Kane Baker will regain lost ground in the rankings if he can get back to winning ways upon his return to the ring. He remains a contender ahead of show-time in the Stadium Suite at Walsall FC’s the Banks’s Stadium, on the Sunday afternoon
The 31-year-old Brummie, from Bartley Green, has gone through quite the storied journey since his pro journey began in 2016. Baker was 4-0 with a quartet of points victories before stepping up to face Conor Benn - son of boxing legend Nigel - a year later.
He went down fighting by TKO to Benn in the second round, before another defeat on the road to Gary Cully, on points, in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The balance was redressed through an over-the-distance victory over Chris Adaway, before 2017 was out, with 2018 on the horizon where he boxed seven times. It began with a loss to Sanjeev Sahota, where he was squeezed out by a point, ahead of bouncing back with results over Michael Mooney and Ibrar Riyaz. Sam Maxwell got the better of Baker in a contest that went the full six rounds, but he would again have his hand raised next time out, at the expense of Jamie Speight. Baker was globe-trotting for his subsequent test in Jeddah, but he was halted, again in two, by Darren Surtees. That would not be where the year ended, though.
The Midlands lightweight title went to Baker after he dethroned Ishamel Ellis, a 10-round battle going his way and earning him his first pro crown.
After more wins over Luke Middleton and Andy Harris, Baker’s step up to face stylish English champion Myron Mills proved unsuccessful, again on points.
He scored two more victories at the expense of Joe Beeden and Dean Jones, before a points setback at the hands of Aqib Fiaz last October. Baker was back in action two weeks later, outpointing the unbeaten Meshech Speare, before his last ring activity with Youseeh Khoumari in March.
An out-of-sorts Baker succumbed to pressure in the fifth, leaving his pro record at 14 wins and eight losses from 22 bouts. Now comes the 23rd time he’ll step through the ropes.
He said: “I’ve always been busy, ever since I turned pro, and I’m just trying to keep active now. I want to make some more memories. I’ve boxed in Northern Ireland, Saudi Arabia (Jeddah), Gibraltar (against Khoumari) - this sport has taken me all over the world and I’ll always appreciate that. Gibraltar, again, was a great experience, but it just wasn’t the best of me in there. When the bell went, I seemed to be stuck in the moment. A lot of little things went against me. You are only ever as good as your last performance and I know that I’m better than that. I feel like I’m back to my best and I know I can still have a good rumble.
“I need to get back to winning ways, I’ve dropped out of the top 15 and a good result will get me back in there. That’s what I want from this fight.
“I consider myself a 10-round fighter, but it’s always been on my bucket list to be in a 12-rounder. That’s a personal goal and it would take something big to get me there. When I became the Midlands champion, it felt like a world title to me and I would love for something like that, or even better, to happen again. I’ve boxed for the English title, against a really good champion, and I think I showed I can compete at that level. That was at super lightweight, I could probably make super feather. I just want to keep going and I’ve set myself new goals. I want to get back in the mix and show that I’m ready for anything, at anytime.”
Four other fights feature on the show, which is sponsored by Principle Partners Alliance Scaffolding, Jobsworth Recruitment and GPW Consulting.
Walsall’s two-weight Midlands Area Champion, James Beech Jr, also features. Three debutants complete the card with Worcester’s Ameen Khalid, Wolverhampton’s Traian Tudosache, and Bloxwich’s Lewis Morris.
Tickets for the show, on Sunday 26th September, are on sale now and available from the boxers priced at £40 standard and £75 VIP Ringside with buffet. They can also be purchased from myfighttickets.com:
https://myfighttickets.com/.../ols/products/crashbangwallop
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