Brighton, UK (1 November 2021) Fast-rising heavyweight ace Tommy Welch has not only been trading punches with a Fury but has also been picking up tips from a certain Roy Jones Jr ahead of his next fight.

The undefeated talent has been sparring with world-title contender Hughie Fury as he prepares for his latest appearance on the title-packed Hennessy Sports show on Saturday, 13th November, at the Coventry Skydome Arena, live and free on Channel 5.

Welch uses the Eubank Gym in Brighton and with Chris Eubank Jr bringing in Roy Jones Jr – the only fighter in boxing history to win a World Heavyweight title after starting his career as a super-welterweight – as his trainer, the unbeaten banger admits it has been an honour to have a living boxing legend offering advice.

“I’ve been next to him [Jones Jr] in the gym for the last four, five, six weeks with Chris Eubank,” he said.

“That has been really cool. I’ve been learning some great stuff from him. What a legend.

“Roy was coming in a good hour before Chris would come in and I’d be training. He would pull up his chair and you could just see his eyes were at work.

“I could feel his eyes watching me and thinking. He was pulling up on all sorts of things. If I was moving from the ring to the bags, he would follow me, pull up his chair next to the bag and watching my feet, then watch my hands.

“He has a great aura and a great energy around him. It is amazing to know Roy Jones Jr, but to have him giving me advice and telling me things, was genuinely a privilege.”

Welch is already under the guidance of his dad Scott, who was the British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion and challenged for a world title back in the 1990s.

For this latest camp they were joined by another stella father-and-son team – Peter and Hughie Fury.

And while the two fathers watched on, the sons went at it for three days’ solid sparring and of course, neither took it lightly.

“It was fantastic. Hughie is a gentleman, his father Peter is a gentleman and they’re fighting men,” said Tommy.

“To be in camp with Hughie was great. And the spars were absolutely full-on. I won’t sit here and go on about stories from sparring, but it was genuinely a great experience.

“I respect the Fury’s, I really do. I like their work ethic and it was a great chance for me to feed off a world-title contender.

“Hughie is one of those fighters in the shadows. Him and his dad just keep their heads down and just get on with business. There’s no flashiness about them.

“I know cousin Tyson is the number one in the world, but even he was an almost hated fighter at the start but worked his socks off to turn everyone on to him.

“Hughie is a world contender, but he’s still on the up. He’s not like his cousin, who is sparing of course, but I guarantee, he has done all his hard work to get to the very top, so is now just perfecting it.

“Hughie still wants to learn, is working every day and wants to grind his socks off. I am doing the same. To be in camp with him was just great.”

Show update: Brixton Cruiserweight Isaac Chamberlain will not feature on this card and instead will headline a big Hennessy Sports show on Friday 10th December. Two popular Midlands fighters have been added to the card in separate fights: Leamington Spa lightweight Danny Quarter and Chelmsley Wood lightweight Scott Melvin.
Shakan Pitters v Reece Cartwright for the Vacant WBC International Light-Heavyweight Championship headlines the triple-title card that includes a fiery midlands derby between Coventry hot-shot River Wilson-Bent against Rowley Regis rival Tyler Denny for the Vacant English Middleweight Championship. Red hot Irish middleweight sensation Aaron ‘The Silencer’ McKenna will challenge for his first championship title. Aaron’s joins older brother Stevie ‘The Hitman’ McKenna who is lighting up the welterweight division with his dynamic and KO performances. The rest of the Hennessy All Stars team will be out in full force starting with welterweight ace Kaisee Benjamin, Birmingham super-middleweight Idris Virgo; Sevenoaks highly talented super-welterweight Michael Hennessy Jr.; undefeated County Donegal middleweight starlet Brett McGinty and unbeaten Brighton heavyweight destroyer Tommy Welch.

Presented by Hennessy Sports in association with William Hill, Infinitum, Numan and Everlast, tickets are priced at £45, £55, £90 and £120 and are available from https://iceaccount.co.uk/wbc-championship-boxing-info

For further information go to www.hennessysports.com or social media: Facebook @HennessySports, Twitter @HennessySports and Instagram @hennessysports

London, UK (6 September 2021) Rising Brighton heavyweight destroyer Tommy Welch believes his genetics, coupled with an insatiable work ethic, will allow him to extend his family’s formidable fighting legacy.

Dad Scott, the original ‘Brighton Rock’, captured British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles and lasted the full course in a bold WBO world title challenge to Henry Akinwande in the 1990s and tenacious Tommy, a multiple national champion and England rep as an amateur, hopes to replicate.

‘Today Dad guides, trains, manages, does everything,’ says the Shoreham-born 26 year old who has triumphed in all four pro starts since debuting last December.

‘He has taught me everything he knew plus what he didn’t know but has learned since. I was born with his big heart and big balls, his natural aggression and skills. One time he taught me tough love. I was ballsy: ‘Lets go!’ and, playing about, he flicked me with a body shot that nearly broke me in half!

‘I was only four when Dad retired but I’ve vague memories of him coming home cut and bruised after big fights,’ continued the 6ft 3 ½in, 234lb colossus who works in the family’s care home business.

‘Dad was certainly responsible for getting me into the world of training. It’s a really lovely part of the country down here but we still have our bad streets and bad gyms and lots of the tough kids in the area trained at his gym. Dad tried to encourage the boxing but I just didn’t want to do it.

‘From the age of eight onwards, I was always happy to spar in the back garden and, by age 11, I was sparring grown men. I was always a big kid, I really liked fighting, just didn’t enjoy the other aspects of boxing training. Initially I found my feet in rugby, a very tough sport, lots of fighting on and off the pitch and I enjoyed the thrill of that. I was a temperamental boy, an angry kid with a terrible temper. Once I saw a red rag, I’d fight as hard as I could.’

Eventually, inevitably, he was bitten by the boxing bug.

‘Once boxing gets a hold of you, you can’t shake it off. It’s the respect you get from people when they know you’re a fighter,’ says Tommy who is co-coached by ex-Marine Ben Pringle at the same Brighton and Hove ABC gym where his father broke sweat.

‘Growing up, I generally tried to be a polite, respectful kid – I was the class joker – but it wasn’t always easy being Scott Welch’s boy. There’s always people who’ll try to cross you and, as a fighting man, you can’t shy away. You have to look after yourself, protect yourself.

‘I had my first sanctioned bout when I was a 91 kilo 14 year old against a 15 year old who was 103 kilos. I lost a home decision. Everyone thought I won. The hall was an absolute war zone; the type that can make or break you. Dad lost his first amateur fight too so I’m in good company.’

Since launching himself into the paid brigade late last year, walloper Welch has ruthlessly dispatched all four victims in six rounds combined.

‘The amateurs is pure sport but professional boxing has been tougher than I expected,’ he claims.

‘Its very business orientated and Dad’s name has proved an advantage in getting me on different shows when other boys haven’t been fighting, so I’m blessed there. The Welch name rings bells but I’m not getting my respect yet. Others at my level already have more hype but they’re pretty average.

‘Dad was a smaller man than me but he was a fast heavyweight and a real roughhouse. I’m naturally more of a boxer but I prefer to fight. At the level I’m at, it’s not about being tough and taking shots. It’s defence, defence, defence, then attack, pick ‘em apart.

‘I see my job being to win, in and out, quick as you can. not please others. Boxing’s a very damaging sport. If journeymen invite me in, I accept and destroy them.

‘I can always hone my skills in the 20 rounds of sparring I do in a day. I’ve sparred the likes of Dubois, Chisora, Dillian Whyte, Fabio Wardley. Top level. The better sparring opposition, the better you can practice your work to be fully ready for your fights.’

Young Welch shall profit from crucial nationwide free-to-air Channel 5 coverage on Saturday 10th September of his four rounder against Spain’s Alvaro Terrero on promoter Mick Hennessy’s mega show from the Coventry Skydome Arena.

‘Fans can expect to witness explosions with skill,’ concludes the Sussex starlet.

‘Over the next 12 months I hope to get to 10-0, and slowly, slowly start moving up to six, eight round fights against tougher opposition before gratefully accepting whatever opportunities may come my way.

‘My goal is to become a respected man through boxing, hopefully with a lot of money and a few belts for the cabinet. I want the best career I can possibly have for myself.’

Remaining tickets are available to purchase from the Coventry Skydome Arena website https://iceaccount.co.uk/championship-boxing

Sam Eggington’s WBC Silver Middleweight title defence against unbeaten French star Bilel Jkitou headlines an action packed card Hennessy All-Stars featuring some of the stars from the promoter’s stable including big-hitting Brixton star Isaac Chamberlain; Irish KO king Stevie McKenna faces France’s Moussa Gary over six rounds ; Birmingham’s Former British Light-Heavyweight Champion Shakan Pitters tackles Holland’s Farouk Daku over eight rounds; Coventry’s dynamite-punching middleweight sensation River Wilson-Bent takes on Bosnian hardman Sladjan Janjanin in a 10-round international contest, Birmingham welterweight ace Kaisee Benjamin battles Finland’s Jarkko Putkonen over ten rounds; Birmingham’s flash and brash Love Island and super-middleweight star Idris Virgo takes on the Czech Republic’s Michal Ryba over six rounds; red-hot Irish super-welterweight talent Brett McGinty faces Lithuania’s Lukas Ulys over four rounds; Brighton heavyweight destroyer Tommy Welch squares up against Spain’s Alvaro Terrero over four rounds and completing the card is the silky skilled Sevenoaks prospect Michael Hennessy Jr. against Latvian Maksims Dembovskis.

ITV Central feature | Michelin starred chef Glynn Purnell gives a masterclass in cooking with Sam Eggington, Shakan Pitters, Kaisee Benjamin and River Wilson-Bent
MEDIA EVENTS
Wednesday 8th September: Press Conference

Samoan Joe’s
Spon Street
Coventry
CV1 3BB
Time: 1.30pm for a 2pm start

In attendance will be Sam Eggington-Bilel Jkitou and the undercard boxers’ will meet head-to-head with their opponents: River Wilson, Isaac Chamberlain, Stevie McKenna, Shakan Pitters, Kaisee Benjamin, Idris Virgo, Michael Hennessy Jr., Brett McGinty and Tommy Welch.

One-one-interviews and photo opportunities will be available.

---

Thursday 9th September: Weigh-in

Samoan Joe’s
(Address as above)
Time: 12.30pm for a 1pm start

All boxers’ will officially weigh-in for their contests.

London, UK (1 August 2021) It was a successful raid in Italy last night for Brighton heavyweight destroyer Tommy Welch who blasted through Jiri Svacina in one round to maintain his perfect unbeaten record.

Welch had been scheduled to face Petr Frolich, but he was withdrawn at the last minute and replaced with the experienced Svacina for the four-round bout in Fano, Marche, on the Adriatic coast.

Not phased by the change, concrete-fisted Welch heavily dropped Svacina four times in the opening round and the 61-fight Czech Republic veteran didn’t come out for the second, opting to sit on his stool.

The fast-rising talent is blitzing through all opponents put before him with his previous three going inside two rounds as they succumb to the 26-year-old’s big hitting power. It was the second back-to-back foreign assignment for Welch with his prior fight in Brussels in June against Gyorgy Kutasi ending in the second round.

Welch was pleased with his Italian job and felt he had overcome a number of situations presented to him before the fight which will hold him in good stead for the future.

“When I hit him flush with the first big shot in the first ten seconds of the opening round I knew that I had him,” Said Welch.

“From that point on Svacina knew that he was in with an animal and he wasn’t going to escape and I hurt him with every shot as hit the canvas four times. He sat on his stool after the first round and it was clear he didn’t want anymore,”

“He said to me afterwards ‘Man, you’re very strong and fast, these heavyweights are going to struggle with you’ which was good to hear as he’s very experienced and been in with a lot of people,”

“I felt I successfully dealt with what was presented to me out there, we were told the venue was indoor and it was outdoor. Actually, it gave the fight a gladiator feel with it being in Italy and my grandfather had he been alive, who is part Italian, would have been over the moon,”

“The last minute opponent change was another factor. Svacina was the original opponent, but we wanted someone heavier and went with Frolich, but then he was replaced with Svacina again. I was a little angry and that’s why the fight probably ended as quick as it did,”

“Also it was boiling hot and there were no changing rooms either. The Joker face mask went down a treat as well. Due to my performance I had the crowd behind me. It reminded me of the line in the movie Gladiator ‘win the crowd and you will win your freedom’ and that’s what I did,”

“If I can learn and deal now from all these different types of situations and pressures early in my career, I know that when I go to my opponent’s backyard in the future I can deal with it,”

Welch has a busy summer ahead with a further fight on August 29 in Brussels, Belgium, and then on Hennessy Sports’ show on Friday 10th September at the Coventry Skydome Arena, live on Channel 5.

For further information go to www.hennessysports.com or social media: Facebook @HennessySports, Twitter @HennessySports and Instagram @hennessysports

London, UK (30 July 2021) Promoter Mick Hennessy will showcase the brightest boxing talents of his quality packed stable in one mega night of boxing at the Coventry Skydome Arena on Friday 10th September, live and free in the UK and Ireland on Channel 5.

Hennessy’s biggest stars, champions and prospects will get to show off their skills and dynamite punching in front of a live crowd and viewing TV audience as they aim to become British boxing’s next big thing.

Presented by Hennessy Sports in association with William Hill, Infinitum, Numan and Everlast, tickets will start at £40 and go on sale on general sale shortly.

The action packed line up features:

Sam Eggington: Multi-tilted, all-action Eggington won the WBC Silver Middleweight title in a thrilling battle with Carlos Molina in May and picked up a World ranking as he closes in fast on a World title.

Isaac Chamberlain: The Brixton banger makes his highly anticipated return to the ring following career enhancing shoulder surgery which will make him better than ever and is now ready to rock and is back to his big-punching best again.

Stevie McKenna: The Irish dynamo has TNT packed in his fists with all eight out of eight of his opponents KO’d within five rounds. The County Monaghan welterweight terror is gunning for a showdown with English rival Conor Benn next year as he continues leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.

Shakan Pitters: The charismatic Birmingham giant signalled his explosive return to the ring earlier this year with a KO of Jermaine Springer and now looks to regain his mantle as British Light-Heavyweight Champion.

River Wilson Bent: The fast-rising Coventry middleweight hot shot has been hailed as the new Ricky Hatton with his exhilarating knockout style and lifted the roof off the Planet Ice Arena with his KO of George Farrell last time out.

Kaisee Benjamin: Thrilled in his last fight when he floored rival Martin Harkin with a searing body shot in the sixth round and Harkin didn’t come out for the next round. Super skilled Benjamin is shaping up to be a serious threat in the welterweight division.

Idris Virgo: The Love Island star is proving to be the real deal as he continues on the road to his first title fight. With a physique carved out of rock, the flash and brash Birmingham super- middleweight ace has backed everything up so far.

Brett McGinty: The sensational Ricky Hatton trained, Donegal super-welterweight, and former amateur standout talent is unbeaten in two fights and is showing signs of becoming a force to be reckoned with as he developes.

Tommy Welch: The Brighton heavyweight star and former amateur sensation brings hell every time he fights and he doesn’t hang about with all three of his fights ending by KO inside two rounds.

Michael Hennessy Jr.: A former top amateur with a wealth of experience, the stylish Sevenoaks super-welterweight is looking better and better each time with some eye-catching combinations to head and body as looks to stamp his mark in the pro game.

Hennessy was the first boxing promoter to open the doors to the public in May at the Coventry Skydome Arena and the allocated tickets – put on sale just five days before the show – sold out within minutes and the action starved fight fans were given to a fistic treat.

This time the Coventry Skydome Arena will be open to full capacity on Friday 10th September and Hennessy is promising a night of entertainment that they won’t forget.

He said, “This is a real boxing bonanza of a card for the fight fans. After a very tough time that everyone has had, this is a show for the fans where they can come out and enjoy the fights, see the Hennessy Sports stable of champions from Sam, Kaisee, River, the return of Isaac, Shakan on his comeback, and our exciting future of young talents like Stevie, Idris, Brett, Tommy and Michael all showcasing their skills. The breadth of talent across the weight divisions is just incredible and shows the strength of British and Irish boxing as they look to shine on this massive night. There will be real entertaining, fifty-fifty, fights throughout the card to savour so don’t miss this one.”

The full card will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets will go on sale shortly and are expected to sell out fast so keep a close eye on Hennessy Sports social media accounts for more announcements.

For further information go to www.hennessysports.com or social media: Facebook @HennessySports, Twitter @HennessySports and Instagram @hennessysports

London, UK (18 July 2021) Dynamite fisted heavyweight talent Tommy Welch aims to do a seek and destroy mission in Italy this Saturday (31st July) when he has his fourth professional fight.

Welch, 26, fights in Ancona on the Adriatic coast when he takes on Poland’s Petr Frolich over four rounds as he looks to maintain his perfect record.

The Brighton puncher has got off to an explosive start in the pros having dispatched of his three previous opponents inside five total rounds of action.

He fought last month in Brussels and registered a brutal second round demolition of Gyorgy Kutasi after detonating his heavy punches on the Hungarian.

Welch has previously boxed and won in Milan when he was an amateur in an England v Italy international tournament in 2016 and following England’s recent heartbreak against Italy in the Euro Championships, Welch is keen to conquer once again.

“I’m looking to get the job done in quick style, this will be seek and destroy, no hanging about, rob the bank and leave,” stormed Welch.

“Frolich is another opponent for me to sharpen my tools on and get him out of there when he’s ready to go. I’m feeling great and looking forward to doing the job in real style and leaving Italy with a W and KO on my record.

“I’ve not stopped training since the win over Kutasi last month. I’ve had some great sparring with Nick Webb [who fights Fabio Wardley for the English title next month] and Joel Djeko [who recently challenged Tony Yoka for the European Union title in March] so I’m fit, sharp and ready for Frolich.”

Welch said he would also be dedicating the fight to his friend Sebastian Eubank who sadly passed away earlier this month.

He said, “I’ll be taking Seb’s fighting spirit with me into the ring in Italy and I’ll be fighting in memory of him. A wonderful friend and talent taken too early.”

Tommy Welch vs Dmitrij Kalinovskij | FULL FIGHT
For further information go to www.hennessysports.com or social media: Facebook @HennessySports, Twitter @HennessySports and Instagram @hennessysports

London, UK (18 June 2021) Iron-fisted heavyweight prospect Tommy Welch has his first pro fight on foreign soil tomorrow night (Saturday 19 June) in Brussels, Belgium, as he looks to take his record to 3-0.

The 25-year-old hot talent from Brighton has a great opportunity to keep active and get another fight under his belt when he features on the Maatala Production event and takes on Hungary’s Gyorgy Kutasi over four rounds.

Powerhouse Welch has made quick work of his first two opponents, just last month he destroyed Dmitrij Kalinovskij in the opening round and prior to that on his pro debut in December he stopped Matt Gordon in the second round.

All-action Welch doesn’t intend to rack up the rounds and wants to wipe out Kutasi in quick time to show he means business on his rise up the heavyweight division.

He said, “I know what I’ve got in front of me and I don’t want to be going in there doing rounds with this guy. At this early stage of my career it’s not about the rounds, that will come later as I step up, it’s about getting in there and unloading my punches and taking him out quickly, effectively and in devastating style.”

For further information go to www.hennessysports.com or social media: Facebook @HennessySports, Twitter @HennessySports and Instagram @hennessysports

London, UK (8 December 2020) Heavyweight Tommy Welch sets out on the road to emulate his father Scott and become a British Champion when he makes his professional debut this Friday night in Redditch on the undercard of the Sam Eggington-Ashley Theophane showdown, live on free-to-air in the UK on Channel 5.

The 25-year-old from Brighton is trained by his dad and he’ll be in the corner on the momentus night when his son begins his pro career in a four-round contest against West Bromwich’s Matt Gordon.

In the amateurs, Tommy had 38 fights with 29 wins and won a plethora of titles, including four National titles, a Junior ABAs, Three Nations titles on three occasions, two NABCs and the Haringey Box Cup.

He had a period of disillusionment after leaving the amateur code, but with his head and heart now firmly set in the pro-ranks, he’s ready to make a big impact in the fight game.

“I can’t wait to finally do this on Friday,” Said Tommy. “It has been a lifetime dream to go professional and of course become a champion like my father. The first things I put on were a pair of boxing gloves before a pair of shoes so that was a sign I knew I’d follow in my dad’s footsteps into boxing.”

“Of course there are going to be comparisons between me and my dad and what he’s achieved. If I can achieve half of what he’s done then I’d be a proud man, but I’m in this sport to be the best I can be so I’m aiming for the British title and beyond and if I can go that one step further and win the world title then I’ve done great.”

Scott “The Brighton Rock” retired in 1999 after a seven-year career that saw him win the Southern Area, WBO Intercontinental, British and Commonwealth Titles and challenge for the WBO World title against Henry Akinwande.

He’s well know for his appearance in film director Guy Ritchie’s hit movie Snatch in 2000, when he played bare knuckle fighter Horace ‘Good Night’ Anderson and had a famous fight scene against Hollywood star Brad Pitt. A successful businessman, Scott also dedicates his time as the Chairman of the WBC Cares UK initiative.

Scott said, “I’m mighty proud of Tommy for getting in the ring, he needs to be his own man and do his own thing now, but I’m I’ll always be there one hundred percent for him.”

“I know how hard this sport is and I’ve given him the best advice and support to steer him, but he’ll experience this along the way for himself,”

“He’s been around the sport all his life and travelled with me and he’s met all the greats like Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Larry Holmes, George Foreman, who’ve all given him words of advice,”

“He’s got himself into incredible shape with the help of Ben Pringle, who’s part of our team, and I’ve never seen him so focused and determined so I can’t wait to see him get on his first step on the pro ladder,”

“He’s got all my attributes, but I believe he’ll be better. I’ve always believed he’s something special now it’s down to him to achieve.”

Sam Eggington versus Ashley Theophane headlines the Hennessy Sports card in an International Super-Welterweight Contest. Chief-support features the Vacant Midlands Area Welterweight Title between Birmingham derby between Kaisee Benjamin and Ben Fields. The undercard includes: undefeated super-lightweight and red-hot talent Stephen McKenna from Monaghan, Ireland against Brierley Hill’s MJ Hall, in a six-round contest; his equally talented brother Aaron McKenna (appearing courtesy of Golden Boy Promotions) takes on Islington’s Jordan Grannum over six rounds at light-middleweight; Sevenoaks middleweight prospect Michael Hennessy Jr. meets Hyde’s Dale Arrowsmith; the flash, brash and exciting unbeaten Birmingham star Idris Virgo faces Stourbridge’s Kevin McCauley in a four-round middleweight contest; Brighton heavyweight Tommy Welch makes his pro debut against West Bromwich’s Matt Gordon.
For further information go to www.hennessysports.com or social media: Facebook @HennessySports, Twitter @HennessySports and Instagram @hennessysports