Undefeated heavyweight Nick Webb has yet to go beyond the two-minute mark as a professional boxer – stopping all four of his opponents within the very first round – and is out to make quick work of his next victim on March 26 at The SSE Arena, Wembley.
Twenty-eight-year-old Webb turned professional in March 2015 and, since then, has knocked out a variety of European journeymen, the last of which, Angel Angelov, was downed with a body shot in just 26 seconds.
“Listen, I’m a heavyweight,” said Chertsey-based Webb. “We want to get in and out of there as quick as we can. I’m happy with the way it’s going at the moment – I’m getting in and out – but if my next fight goes into the second round that’s fine, too. At least I’ll be experiencing something new and learning.
“I’ve always had heavy hands. I used to be a shot putter and discus thrower at a high level and I think that has helped me develop power. Also, as an amateur boxer, I had 27 fights and won 18 by knockout, so I knew I could hit. But being with Scott (Welch, trainer) has helped me refine my game a bit more. He was a puncher himself back in the day and he’s shown me lots of the tricks of the trade and plenty of new techniques.”
In pro fight number two, Webb defeated Hungary’s Martin Szatmari in 1 minute 57 seconds of the opening round – his longest outing to date – and remembers the venue, The SSE Arena, Wembley, fondly.
“I love being on the big stage,” he said. “It’s what I’m all about. I’m thrilled to be fighting at The SSE Arena, Wembley again. I had my second pro fight there and it was an amazing feeling.
“I want these big nights. I want to be winning the Southern Area this year, perhaps by September time, and eventually I want to go all the way and become heavyweight champion of the world.
“To get there, I need experience. That’s why I’ve sparred the likes of Dereck Chisora, Richard Towers and the current Italian champion, Salvatore Erittu. I’m sparring some decent fighters who have competed at a much higher level than I have.”
Suffice to say, Webb won’t have to look too far for inspiration. After all, the heavyweight division in Britain – led by world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury – is positively booming right now.
“Tyson Fury is the best heavyweight we have,” said Webb, 4-0 (4 KOs). “He’s the one with all the belts. He’s the one who beat The Man (Wladimir Klitschko). He’s definitely the most awkward and hard to beat heavyweight out there. If you were to fight him, you wouldn’t be worried, but he’d be very hard to beat.
“Anthony Joshua is the second best heavyweight we have and he’s a banger. He can catch you and knock you out. But, on the other hand, he can also be caught and hurt and is probably easier to beat than Fury.
“I’d love to see them two get it on at some point. That would be very entertaining and exciting to watch.”
*** Tickets for the British middleweight title blockbuster between Nick ‘Bang Bang’ Blackwell and Chris Eubank Jr. are priced at £35, £50, £75, £175, £200 and £250 for ringside and can be purchased online at ssearena.co.uk and axs.com or by phoning the SSE Arena, Wembley Box Office on 0844 815 0815 ***
