Highly regarded amateur prospect Junior “Sugar Boy” Younan has officially decided to make his world championship run under the DiBella Entertainment (DBE) banner. Younan officially signed a long-term exclusive promotional agreement with DBE earlier this week. Younan, who doesn’t turn 18 until October 14, is looking to make his much-anticipated pro debut in late October/early November.
“It’s a real honor being signed by DiBella Entertainment,” said Younan.
“Growing up in New York and being at all the shows, it’s really humbling to know that I’m being recognized as one of the best prospects right now by Lou. I plan on showing everyone what I have in me and bringing that spark back to boxing. I feel like I have a great, strong team with DBE, my manager James Prince, my lawyer Josh Dubin and, of course, my father. We’re going to make it to the top and that’s a promise.”
“Anytime that you are able to add the type of caliber fighter that ‘Sugar Boy’ is to your stable, it’s special,” said DiBella.
“I have been following him since he has been a child and he has been viewed as a New York gym prodigy. Still a teenager, I expect huge things from ‘Sugar Boy’ Younan.”
“I’m excited to be in business with my first New York fighter, which happens to be one of the most decorated amateurs in recent memory. He’s so sweet in the ring that his name is fitting – ‘Sugar Boy’. I’m also hyped to be working with my close friend and colleague Josh Dubin, who will be my co-manager with respect to ‘Sugar Boy’. It’s an honor and a privilege to be working with Lou DiBella and DiBella Entertainment. We all expect real big things from ‘Sugar Boy’,” stated Prince, who also manages super middleweight champion and top pound-for-pound fighter Andre Ward.
The “boxing prodigy”, as Younan was referred to in a lengthy New York Times article written on him and his father/trainer Sherif Younan when Younan was just 10 years old, has long been in the spotlight throughout his amateur career. The blue-chip prospect first picked up a pair of gloves at just two years old and by the time he was eight, he was fighting competitively.
Compiling an outstanding 90-5 record, Younan won nearly every major tournament both on the regional and national level that he competed in. In addition to winning the National Junior Olympic championship in 2011 (he lost a debated decision in the 2012 finals), the #1-rated amateur Younan was a nine-time Junior Olympic champion, nine-time Junior Metro champion, eight-time NY State Silver Gloves champion, five-time Regional Silver Gloves champion, four-time National Silver Gloves champion, three-time Ringside World champion, three-time National PAL champion and a two-time National Junior Golden Gloves champion.
The signing of Younan is the fourth recent signing of a high-profile New York-based amateur prospect by DBE this year. Younan joins fellow New Yorkers and former #1-rated US amateurs Patrick Day, Shemuel Pagan and Christopher Galeano, as well as former NY Golden Gloves champions Louis Cruz and Travis Peterkin, to be signed to the growing DBE roster in 2013.
