxing career with a day-time job as a plasterer, beginning his days with a 5.30am run before heading off to work at 8am.
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“I run between five and six miles a day and go to the gym at 5.30pm for a three-hour session,” he reveals. “I don’t drink or smoke, I go to bed early and don’t go out.”
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The Swanley champion (16-1) starts as a huge favourite over Leicester banger Concepcion, who has seven defeats in 24 bouts and knows a convincing performance is vital in front of a Sky television audience.
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Both men are 29 years old and will each have an idea of their respective strengths as they have sparred together, but it is Webb who has risen to the domestic top.
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Webb puts much of his rise to championship status down to an “environment of positive influence and no negativity” under the tutelage of trainer Alan Smith.
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He also fondly remembers the days when he first noticed the potential of current WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan.
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“People don’t know how fast he is,” compliments Webb.”
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He watched Khan destroy a German opponent as an amateur and made a bold prediction to his friends saying: “This kid is real hot, go and put a bet on him becoming a world champion.”
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I expect Webb to outclass Concepcion in an entertaining spectacle, but he needs to box smartly in avoiding his big punches as Martin is an exciting come-forward fighter.
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Despite only stopping four opponents compared to Concepcion’s 10 there is a possibility of Webb winning inside the distance through cuts, though a wide-points win is the likely outcome.
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Webb could then exceed his own expectations as he is ranked number one challenger by the EBU for the strap held by Lukas Konecny, who destroyed Matthew Hall for the vacant title last month after Ryan Rhodes was stripped.
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Co-headlining the show is Jamie Arthur, who drops down to super-bantamweight to challenge Kris Hughes for the vacant Commonwealth crown.
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Arthur, 17-4 (4 KO’s), is the more experienced man but is yet to win a title in his career as a pro. He’s fought in one title fight, a points defeat against Martin Lindsay earlier this year for the British featherweight title. He showed plenty of spirit against the Belfast man but never looked capable of beating him.
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