Boxing
Teenage star John Hedges ready for professional debut on Joshua Buatsi undercard
Towering teenager John Hedges makes his professional debut on the Joshua Buatsi vs. Marko Calic undercard on Sunday after admitting during the final press conference that 2020's surreal circumstances led to him departing the amateur scene sooner rather than later.
Hedges, a 6'5" southpaw, will fight over four rounds at super-middleweight against Czech-born Manchester resident Jan Ardon (2-4, 0 KOs), who serves as a late replacement opponent and has already defeated two British boxers on U.K. soil.
Hedges tasted the fight week procedure for the first time inside the Milton Keynes "bubble"Â and feels he was born for the bright lights.
"I’ve only been alive 18 years but I’ve worked all my life for this and I’m gonna grab this opportunity with both hands," Hedges said at the final press conference before the Oct. 4 card.
"In the amateurs, I had 44 fights and 40 wins. I went all over the world, doing what I love, and here I am today as a pro."
With the Tokyo Olympics pushed back by the coronavirus pandemic and the usually-bustling amateur tournament schedule as hard hit as the pro ranks — where there are at least the chequebooks of the likes of Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn to use loss leaders such as Fight Camp to get shows back on TV — Hedges made the conversion much sooner than many fans expected and many fighters would.
"The opportunity came and I couldn’t let it slip," he explained. "I’ve been mentally ready for this all my life and the chance came a little earlier than I thought it would, but I cannot wait to get started.
"I’m gonna go in there and just do what I do best. I can adapt to any fighter and I’m ready at 18 years old to make an impact on the big stage."
Former world cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew, co-presenting the livestream, offered some sage advice to the youngster.
Bellew proclaimed: "He’s the tallest super-middleweight I’ve seen!
"He’s got all the credentials at amateur, and having Rob McCracken in your corner — a fantastic coach — is only going to add more.
"If I could offer one piece of advice: enjoy it. You only get one debut, don’t rush in there thinking you’re going to knock his head off, and best of luck."
Ardon, meanwhile, looks forward to potentially making it a hat-trick of British fighters derailed.
"I came over here because boxing is popular in this country," said the 25-year-old. "I like Manchester and I like boxing in Manchester.
"I’m ready for John and I’m confident. He was a good amateur boxer and a good champion. This will be a good fight."
John Hedges' professional debut takes place on the Joshua Buatsi vs. Marko Calic undercard on Sunday Oct. 4, live on Sky Sports in the U.K. and DAZN in the U.S.
