'Pretty Boy' Kieron Conway wants to display his vicious nature in next fight on Amir Khan – Samuel Vargas undercard
Fast-rising light-middleweight Kieron Conway is eager to show the brutality that belie his “pretty boy” looks when he fights on Amir Khan’s undercard.
Northampton’s Conway (8-0-KO3) has been handed a slot on the Matchroom show in Birmingham on September 8 and has always felt he belongs on the big stages.
Now, the 22-year-old knows, it’s time to prove it.
Conway said: “I’ve always been known as a poser and a bit of a pretty boy. That is what it is and if it helps me gain exposure, so be it. It doesn’t mean I can’t fight – I absolutely can.
“I always thought I’d get to this stage young. I’ve always wanted to be on these big stages and that’s where I see myself from now on. I think I’m an entertainer and something the people want to see.
“I want to fight for the English title very soon but then at the same time, I know I have to do things right andmake steps at the right speed. My last fight was a little frustrating and showed I can’t get ahead of myself.
“I feel like there’ll be a lot of people coming down to watch me on this show. The last fight was a Friday night in London so some of my supporters couldn’t make it in time. I even paid for some train fares myself!
“In myhometown I already sell about 250 tickets so I’m hopeful there’ll be plenty of noise behind me for my first big show.”
Khan clashes with Samuel Vargas as the headline act of the show, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Chief support is povided by British middleweight champion Jason Welborn (23-6) and challenger Tommy Langford (20-2).
The local rivals clashed earlier this year in a fight of the year contender at the Walsall Town Hall. Welborn narrowly nicked the British belt from defending champion Langford by a single point in a scintillating 12-round war which was aptly billed as 'Battle of the Baggies', owing to the warring pair's allegiance to West Brom FC.
Langford is a former British, Commonwealth and WBO Inter-Continental middleweight champion and rival Welborn is a two-weight Midlands Area champion, WBC International Silver middleweight titlist, and now the British middleweight champion, which he managed to win on his third attempt having previously failed at welterweight against Frankie Gavin and at super-welterweight against Liam Smith.
The Birmingham residents will clash for a second time in 'Battle of the Baggies 2' with the winner set to defend against Oldham's Mark Heffron next.
‘Ruthless’ Ryan Kelly (11-1) defends his Midlands Area super-welterweight title that he initially won in 2017 with a narrow points win over unbeaten Adam Harper (7-0) and then reclaimed again last May via seventh-round stoppage at Villa Park against Owen Jobburn (4-2-1). The 24-year-old Birmingham champion defends against unbeaten Dordon man Kelcie Ball (9-0).
Super-bantamweight star Gamal Yafai appears on the bill with more title fights and stars to be added shortly.