English heavyweight prospect Leo Atang has been thriving in Los Angeles ahead of his US debut Saturday. Atang figures on the Matchroom bill headlined by the 168lbs clash between Diego Pacheco and Immanuwel Aleem.
Atang, from York, is 7-0 (6 KOs), and – still only 19 – boxes Glen Williams, a 2-1 heavyweight from Houston.
“It’s been unreal, it’s just like what you see on the films and all, on GTA [Grand Theft Auto] and stuff like that. It’s mad out here, but I love it and I’ve been settling in nicely, eating well, sleeping well, so just ready to go on Saturday.”
Atang and Williams have seen one another in the fighter hotel, but there have been no pleasantries exchanged.
“He’s big,” Atang said of “The Gorilla.”
“I’ve just seen him walk around the hotel, [I’ve] not really looked too much into him, I’ll leave that to obviously my coach Ash [Ashley Martin] and then just do whatever he tells me to do.”
Atang is flying high and full of confidence. Five of his seven fights have ended in the first round. So would it be a statement if he made quick work of Williams, or would he be better served putting on a show and doing the rounds?
“I think a bit of both, really. It’d be a shame for it to just be over in 30 seconds or so, but at the same time, that’s where I felt a bit annoyed in my last few fights when they’ve gone too early because the refs have jumped in,” Atang said.
“I’m always going to take my time with it and then get that clean knockout.”
Atang has blamed his handspeed for the early wins and he admits that is one of his biggest assets.
And doing the rounds as well as travelling to the USA are all important for the young heavyweight that promoter Eddie Hearn has invested in.
“Like you say, the shapes and styles [of different opponents], that [the travel] helps you get used to stuff,” Atang said of building his experience.
“But also the different occasions, and getting used to the jet lag, the new audience, the way they run things different over here. So it’s all experience. But it’s also a bit of a dream come true. Everyone wants to fight in America in their career. So the fact I’m doing it so early as well, yeah, I’m very grateful for it.”
Atang is going to stay in the US for a few days after the fight and enjoy the sights but understands it’s “business first.”
That said, Atang did get to watch some of the England-Argentina World Cup semi-final match. He had to stream the first half on his phone at the doctors while getting his medical, and watched the second half in the hotel bar.
He admits he was “gutted” England lost, and added: “but it’s not going to dictate my life.”
Boxing is at the forefront of everything Atang is doing and he’s content with what he’s done to date in the pros.
“They [Matchroom] have gone above what they’ve said,” Atang said.
“I’m so, so grateful. I was able to box in Ghana, I’ve boxed all over England so far, like eight fights in the first year. And I was out for three months with an injury as well. “They’ve more than delivered. It’s helping me build my image, but as well as that, I’ve gained a lot of experience as a pro.”
Of course, before any big moves, Williams comes first tonight in Los Angeles and you can’t knock Atang’s confidence.
“First round knockout, but in the last 20 seconds,” Atang said of what he was hoping to achieve.
