It hasn’t taken Aloys Junior long to make his mark on the British boxing scene. The explosive cruiserweight was a teenager when he infamously accepted – and lost – a tough debut fight on just five hours’ notice. Since then he has reeled off a string of exciting, quick wins and become one of the most intriguing prospects in the country.
Saturday night’s 10-round cruiserweight fight with Germany’s Oronzo Biradi might not have provided the fireworks observers have come to expect from Junior, 8-1 (7 KOs), but the Londoner will have gained much, much more than he would have from another short firefight.
Biradi, 8-1 (6 KOs), came to win but did so in a smart, controlled way. He was big and robust enough to stand up to Junior’s heavy hands but also technically good enough to pose more than a few problems. For a couple of rounds it looked like Junior may have taken a step too far, too quickly, but the 21 year old learned on the job, managed the 10-round championship distance well, and emerged with a career-best victory and 10 invaluable rounds’ experience.
“It feels surreal but, then again, so much more needs to be done,” he told Queensberry Proomotions, post-fight. “I need to work so much harder. Apply myself and there’s so much more to come. I’m only 21 years old and the world’s my oyster.
“I knew in my heart I could do it. I put so much into this camp and I’ll only be more dedicated and more dedicated and more dedicated. You’re looking at a future superstar of the Queensberry stable.”
Junior is one of a number of young, talented fighters trying to make their mark in a deep British cruiserweight division but despite Biradi posing him some problems, he doesn’t feel like the likes of Tommy Fletcher and John Hedges will be clamouring to share the ring with him just yet.
“I don’t think a lot of prospects would have came out of that one alive,” he said. “I think I got buzzed in the third round. He came on top of me but I was calm, cool and collected. I didn’t give up. I never give up. It doesn’t matter where I am. It could have been a 15-rounder and I would have kept going. I know myself; I know my spirit and I know what I can do.
“Wait for Aloys Junior’s whole career.”