Paul and Anthony Upton with Johnny Eames (Gianluca Di Caro)

Duo to turn professional with Showtime Sports Events Limited

For the past few months Johnny Eames has been scouring the domestic and European amateur and professional ranks, searching for top unattached prospects to sign with TRAD TKO business partner Gianluca Di Caro under their newly launched promotional outfit, Showtime Sports Events Limited.

Two of the first to ink contracts are brothers Paul and Anthony Upton, both of whom have had outstanding amateur careers with no feer than seven national titles and numerous international honours between them.

Speaking shortly after putting pen to paper, Anthony said: “I started boxing at five years old, watching the likes of Nicky Cook, Colin Lynes and Kevin Mitchell, which made me want to be where they was in the amateurs.

“I fought out of Dagenham and then moved onto West Ham, where I ended up meeting Johnny Eames.

“Then we ended up moving out to Ireland, beating the Irish champion in my first championship outing before going on to win five Irish Championships.”

Upton represented Ireland in the Four Nations in Wales, coming away with a gold medal, and went to the 2006 European Championships in Ukraine.

He had to settle for a bronze medal there, after a controversial defeat against a Russian rival, but went on to win the Multi-Nations Cup, a Multi-Nations bronze and represent Ireland a number of times.

He added: “Now it’s time to turn pro. We knew Johnny from West Ham, so decided to come and talk with him.

“After hearing the plans of the TRAD TKO/Showtime Sports Events team I knew it was the move to make, so here we are.

“We’re going to be training out of Legends Gym and TRAD TKO Gym, under Johnny Eames and we’ll progress from there.

“It’ll be nice to go back and fight in Ireland, I’ve been out there most of my life and represented Ireland, have plenty of fans out there so it would be nice to fight there.

“But it will also be nice to fight in England, in front of my family and friends that live back here in England. I’ve fought abroad before so even when we fight abroad It shouldn’t be a bother to me, it should be a good road.”

Younger brother Paul added: “I’m really pleased to be turning pro with TRAD TKO and Showtime Sports Events, they look to have a big future and I want to have a big future with them.

“I love fighters like Billy Joe Saunders, who I look forward to training alongside here at the TRAD TKO, Winky Wright, who’s a great technical boxer, Floyd Mayweather and Rocky Marciano, they’re role models to me, they’re classy boxers.

“I had a good amateur career, was a two-time Irish champion, Dublin champion, Ulster senior champion, Four Nation silver medallist.

“I lost out on a Commonwealth games spot by two points,to eventual gold medalist Paddy Gallagher, who’s pro now.

“Now it’s time to move on to the pros, so here I am.”

The ever mischievous Eames is delighted to add the duo to his stable, adding: “I remember Paul and Anthony from when I was leaving West Ham to start my professional career, as a trainer. They were young kids just starting out in the juniors.

“I didn’t know too much about them, because I moved on to the pros, but they have both had great amateur careers.

“They’re actually two of five brothers, three of them have just turned pro, the oldest has just turned pro with Ricky Hatton and I’m sure he’ll do well up there.

“Paul and Anthony didn’t want to relocate to Manchester, they’re happy here in London, so because of the West Ham connection they’ve come along to sign with me.

“It’s obvious they are two boys that have got extreme talent. I’m really looking forward to working with them, in England and in Ireland, where they are going to be big draws.”