New pro sets out ambitions

9:00am Fri Jan 20, 2012

A Balderton fighter has taken the step into the professional game by signing pro terms with Newark boxing promoter, manager and trainer Carl Greaves.

Light welterweight Adam Kettleborough, 25, who works at Vodafone, on Brunel Drive, received official confirmation of his boxing licence from the British Boxing Board of Control on Sunday.

In the amateur game Kettleborough has taken on two fights, winning both — one by stoppage — but is more experienced fighting in the white collar world of boxing, where professionals with little experience take part in sanctioned contests.

Greaves, who has charted the course for many Midlands area and British title holders, has pencilled in Kettleborough’s debut for April 7, potentially at the Grove Leisure Centre, Balderton.

Kettleborough said he relished the idea of following in the footsteps of Andrew Lowe, Josh Wale and Shane McPhilbin — all champions who have been moulded from the Greaves’ stable.

“To have the opportunity to work with someone of Carl’s standing is a real privilege and to train each week with some of the best fighters around is a dream come true for me,” said Kettleborough.

“I have not come into this to just make money. I want to emulate what someone like Shane has achieved and one day get my hands on a Lonsdale belt.

“My dream has always been to make a living from the sport and if one day I’m good enough to be able to do this full-time, live in the gym, it would be fantastic.”

Greaves said Kettleborough had all the skills to make a name for himself.

“Adam is a good boxer. He has trained here for a while now and shown a lot of promise,” said Greaves, who now has around 30 fighters on his books,” he said.

“His attitude is first class and he wants to do well. That is always great to hear as a trainer and I hope we can get the people of Newark behind him because if he works hard we could have another champion in our stable.”