Ennis-Brown confident he can overcome Bowes in the capital
Akeem Ennis-Brown in action. Pic: MTK Global
GLOUCESTER’S Akeem Ennis-Brown says the level of preparation he has put into fighting Phillip Bowes means he is confident he’ll be crowned British and Commonwealth champion next month.
The 24-year-old super-lightweight will face Bowes at York Hall on Friday 20th March for the vacant British strap, as well as Bowes’ Commonwealth title and will be shown live on Sky Sports.
Since turning professional in 2015, Ennis-Brown’s stock has increased hugely with 13 wins from 13 bouts.
While admitting every fight has a degree of difficulty, Ennis-Brown, who trains out of Jon Pitman’s Fight Factory Gym in Gloucester, says he has yet to be truly tested by any of his opponents.
The 24-year-old largely accredits this to the quality he faces his training camps, and believes his brutal preparation will once again pay off when he faces Bowes.
“I don’t think I have found my level yet, I don’t want to sound big headed but I haven’t had a hard fight yet, I’ve had harder sparring sessions,” he said.
“Don’t get me wrong, every fight is hard – of course they are because it is a fight but in my head, I always think each fight is going to be difficult, but they never turn out to be what I expect.
“A lot of that comes down to my preparation and camp. If I’m going to fight at English title level, then I spar someone who is at British title level and I’ve always done that, trained a level above.
“For this fight with Bowes I had sparring with Josh Taylor and lots of other fighters who are around that level.
“I’ve sparred lots of world level fighters like Jorge Linares, Luke Campbell and Ricky Burns so when I then walk into the fight I have some added confidence and I’m ready to do the business.”
Bowes, who has a record of 20 wins and three defeats, is 11 years older than Ennis-Brown and while believing he has the beating of Bowes, Pitman’s man is aware this fight could be a last chance for his opponent to make a mark in the sport which could make him more dangerous.
“I think this fight is a bit of a last chance for Phillip, because if he loses to me then what can he go and do after?” he added.
“He doesn’t have much time left and it would take him another year or so to get back into the position he is in now to be in title contention.
“I don’t think a loss for him would necessarily mean the end of his career but it would he hard to see where he could go afterwards.”
