Christopher Ready To Rumble, Says Coach Hull
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Anthony Hull insists Tyler Christopher is more than ready to “bring it” when he faces Bulgarian brawler Petar Aleksandov in the main event of March Madness at the H Suite in Birmingham on Saturday [March 25].
Hull, who has trained Christopher, 26, since he arrived in the UK more than three years ago, believes his man will thrive under the extra pressure as the headliner and expects Aleksandov’s combative style to bring out the best in the Bermudian.
Sofia-based Alexsandov, 25, has claimed four wins and one draw from 31 professional contests and has fought regularly in the UK throughout his journeyman career.
The bout will be Christopher’s first fight since his stoppage victory over Harley Marginson in the second round at Planet Ice in Solihull in September last year.
“Because of his stoppage in his previous fight, we’ve found it a little harder to find an opponent for Tyler,” Hull told Bernews.
“Tyler will bring it, and hopefully, this guy does. I believe [Alexsandov] will come to scrap and have a go, which is what we want.
“We don’t want a journeyman to sit there and cover-up. We want someone who will come out and fight. That’s how you get tested.
“When you’re up against someone who’s just come to earn their money, and they’re tying you up, it’s harder to show your skill level.
“There’s a bit more pressure on Tyler as the main event, but I feel he will do fine.”
Hull, the head coach at D&A Boxing School of Excellence in Stirchley, is confident Christopher [5-0-0] will be in a position to challenge for a Midland Area super-welterweight title before the end of the year.
“I’ve told Jon Pegg [Christopher’s manager] that we don’t want to wait around,” he said. We want to get him a title shot this year.
“I’ve told Tyler, ‘There’s not many journeymen around [since the Covid-19 pandemic], and a phone call could happen tomorrow [for a career-enhancing fight], so keep ticking over. When the chance comes, you have to take it.’
“Tyler has five to six years to achieve his goals. If you haven’t done it in five to six years, you should probably start thinking about doing something else, get a hobby.
“Hopefully, he can win the Midland Area title this year and then go from there.”
Hull, who had more than 140 bouts as a boxer and mixed martial artist, has developed a strong bond with Christopher but admits it took time to earn the southpaw’s trust.
“When he first came over [to England] and starting sparring, he was getting touched up a bit,” Hull added. “Now you can see him working holes in people, knowing when to back off, when to work inside, and when to defend.
“It took us a while to build our trust, but he knows I have his best interests at heart. I don’t take a penny out of his fight purse.
“Everything I tell him to do in sparring, he does, and it’s working.”
