Debut Corner with amateur flyweight champion Benn Norman
BBN met with talented amateur Benn in Shepshed to find out all about the boxer that's just turned pro with Carl Greaves.
What made you want to start boxing?
"I was four-years-old when I first started boxing. My grandad, uncles, father and brother [former English flyweight champion Louis Norman] boxed, so it runs in the family but I’m doing the sport for me.”
Who was your boxing hero growing up and why?
"I have to say Floyd Mayweather Jr. because he was brilliant and a quality boxer. He made boxing even bigger then it already was.”
How old were you when you had your first fight and how did you do?
“I was 11-years-old when I had my first fight and I actually lost although I did enough to win, but that’s amateur boxing for you; there's no draws, just winners and losers.”
How well did you do in the amateurs?
“I did very well in the amateurs, I had an 11-year amateur career with 52 fights and winning 28. It’s not a bad record considering that I boxed everyone in the amateurs, the likes of Sunny Edwards, Joe Maphosa, Kieran McDonald, Gamal Yafai and the list goes on. I fought the best and no one can take that away from me, I didn’t turn down any challenge.
I won the Haringey Box Cup; was six-times East Midlands champion; Elite East Midlands titleholder; Senior ABA finalist and International Tri Nations silver medalist; plus I was an England representative for four years."
What made you decide to turn pro?
“Coming to the end of my amateur career, I was on the high being No.2 in England and No.4 in the Tri Nations and I was the holder of the Elite East Midlands title. So I was at the top of my game but I wasn’t getting any opportunities with the England boxing team because I came to realise that if your face doesn’t fit then you won’t get anywhere.
My last amateur match was January 2019 when I defended my Elite belt on another lad's home show and to have one of my easiest fights. not getting hit, but the judges only went and gave it to the other lad on a split decision and even the ref say he hadn’t got a clue how I lost the fight. So it came down to not getting the opportunities I deserved and the dodgy decisions, I felt I had no where else to go but professional, which was a long time coming.”
What team do you have around you?
“I have a great team around me starting with my manager and promoter Carl Greaves, who was a great pro himself becoming world champion. Trained by my dad Shaun that knows the sport inside out with boxing Paul Weir and Prince Naseem. And Lee Harris, who is just as old school as my dad”.
Are you full-time as a pro?
“I am an qualified plumber and currently at college getting my gas qualification, so if my boxing doesn’t work out then I have something to fall back on.”
What sort of fighting style do you have?
“I would say I can box on the outside or be aggressive, so I would say a mixture of Vasyl Lomachenko and Ricky Hatton”.
What ambitions do you have for your pro career?
“I believe I can do very well in the sport, my goal is to win a British title, but that doesn’t mean I can’t go further. I set a new goal every time I accomplish my goal.”
When is your first fight and who will be there in support?
“Not got a date yet, but possibly July in Leicester and I will have all of Leicester behind me. Don’t wait to get on the train, just get on and enjoy the ride!”
For tickets to the debut fight please call me 07714 681 791 and Shaun Norman 07738 231 323
To follow me on Twitter, find me @BennNorman1 and on Instagram @ickle_norman