This Thursday, June 6th, Ted Cheeseman (13-0, 8KO’s) will be defending his World Boxing Association (WBA) International Super Welterweight Title against Paul Upton (15-0, 3KO’s) at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London.
The two fighters weighed in today, with Cheeseman coming in at 153.6lbs and Upton coming in at 153.4lbs.
Both fighters took some time for a little Q&A in the lead up to Cheeseman’s defense of the WBA International Super Welterweight Title, so that boxing fans unfamiliar with them could get to know the two light fighters that will battle it out for the International Title:
Ted Cheeseman:
Q: What is your amateur background?
A: I had 61 amateur fights, won 50, boxed for England 10 times won 6 national titles. I also went to the world youth games quarter finals.
Q: Who is on the rest of your team?
A: Tony sims is my coach, Charlie sims is my manager, and Jamie Cheeseman is my strength and conditioning coach.
Q: What is your best win to date and why?
A: Carson Jones in my very last fight is my best win because he has boxed at a high level as a professional.
Q: Do you know much about your opponent Upton – can you give us any details on strategy?
A: Yes I know about him. He is a good boxer but he’s not very strong and I plan to get him out of there before the decision.
Q: This will be the first defense of your 154lb WBA International Title – how do you feel about that?
A: It is good to defend the belt as the champion and I want it to stay that way for a long time.
Paul Upton:
Q: What is your amateur background?
A: As an amateur I boxed over 150 fights including in England and Ireland. I represented Ireland internationally.
Q: Can you walk about fighting with your two brothers growing up and how the family got involved in fighting?
A: Boxing has always been in the family as there is five of us who were amateur and three of us who turned pro. We always had great times as amateurs and brought each other on well. If one got out of hand we would have sparring in the bedroom or in the garden and that would get a bit crazy but it would work to equalize things out.
Q: Who is on the rest of your team?
A: My trainer is ex-marine commando Paul Kavanagh and Barry o Connell, also the experienced and world renowned Jimmy Tibbs.
Q: Why the change in weight classes last year?
A: I have always been 154lb fighter but I was out of shape and took silly fights at higher weights.
Q: Best win to date?
A: Best win would be my Irish title fight against Terry Maughan.
Q: Do you know much about Cheeseman – can you give us any details on strategy?
A: I have watched Cheeseman quite a bit and he is a good come forward fighter with a good work rate but I have the boxing brain and ability to beat him.
Q: How do you feel fighting for the WBA international 154lb title?
A: It would be great to win the WBA International Title like many other great fighters and putting myself in the mix with some big names. I believe the WBA is one of the best world titles any champ can win so one day I want my hands on that lovely belt.
