Hopey Price has vowed to showcase the difference in ‘levels’ when he collides with Zahid Hussain at The SSE Arena, Wembley on Saturday February 13, live on Sky Sports in the UK and on DAZN in the U.S. and more than 200 countries and territories.
The 20-year-old southpaw who turned over on the back of a hugely successful amateur career which culminated in capturing Gold at the Youth Olympics in 2018 has dazzled in his three professional outings, most recently on the second instalment of Fight Camp last summer with a polished victory over the rugged Jonny Phillips.
Former Central Area Featherweight Champion Hussain (16-1, 2 KOs) presents by far the toughest test of young ‘Drago’s’ career so far, but the Dave Coldwell-trained starlet has promised to steal the show with an eye-catching display.
“All I know is Zahid Hussain is from Leeds and he’s 16-1”, said Price. “Most people would look at someone who’s 3-0 fighting a 16-1 fighter as a big step-up, but for me I take it in my stride. I will prove how good I am and I’m looking to steal the show.
“I want to prove I’m the next big thing to come from Leeds, there’s levels to boxing and I will show in this fight that I’m levels above Zahid Hussain. If I keep putting on these good performances then I’ll continue to be on the good shows.
“I don’t feel I’m far off Title level but I’m still only young. As soon as Dave and Eddie give me the green light then I’ll be ready to bring belts back. I think the fans are going to watch me and think, ‘wow, who is this kid!’ I want to people to say, ‘this kid is special’.
“I’m not in this game to just become a British Champion, I want to be one of the all time greats. If I am going to get there then I need to take these types of fights and show how good I am. I believe I should be beating guys at this level in style.
“On February 13 you’re going to see a big improvement from me. Fight Camp was an amazing experience and against Johnny Phillips I stepped out of the journeyman bracket and fought someone who was coming to win, which only means you’ll see a better Hopey Price.”
Zelfa Barrett: “I’m Going To Put On A Spectacular Performance”
Zelfa Barrett (photo by Mark Robinson) has promised to put on a “spectacular performance” when he defends his IBF Intercontinental Super-Featherweight Title against former World Champion Kiko Martinez at The SSE Arena, Wembley on Saturday February 13, live on Sky Sports in the UK and on DAZN in the U.S. and more than 200 countries and territories.
‘Brown Flash’ (24-1, 15 KOs) was last seen sensationally stopping Ireland’s Eric Donovan with a huge one-punch knockout in the eighth round of their clash at Matchroom Fight Camp last August, but the 27-year-old Mancunian talent was far from happy with his performance.
“I had to dig deep,” said Barrett. “Eric Donavan is a good fighter, a wicked fighter. I’ll never take anything away from him. I had to dig deep physically, mentally and emotionally. There was a point where my uncle said, ‘look at this kid, he’s tired, change the game plan and go forwards’.
“I just looked at my arm, grabbed my cup, put my hands together and thought, ‘let’s go’. That’s what I had to do. I’ve not thrown anything perfect like that before. Practice makes perfect though. We’ve been drilling every single punch we can think of. Nothing is a fluke.
“Credit to Eric Donovan. The finish was spectacular. The middle and the during wasn’t, for my standards. I’m a lot better than that. On February 13th I’m going to put on one hell of a performance. I believe I’m one of the best fighters in Britain, in any weight category. I believe in myself and what I do.”
Spain’s former Super-Bantamweight World Champion Martinez (41-9-2, 29 KOs) shared the ring with Barrett’s sparring partner Josh Warrington in 2017, and Manchester favourite Scott Quigg in 2015, so the British hope is all too aware of the threat ‘La Sensacion’ poses to his World Title aspirations.
“He’s like a train. He’s just going to come straight at me. I respect him as a fighter, and where he’s been. I’m there to do a job and I’m there to win, to look good as well. I’ve not underestimated this guy whatsoever. I’ve been disciplined. I’ve sacrificed my life to get where I’m at now.
“I know for a fact he’s going to come guns blazing. He’s going to be there every single second of every single round. We’re prepared for that. I can’t switch off. I’ve got to be focused on him. That’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to put on a spectacular performance.
“We take every fight like it’s a World Title fight. My Uncle Pat makes sure of that anyway. The only time we didn’t is the time we got beat. When you compare that fight to other fights, that wasn’t Zelfa Barrett. Every fight is important, every day is important, every session is important, every round is important.
“Blood, tears, sweat and knockouts. That’s what you can expect to see. That’s what I bring. This is what people want to see. If it’s going to be a 12-round masterclass then people will be intrigued by it too. I bring entertainment. I am entertainment. I’m there to put on a performance and be classy.”
Barrett vs. Martinez is part of a big night of action, Josh Warrington (30-0, 7 KOs) faces Mexico’s Mauricio Lara (21-2, 14 KOs), Nottingham’s Leigh Wood (23-2, 13 KOs) clashes with unbeaten Doncaster man Reece Mould (13-0, 6 KOs) for the vacant British Featherweight Title, fast-rising Sheffield Super-Lightweight talent Dalton Smith (6-0, 5 KOs) takes on Ben Fields (10-9-2), Leeds Featherweight Hopey Price (3-0, 1 KO) meets Zahid Hussain (16-1, 2 KOs) and Keighley Featherweight Ibrahim Nadim (2-0) steps up against Jonny Phillips (5-5, 2 KOs).
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