Matchroom Boxing launched their rebrand on Tuesday in London and were joined by three generations of British boxing heavyweights. Frank Bruno, a leading figure for Matchroom for when Barry Hearn started the promotion, was in attendance, as well as Anthony Joshua, the crowning jewel of Eddie Hearn’s British stable today. There was also another heavyweight on stage, with Matchroom heading into a new era with Joshua’s time in the sport coming to an end, young Leo Atang will be the heavyweight Matchroom will hang their hopes on in their new era.
Atang makes his professional debut this Saturday at Manchester’s AO Arena against Milen Paunov.
“I'd say it’s a lot of pressure, which I’m happy for, and I think I’m gonna really do something with that, and hopefully make everyone proud,” Atang told BoxingScene.
At just 18 years of age, Atang has made the decision to turn professional and Hearn’s Matchroom were quick to snap up the signature of the young star. Matchroom are short on heavyweights with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions owning most of the division, and Hearn himself admitted that Joshua, Mathroom’s most prized possession, only has around 18 months left in the sport. There is pressure on Atang to fill Joshua’s boots when he eventually walks away from boxing.
“Growing up, he was a bit of an idol to me, and, I mean he still technically is a bit of an idol to me,” Atang said of Joshua. “I think what he’s done for the sport, what he’s done for British boxing is amazing. I think making a household name, making people that wouldn't even think about watching boxing, watch boxing, and it’s brought so many eyes to the sport, and I think people don’t give him enough credit for that.”
Atang was a talented amateur with his most notable achievement coming at the 2019 Under-19 World Championships in the United States where he struck gold. Even after his achievements fighting for his country as a youngster, Atang is unable to join the Great Britain boxing squad because of his age. Atang was given an ultimatum, keep boxing as a youth for another year or turn professional? He chose the latter.
“I entered the National Championships this year, no one entered, and then the Euros were supposed to be April but they got moved to September, and then that would have been like nearly a year out the ring,” he explained. “I just couldn't do it, and then I sat down with my manager currently and they were saying it can sometimes benefit you going [pro] early and learning the game early, and get you to them big fights earlier. The end goal of course is to be a world champion as a pro. I feel like anything to help that and increase my chances of doing that, I'm going to do it.”
Although Atang stands at 6ft 6ins, he is by no means a ‘big’ heavyweight. There were questions if Atang would debut at cruiserweight, but he has decided to bring his speed and skills to the blue riband division.
“I think being 18, a lot of people question like, ‘Oh, would you want to do cruiserweight and stuff?’ But I mean, I’m 103kg [227lbs] now, so it’ll be a big cut now,” he said. “I’m 18, I’m not exactly going to be getting any smaller over the years. So, I feel we’re going to grow, we’re going to build, we’re going to fill out and it’s only a matter of time.
“I used to box a lot lighter than this and I’m a lot lighter, like my first fight was 55kg [121lbs]. So I’m used to boxing as a lightweight, but I feel like I’ve carried that style through with the weights and then the power started to come with it and the strength came with it. I like to see myself as a faster heavyweight, like I’m a skillful heavyweight, definitely, and I feel like heavyweight’s missing that. There's a lot coming through. Usyk, you’ve got Itauma who moves a lot like a lightweight as well. So, I feel like there is a trend starting to happen. Everyone’s starting to recognize speed and skills. It is starting to work as a heavyweight.”
Atang will undoubtedly be compared to Moses Itauma throughout his professional career – a heavyweight who also chose to turn professional early and has taken the pro ranks by storm.
“I think what he’s done, you have to take your hat off to him because he’s unbelievable, but at the same time, I’m on my own journey,” Atang said of Itauma. “I think I will take the more traditional, slower route, because as you say, I am a smaller heavyweight, I’ve got a lot of time to mature mentally, mature physically, and adapt my boxing style. I’m happy to be in this game for a long, long time.”
But what can we expect from Atang in his professional career? There is a certain Evander Holyfield he wishes to emulate.
“[I used to watch] back in the day, like Evander Holyfield, I feel like a lot of people thought he was too small for a heavyweight coming up from the [smaller] divisions,” he said. “Well, I mean, he proved everybody wrong, so I almost want to do the same and prove everyone wrong.”
