Huddersfield slickster and British Super Lightweight champion Tyrone Nurse is delighted to have signed a long term promotional deal with Hall of Fame boxing promoter Frank Warren. The 26-year-old Yorkshire ace joins with an impressive record of 34-2-1 and is looking forward to what opportunities 2017 will bring.
“I’m delighted to sign with Frank and I’m confident he is the man who can take me to the next level. Frank always looks after his fighters and gets them the best opportunities. It’s then up to us to grasp them” said Nurse. “You look at the likes of Terry Flanagan (WBO World Lightweight Champion) and you see what Frank’s done with him, you know he’s the man to take you to the top and he’s been doing it for years!”
Nurse has fought only twice in 2016, the last coming at the end of July in a successful British Title defence against Tommy Coyle. The skilful Huddersfield man is looking to have a more active 2017. “I know Frank will keep me active and I’m excited about showing everyone what I can do next year” said Nurse.
One man he’ll be keeping an eye on is Chorley’s undefeated Jack Catterall, also signed with Frank Warren. The two were ordered to meet for Nurse’s British title earlier this year by the British Board of Control but the fight never materialised as Catterall had just switched trainers and was not ready to fight. “I’m open to any opportunities Frank can present me. The Catterall fight is definitely not one I would turn down and obviously, a great fight domestically. He’s a good fighter – southpaw who picks his shots well so I think it would make for a brilliant fight.”
Trained, managed and mentored by father Chris Aston – Nurse had some other offers on the table but elected to go with Frank Warren’s boxing nous and Hall of Fame credentials. “Yes we had other offers, but we have gone with Frank because he is a proper boxing man. It’s like he said, cut him in half and you see boxing!” said Aston.
Frank Warren is thrilled to add another champion to his growing stable of fighters and adds that he’s always been a Nurse fan. “Tyrone is someone I have wanted to work with for a while and I’ve always been a fan of his skills. I’d like to try and get him and (Jack) Catterall in together – that would be a terrific scrap and we’d try to make it an eliminator for a world title.”
There has been much speculation in recent weeks that there would be football transfer type movements with fighters moving between promoters and looking for the best opportunities. Frank added “Tyrone is the first of many new additions. We aim to be adding more to our stable of fighters in the coming weeks.”
The likeable Nurse cites his contemporary boxing heroes as Floyd Mayweather Jr, Roy Jones Jr and more recently Terence Crawford. “I was brought up watching the flashy American fighters. My dad (trainer Chris Aston) used to play me the fights of Roy Jones and even the older stuff like Hearns (Tommy) and Leonard (‘Sugar’ Ray),” Nurse said. “I think Terence Crawford is right up there now and I love watching him fight.” With Crawford currently sitting on top of Nurse’s 140lb weight division, Nurse added “Obviously though if the Crawford fight was presented to me I would take it. That’s what I’m in this business for, to take opportunities and get to the very top. I want to win a world title.”
“I was offered the fight with Shawn Porter recently and I jumped at the chance but the fight never came off,” added Nurse who is not shying away from any challenges around his weight class. “Eventually the aim is to move up to Welterweight, right now I’m comfortable at Light Welterweight but for the right opportunity I would move up. Domestically I know me and (British Welterweight Champion, Bradley) Skeete would be a really interesting fight as we’re both slick and skilful.”
