Former Team GB amateur standout Harvey Horn has signed a long-term promotional deal with Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren.

Horn, 22, trains out of the famous Peacock Gym in Canning Town under highly-respected coach Mark Tibbs and will start life in the professional ranks campaigning at Flyweight.

The East Londoner’s boxing career took off at school after he was put on the Priory School’s Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) programme.

ABA champion in 2014, he continued his progression on the boxing scene in 2015, claiming silver at the European Championships in Bulgaria before representing Team GB at the inaugural European Games in Baku later in the year.

“I was part of the Team GB setup for three years and enjoyed a lot of success,” said Horn. “Becoming the European U22 Champion was a highlight during my time there.

“I was also part of the World Series of Boxing British Lionhearts team. I had four fights in the WSB and won three of them.

“After the disappointment of not being selected for the Team GB Olympic team I felt it was time to start a new chapter in my career.

“It’s a brilliant time to be signing with Frank. I’m really excited to see how the next few years pan out with him guiding me.

A graduate of the legendary Repton ABC, Horn is adamant his schooling will hold him in good stead now that he has turned over.

“As an amateur I was a counter puncher and point scorer. Now I’m sitting on my shots a lot more and fans will see a lot of flair and entertainment. I have a great shot selection and I’ve got a very good engine as well.

“I’m looking at the belts around at Flyweight and I’m putting pressure on myself to do well very quickly. I’m expecting to be jumping around weights to begin with, I’ll fight anyone.

“I’ve always been used to testing myself against the best, whether that has been domestically or in the World Series of Boxing.

“I expect to do the same now that I have joined the pro ranks. I want to stay active, impress and get my hands on every title I can. 

“I’m just not interested in building a fake record fighting journeymen, I’m not here to make up numbers.”

News on Horn’s professional debut will follow in due course.

Featherweight prospect Toka "T Nice" Kahn-Clary (22-1, 15 KOs) will headline his fist show Saturday night, October 19 at Georgia Freight Depot in Atlanta, promoted by Hall-of-Famer Evander Holyfield's Real Deal Sports & Management, in a 10-round bout against Braulio "El Chavo" Rodriguez for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas featherweight title.

 

The once-beaten, Liberia-born Kahn-Clary, fighting out of Providence (RI). is coming off an impressive eight-round unanimous decision this past June against Angel Luna (11-2-1) in Louisville.

"I very happy about fighting in my first main event," the popular 25-year-old Kahn-Clary said. "I'm going to put on a show to let everybody know who I am. I'm very excited to be fighting for my first pro title. A victory will put me in the top 15 in the world, as well as make me more marketable and better known in boxing."

Kahn-Clary was a decorated amateur boxer, compiling an outstanding 131-11 record and collecting numerous medals at national tournaments, highlighted by him capturing a gold medal at the 2010 U.S. National Golden Globes Championships. He was also a silver medalist at the 2009 National Golden Gloves Championships and 2011 U.S. National Championships, in addition to being bronze medalist at the 2012 U.S. Nationals Championships.

Rodriguez (19-2, 17 KOs), who was the WBC super featherweight champion two years ago, is a heavy-handed, battle-tested Dominican. He will be fighting in the United States for the first time as a professional.

"He's a tough kid who, I think, should be 20-1 because I watched his last fight and he should have gotten the decision (LSDEC8 to 12-0-1 Alberto Mercado in Puerto Rico)," Kahn-Clary noted. "He's very awkward and fights in spurts. I need to be smart and use my experience."

Kahn-Clary vs. Rodriguez, is somewhat of a crossroads fight with career-critical future implications for both fighters with the winner advancing to the next level, while the loser could become a permanent opponent.

"This is the big fight for Toka," his advisor Seth DeRobbio explained. "I think it'll be a good fight. His opponent is a big puncher with 17 knockouts in 19 wins. Toka has an opportunity to showcase his talents in a main event for the first time. Stopping a guy like this who has never been knocked out can be huge for Toka.

"Everything depends on this fight. In his last fight, the opponent kept coming forward and that didn't allow Toka to showcase all his skills. It's difficult boxing as you back up, but Toka proved that he can fight like that if needed. All Toka's skills will be on display this fight. It's a great opportunity for him."

Kahn-Clary vs. Rodriguez was originally slated to be held September 30 in Louisville, but venue issues forced the postponement and subsequent relocation to Atlanta.

"I was upset that the fight was pushed back only because my weight was on point," Kahn-Clary admitted," but fighters need to adjust in and out of the ring and everything is good. Some good came out of it, though. I found more video of my opponent to watch, and additional training and sparring helps, too."

"The postponement actually helps us," DeRobbio added. "It gives us three additional weeks to train to prepare for the biggest fight of Toka's life. At this stage of his career every fight for Toka from here on out will be his biggest fight of his career."

Glenn Foot is gunning for IBF European Super-Lightweight Champion Josh Leather after returning to winning ways in Hartlepool over the weekend.

The Tees-Wear rivals lock horns at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle on Saturday 11th November, live on BT Sport and BoxNation.

Foot (21-2, 6 KOs) looked back to his menacing old self as he outclassed Sheffield's Nathan Hardy over four lively rounds at the Borough Hall on the undecrard of Martin Ward's European title challenge.

And the Sunderland man didn't hold back when asked about unbeaten Guisborough Champion Leather (12-0, 6 KOs).

"Josh Leather? He's beaten nothing but bums," said Foot. "He's not fit to lace my boots.

"If you look at our records, I've boxed a level above him all of my career. He is going to get the shock of his life on November 11th.

"He's going to be on the counter looking for me to come forward but they are going to get a big shock on the night.

"Believe me, this will be the biggest test of his life. I'm going to be 100% focused on the night, I've got my head back on the job. There is no way I am losing this fight.

"There is much more on the line than just the IBF European title, it's local pride. This is Sunderland against Middlesborough, and Sunderland are going to come out on top."