Defence is the best form of attack for Shannon

Defence is the best form of attack for Shannon Willey as he returns to the scene of his maiden TKO as a pro.

He resumes his efforts when BCB Promotions return to the Hangar Events Venue, in Wolverhampton, for fight night on Friday (March 10).

It’s his third appearance under the Hangar lights, halting Phil Price, who had never fallen to defeat by stoppage before, in just one round.

Willey worked on the back-foot to put Price on the canvas, with former pro fighter and referee Peter McCormack calling the contest to a close.

That moved unbeaten Willey to 4-0, also including points successes over Naeem Ali, MJ Hall and Karlo Wallace, since turning over in February of last year.

The 28-year-old welterweight makes the long trip from Exeter, in Devon, to compete again, but is used to travelling from his amateur career.

While seeing the world with his girlfriend Georgia, he boxed in Australia and went up against Valentin Kondakov, who represented Samoa at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Willey spent most of his amateur run representing Lympstone Boxing Club, after starting out at Exeter BC, racking up 44 bouts, with 19 victories among them.

He said: “My main thing is plastering, work-wise, but I muck in with the rest of the building jobs. I can’t fault the lads at my place, they always come to the boxing and support me.

“The boss (Matt Corbett, MC Building) used to box, as an amateur, so he’s been really good with me and I appreciate that. Training has gone really well.

“I’ve been told that there’s going to be a show, in Torquay, on May 13, and I’m excited about that. This is my first six-rounder and it would be great to do it again there.

“I was supposed to do six rounds on the last Torquay card (last September), but it didn’t happen. The opponent (Karlo Wallace) I did have was lively, so it was still a good test.

“This is progression and another step up, so I can work my way up the ranks. I’ve had a little while out of the ring (four months), but I’ve kept myself ticking over, in the gym.

“I’ve boxed at the Hangar twice before, it’s a great venue and the set-up is massive. It’s a fantastic card, too, and that’s where I want to be.

“I got my first stoppage there last time and no-one had stopped that guy before. I didn’t go out looking for it, he was actually attacking me!

“We went back into the ropes, he was letting his combinations go. I slipped and caught him with a nice left hook to the body. He went down and got back up, but the referee stopped it.

“It’s always nice when hard work pays off, but getting the win is the most important. My reactions were sharp and that was pleasing. I was buzzing with the result.”

Tickets for the Hangar bill are available, priced at £40 standard or £75 VIP ringside, directly from the boxers or by visiting myfighttickets.com. The show will be broadcast live on Fightzone and the BBC. Click here to find out more

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