Young promoter Pyle aiming for the top

By Clive Bernath: Joe Pyle Jr’s latest show takes place at the Brewery, Chiswell Street in London on October 4, with former heavyweight prospect Pele Reid headlining against Deeside’s Mal Rice.

Britain’s youngest licensed boxing promoter at just 34, Pyle has been a licensed promoter for three years and has put on 16 value for money shows, all to sell out crowds and all without television. Promoting shows anywhere is difficult, but without the cushion of television money, it is nearly impossible.

“Promoting shows without television is very hard,” said Pyle, whose show on October 4 is a sit down, black tie affair. “If I had a bit of television, I could put on some great fights. For my show on October 4, I’ve had to sell 28 tables. Just to break even, it is very difficult.

“When you see some of these fights on television they are very poor. I’ve proved I can put on great fights by matching Sam Soliman against Cornelius Carr and Ossie Duran against Geoff McCreesh. I’ll get to the top in the end, make no mistake.”

Pyle was to have featured former British super-featherweight champion Floyd Havard on the Chiswell Street show, but that has now been put on the backburner as Havard cannot get a meeting with the British Boxing Board of Control – in order to be re-licensed - until October 10.

Besides Reid, another fighter making a comeback on Pyle’s show is 33-year-old Brixton junior-middleweight Maurice Forbes, who faces the dangerous Charden Ansoula. Despite his age, Forbes has only had 11 fights, winning nine, six by knockout. The only two defeats on his record have come against former British title challenger Michael Smyth and a points defeat over eight rounds to former WBO middleweight king Chris Pyatt in 1997.

For tickets and further information please contact Joe Pyle on 07974 505 720 or Ben Stone from the World Sports Organisation on 020 7284 2133.