Has Coventry found a heavyweight star in Charlie Loughran?
Loughran, Parmar (left) and Sat Padda at Sunday’s Midlands final
NOT since the distant days of British champ Danny McAlinden has Coventry had a pro heavyweight who made banner headlines in national newspapers.
KO king Matty Harris has come close, but is rebuilding after a stoppage loss.
The long wait for the fighting Irishman’s successor may soon be over. The torch looks set to be carried by Charlie Loughran, a teenager being groomed for the pro game.
Insiders are beginning to get excited about Loughran, a product of Canley’s Toe 2 Toe Club. The lad certainly has a big following.
It is, however, very early days and I don’t want to jinx things or put pressure on Charlie’s broad shoulders. He’s only 19, a mere baby among the big men. He is still learning.
But Loughran is certainly causing a stir in the amateur ranks. Last Sunday, at Acocks Green, Birmingham, Loughran captured the Midlands title by outpointing Eastside southpaw Daniel Brown.
This Sunday, his quest for a national title continues with the ABA pre quarter-finals in Bridlington, Yorkshire.
Loughran’s stats are impressive. A convert from mixed martial arts, he’s won all 11 contest and has now won two Midlands titles, having collected the youth trophy last year. He also made the national final of the novice championships, but was ruled out after arriving too late for the weigh-in.
Coach Billy Parmar makes no bones about it – Loughran is destined to punch for pay.
To that end, the fighter has travelled to Jimmy Tibbs’ pro gym in Essex and sparred such top names as Cheavon Clarke (7-0 as a pro), Tommy Fletcher (6-0) and Hughie Fury.
“One hundred per cent he wants to go pro. He’s still getting his man strength,” Billy said, “and before I took over he wasn’t really training properly, he still hasn’t really been taught properly and we’re going back to the basics with him.
“Tibbs’ gym was a lesson and an eye-opener for him, it showed him what was needed. After the spar, they (the pro fighters) carried on training and that really surprised Charlie.”
Both Parmar and Loughran want action in more competitions before plunging into the professional ranks and Charlie plans to take part in Sweden’s King of the Ring tournament in Boras, Sweden, next month.
Loughran said: “All I want to do is box, box, box. That’s all I do.
“I went into mixed martial arts first, then went to boxing when I was 15, but didn’t train for a while. I’m improving all the while and training with Billy for the last three or four months has made a big difference.
“He arranges all the sparring and I did a good seven, eight rounds with Chev Clarke. I’ve got a good following and quite a few are travelling to Sweden for King of the Ring.”
It’s too early to dub Loughran an exciting find. We’ll know a lot more about his potential after Sunday’s contest.
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