Former England International Luke Gibb aims to impress when he returns to the ring on September 14
Super-lightweight prospect Luke Gibb (4-1) returns to the ring for the first time in almost a year when he fights on JE Promotions’ ‘Next Level’ event on September 14 at Mote Park in Maidstone.
The 30-year-old from Bexleyheath was last seen defeating Blackburn’s Naheem Chaudry (0-27) last October, but difficulties with medicals stalled his career for the ensuing 11 months.
“I was meant to fight in February, but my licence and medicals didn’t come back in time,” Gibb explained. “I just want to keep active and stay busy to get the opportunities in my career, but at the moment it’s been so stop and start for me.”
The unexpected hiatus has ignited a desire within the switch-hitter stylist to put on a show for his expectant fans when he finally returns.
“I am trying to impress on the next show, it’s been almost a year since I was last out, so I feel really good, nice and sharp, just feel really fit and hopefully I’ll put on a show for everyone.
“I’ve been sparring with Lenny Fuller because he’s got the Ultimate Boxxer coming up; I’ve been sparring with Archie Sharp as well, hoping to get another one in with him this week actually. I’ve also been training and gettingsome good sparring in at Four Corners Gym in Chatham with Ray Askew.”
Gibb, a nightclub promoter at Pure Bar in Bexleyheath, will face Welshman Rhys Saunders (3-19-1) over six rounds at super-lightweight.
“In the first couple of rounds, especially the first round, I like to chill out and see what’s what, feel out my opponent then go from there. If you can, then you put on the pressure on and if you get can them out of there, then you turn it up; you just know what you’re capable of when you’re in there.”
33-year-old Saunders has previously defeated Gibb’s promotional stablemate Elvis Makoda (1-0-2) back in November 2015, which prompted a three-fight winning streak, culminating in a Celtic Area super-lightweight title shot. The Cardiff man hasn’t had his hand raised in over three years but always comes to win and has experienced 85 rounds in the professional ranks against titleholders and top prospects.
Without looking past his sixth opponent, Gibb is ambitiously planning to fight very soon after his September 14 fight is finished.
Luke continued, “Hopefully now, with Joe’s [Elfidh] link up with Hennessey Sports, I’m hoping for more fight dates and to jump on their shows when they come up.
“Hoping to get out again in November, maybe even October, I think there might be a show very soon after September 14, but I’d like to get back out at least once or twice before the end of the year and try to keep consistent. Pure Bar have been great in getting behind me and sponsoring me for my fights so I'd like to say a big thank you to them.”
On the forthcoming Ultimate Boxxer 5 tournament, featuring the super-welterweights, on September 20 at The Indigo at the O2, ‘Gibbo’ commented on his sparring partner’s chances in the competition, “I’ve got to go with Lenny Fuller to win! It’s a big ask because he’s not a natural super-welterweight, so he’s gonna’ be smaller than the rest, but he’s looking red hot in the gym. He’s living the life, training every day, and looking good, so he’s got a great chance.”
Gibb and Fuller’s stablemate Grant Dennis took part in Ultimate Boxxer 3 – The middleweights and laid down the standard for Fuller to follow, reaching the finals, but just losing on points to overall winner Derrick Osaze.
As an amateur, former Team GB boxer Luke was a two-time Junior ABA finalist; a London ABA winner; Four Nations silver medallist; England representative and was selected for the Team GB Development Squad.
The ‘Next Level’ card also features Danny ‘The Real Deal’ Shannon (4-7-1); unbeaten light-heavyweight Paul ‘Bomber’ Brown (4-0); Zeki Hussein (0-1) making his long-awaited comeback; Gillingham southpaw Mick Mills (1-12); and debutants Jimmy Peckham and Brooklyn Tilley.
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