18-Year-Old Ellis To Make Pro Debut

Nottinghamshire’s latest addition to the paid ranks of professional boxing makes his debut at the North Notts Arena on November 20 as the highly decorated amateur, Marcus Ellis, continues his upward spiral.

A four-time national champion. Ellis’ amateur career was, understandably, hampered by the still ongoing, global pandemic, and, even at the tender age of 18 years, time certainly waits for no-one.

“I’ve not fought since the opening months of 2020 and, although it’ll be weird getting back in the ring, I don’t think I’ll struggle,” admits Marcus ahead of his first, pro contest.

“Yes, of course there’ll be ring-rust, I’ll need to go in there and blow off the cobwebs, but I’ll be ready for it.

“A lot of the reasoning behind my turning over is because of covid, and those near two years out, as there’s been no amateur action, so, I just went in there (the gym) got my head down, and learnt my craft as a professional.

“Yes, it’s accelerated my path into the pro game, but I’ll have done it eventually anyway, more as I feel, I believe, my style is more suited to the pro ranks.

“I’d have probably done the Commonwealth Games (Birmingham 2022) next year, but you have to go with whatever hand you’re dealt.”

Born-and-bred in Worksop, the venue for his pro debut is a mere walking distance from home, Ellis first stepped through the ropes at the age of ten, appearing in the regulated skills bouts before on to the amateur stage by storm.

In winning those four, national titles, Ellis has also donned his country’s vest, claimed a GB silver medal, and added a European Championship bronze, whilst out in Romania.

It has been success that Nottinghamshire’s newest professional is, understandably, proud of achieving, adding: “That first, national title, was pretty special and I was on a massive high afterwards.

“It was very enjoyable for me to be able to take the medal into, and show it off in school.

“It also helped me progress onto the national squad, which I was on for about four years (he only stopped because of covid) and it was an amazing highlight to my England vest when I was 13, that was a big thing for me.”

Now though, all of the focus, even frustration, goes into November 20, Ellis heading in as a super welterweight, for now at least.

In being the youthful age that he is, there is, of course, plenty of time in which to grow, physically, and within the sport.

He’s enjoying himself though and, having already mentioned his style being more suited to the pro ranks, he continued in saying that: “Pro boxing, it’s intense but over a short period.

“When in the amateurs, it’s pretty much all year round; I wouldn’t say the change has bothered me though, I prefer it really.

“I know it’s going to take some time, a couple of years maybe, in which to get into the title picture, but that gives me time to fight as much as possible, and against numerous, differing styles, before looking at the Midlands Area title.

“I’ll fight who’s put in front of me though, and I have trust in Scott Calow’s decision, someone who I work really well with and who we bounce off each other well.”

Marcus Ellis makes his professional debut on the Scott Calow Promotions/Boxing Connected show on November 20, at the North Notts Arena, Worksop, against Ghana’s Benjamin Lamptey 11-8-1(9), an eight-year veteran who’s lost his last four outings.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @ScottCalow Marcus Ellis a four times junior national champion and European medalist.