TOP HEAVYWEIGHT PROSPECT Mitchell Barton has officially joined Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, as he prepares to make his professional debut.

The 21-year-old Scotland international, who lives in York and was born in Skipton, was a Scottish and British champion as a youth and also enjoyed success in the seniors where he was a two-time Tri-Nations winner and Scottish champion.

"It is unbelievable and I never thought in a million years I would get to sign with Frank Warren," said the Henry Wharton-trained heavyweight. "He is one of the biggest names in boxing and it took a couple of days to sink in that I had done it.

"My trainer Henry kept asking if I could believe it and the answer was no. For the first couple of days I couldn't get excited because it just hadn't sunk in. It has now and I am over the moon.

"I have never trained as hard in my life and it is just brilliant," added Barton, who is now based in York after his international exploits in a Scotland vest.

"I was born in Skipton and moved to Scotland when I was younger. I never picked up the accent, but I am just a fighter and it doesn't matter where you are from, does it?

"I've represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Games and the Europeans as a youth, also the world championships.

"I am a bit of everything because I box and fight. You cannot just stick to one style and although I would say I am more of a fighter, I am a smart fighter and pick my punches and look for the right shots.

"If needs be the power is there. I am 6ft 3/4" and I weigh about 17.5st.

"There is a lot of talent popping up now and it is a good time to be a heavyweight.

"The plan is to keep active and not rush into anything. I am still only young and will take small steps to build myself up. I am looking forward to the journey, although I know it will be hard."

Peter Kahn’s Fight Game Advisors has signed Top Welterweight Prospect, Quinton Randall, (6-0, 2 KOs) of Houston, TX, to an exclusive managerial contract, it was announced today.

“I’m very excited to start working with Peter and his Team at Fight Game Advisors,” said the 29-year-old Randall. “Peter is very well connected and has all the capabilities to elevate my career and provide me the opportunities needed to continue my ascent in the sport.” The busy Randall kicked off his professional career with six wins in 2019, his first year as a professional. 

Stated Kahn, "Quinton Randall is the epitome of don't judge a book by its cover. While some people will focus on his late start in the sport, don't let that fool you. He was the captain of the USA Boxing Men's National team while a resident at the Olympic Training Center and had a decorated amateur career with international experience. He has been in camp with some of the top champions in the sport and doesn't have the physical and mental wear and tear that many fighters have at the same age. Quinton has all of the tools to become a world champion from both his skill set, mindset and maturity. I see him on a fast track that will culminate with a world title shot in the near future."

Said head trainer Derek Collinsworth, "Quinton’s no stranger to adversity and has shown determination from his very first day in the gymnasium. He's remained focus under the most dire of circumstances. Quinton Randall is the definition of perseverance and I've watched him do it."

Continued co- trainer Kay Karoma, “I believe Quinton has the potential and skill set to be a factor in boxing. Not only that but he can be a world champion. His leadership and drive will take him a long way.” 

A late bloomer, the 29-year-old has only been boxing for seven years after turning his life around following an incarceration. Training for two years prior to his first amateur bout upon his release, Randall is inspired by Boxing Legend Bernard Hopkins who followed a similar path. He had a decorated amateur career compiling a record of 73-12 including a trip to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Stated Randall, “I did a complete 180 after leaving jail. Boxing became my path, I changed my diet, changed my attitude and became a much more disciplined person. I have always loved the sport but was derailed by my past troubles. Now I’m ready to make up for lost time.”

While training in Houston, Randall is a frequent sparring partner of fellow undefeated prospect, Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams. “We’re friendly outside the ring but inside we give each other excellent work.”

24-year-old super-lightweight talent Jonathan Walsh (4-0, 1KOs), trained by Paul Stevenson at the Everton Red Triangle Gym, has swapped his boxing gloves for heavy weights.

Whilst ‘Jof’ isn’t able to pound the heavy bags in the gym, he’s lifting up heavy pounds at his Liverpool home instead.

The unbeaten pro has thrown himself into strength training whilst the boxing gyms are inaccessible due to the spread of coronavirus.

The 140-pounder said, “I have just been concentrating on my strength work, so I’ve been quite motivated, but not been thinking about boxing too much. I managed to get hold of a couple of weights, actually got around 150 kilos of weights in the garden, got a bench press, a squat rack, so I’ve given myself a different goal to aim for.

“I’ve still been doing roadwork as well, about twice per week, just trying to keep my weight down.

I’m 10st 8/9lbs at the moment, but still quite lean, so when I come back down to 10st, I’m going to be a lot stronger.”

The Haringey Box Cup champion raced to 4-0 as a pro within 12 months between his debut in March 2019 and his last fight in February this year.

‘Jof’ floored Paul Dulcie on his pro bow to win 40-35 on points; he followed that with another shutout points win against Carl Turney; then he scored a second-round stoppage over 145-fight veteran Youssef Al Hamidi, becoming just the fourth boxer to halt the durable Syrian from Yorkshire.

In his last assignment, he was given a tough test against the talented Chris Adaway, who has a knack for upsetting home fighters – as an amateur he won seven Western Counties titles and represented England. Walsh had to dig deep to outpoint the adept Devonian 39-38 on the scorecards.

“Yeah, it was a good learning fight, he brought me down a level, because I know I’m 10 times better than that,” he said of his last fight at the Grand Central Hall in Liverpool on February 28. “He brought me in to his game, he was awkward as well, he’s a live opponent.”

Everton Red Triangle Gym always schedule their events for the entire year ahead and had four more dates secured for 2020, which have now been either missed or written off for the foreseeable future.

“I wanted to carry that momentum on, I had five fights scheduled this year but obviously the coronavirus has stopped that now and I don’t know how long the break is going to be,” Walsh said.

The British Boxing Board of Control have ruled that a maximum of five fights only will be permitted to take place on future events for safety reasons when live boxing returns.

“There’s only five fights allowed on the shows now, so let’s say we have 10 boxers per show and, say, five events per year, that’s not many getting to fight. So, it’s only going to be the elite fighters that get on the big shows for now.”

The youngster is not allowing himself to grow impatient while his career is put on hold, however, “Obviously, I do want to box again, but the realistic side is that it won’t be this year, or maybe late this year.

“I want to get back to where I left off, but I haven’t been frustrated at all, because it is what it is, you can’t obsess over something that you cannot change, so I just set myself new goals with the strength training and I’ll go back a lot stronger.”