Billy’s next big step
BILLY LE POULLAIN lines up for his England debut tonight lean, mean and determined to make his mark against a tough Scottish opponent.
The Guernsey Amalgamated Boxing Club star will be making Bailiwick history by representing England as they lock horns with Scotland in a dual match at Glasgow’s High Performance Centre. It will be the Three Lions team’s first competitive outing since January 2020.
Le Poullain will also be returning to his pre-pandemic state having cut down to the light-middleweight (under 71kg) class, a full 4kg lighter than when he made the elite-level final at the National Amateur Championships.
His first big test in the lower weight class comes against the quality Luke McFadyen of Barrhead.
‘This is a really big gauge to see what level I am at,’ he said before speaking of his testing transition to the light-middleweight class.
‘Getting the weight off has not been easy. My body over lockdown just matured into middleweight.
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‘Pulling it down has taken some meticulous preparation, but I am looking forward to getting in and seeing what I can do against someone who’s highly regarded in the amateur scene.’
Since being outpointed by Ramtin Musah in the NAC final, the 26-year-old has twice impressed at Great Britain trials and has been invited for a third in two weeks’ time.
Alongside solidifying his place in the GB set-up, he now has his sights on another NAC campaign and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Tonight’s bout, in which he was initially matched against Gold Coast 2018 quarter-finalist Stephen Newns, is part of that journey.
GABC club-mate Tommy Teers is fighting at club level tonight in Birmingham.
