Toughest test for the Bermudian Brummie
Tyler Christopher…looks for ninth win at the Holiday Inn on Saturday
TYLER Christopher, the Bermudian who has made Birmingham his home, faces a possibly tricky test on Saturday after seven months away from the ring.
At the Holiday Inn, Birmingham Airport, the 27-year-old light-middle faces Serge Ambomo, a veteran who, on his day, is capable of uncorking an upset.
The 37-year-old, born in Cameroon, has competed at middleweight, outpointed Andrew Robinson last year, gave Ryan Kelly a good fight and took thunderous punching Amir Abubaker the distance.
He’s lost 60 of 76 bouts (three draws), but could give Christopher his hardest night to date.
Tyler, unbeaten in eight, is accomplished, but, as a boxer from overseas, has struggled to establish a significant fanbase.
The inability to sell tickets in significant numbers has hindered his progress, frankly. He’s yet to go six rounds and should be knocking on the door for a Midlands title.
There’s also a degree of confusion about his ring identity. Even flyers for Saturday’s contest, which is an intriguing one, have him down as Mike Tyler.
At least Tyler’s now back in action after a “time out” partly caused by injury.
“Ambomo is a tough, durable journeyman,” he said. “That’s the task, to see if I’m ready for a step-up. I believe he poses the toughest test to date.
“Keep safe, get the rounds in and, who knows, there may be an explosive performance, or I may have to dig deep.”
Tyler, a full time fighter, does not miss the paradise he left behind to pursue his boxing dream. “I love Birmingham,” he told me, “I love living here. I like to be in Bermuda for a short period of time, but here I get to do the things I love. In Bermuda I couldn’t do the things I do here, like going to the boxing gym twice a day.
“If they reached out to my manager Jon Pegg, me and my coach would gladly box over there, but I’m not sure they have the funds.”
Tyler doesn’t blame Birmingham fans for not getting behind him. The key to win them over is TV fights, he believes.
“I haven’t been put in a position to show them what I’m capable of,” he said. “When people see my charisma and what I can do, they will ask, ‘who is that guy from Bermuda?’
“I want to get on TV. I struggle to sell tickets and this will probably be my last home show. Then I’ll either fight on the road or wait for a TV show.
“Sometimes I do want a Midlands title, but to get a Midlands title you have to sell tickets.”
Tyler is a man not short on self belief.
He added: “I’m always improving, always working on my craft. I believe I have the power – my coach says he can feel it on the pads.
“In my first fights I had some nerves, now I’m accustomed to it and believe this is where I belong.”
On the same show, Knowle’s exciting, unbeaten lightweight Dylan Norman has his first fight since switching to Jon Pegg. The relationship looks likely to start with a win – opponent Nathan Darby, from Rotherham, has yet to have his hand raised after seven bouts.
Redditch ticket seller Leo Fanthome has his second pro bout and will learn plenty from Naheem Ali, a wily veteran of over 120 contests.
Birmingham super-middle Ryan Whelan has shown steady improvement in each of his three pro bouts. The 26-year-old’s ring apprenticeship continues, with another four rounder on the Holiday Inn bill.