Promoter Eddie Hearn mentioned he’ll work in the direction of negotiating a world title alternative for Zelfa Barrett, 31-2, 17 KOs, in opposition to Lamont Roach Jr. after the Mancunian halted the in-form Jordan Gill, 28-3-1 9KOs, in 10 rounds on the AO Enviornment, Manchester.
Barrett, headlining at his residence metropolis’s premier indoor venue, dropped Gill twice within the tenth body of a scheduled 12 courtesy of two left-handed photographs to the physique earlier than an accumulation of unanswered photographs pressured referee John Latahm to intervene.
“I feel he deserves it,” Hearn instructed IFL TV post-fight, discussing Barrett’s world title problem credentials.
Manchester as a metropolis has produced the likes of Ricky Hatton, Scott Quigg, Anthony Crolla and Terry Flanagan, who all progressed to seize world titles and make the sector domestically referred to as the MEN (Manchester Night Information) Enviornment as their residence.
Hearn has challenged Barrett to hitch these names and fill these sneakers by bringing thrilling, championship-level fights to the town.
“I feel he can try this if he’s in these sorts of fights [such as Vs. Gill]. Sadly for Zelfa, he has by no means actually been inbuilt Manchester, so that’s the reason we’ve solely offered 4,000 tickets as an alternative of 8,000 tickets.
“It additionally took some time with Crolla. It was solely as soon as after he fought John Murray that he was capable of transfer ahead. Issues fell into place for him when he began preventing for world titles, which allowed him to start out doing large numbers right here.
Hearn admits that 30-year-old Barrett will discover it onerous to construct his skilled profile as a result of his age, however has confirmed that Barrett ought to now be in large fights transferring ahead and the promoter is concentrating on a combat with WBA title holder Roach Jr., 24-1-1, 9 KOs, as a potential opponent for Barrett.
“Zelfa is a bit late within the recreation by way of being constructed [In profile], however on the identical time, he’s going to be in these large fights now,” mentioned Hearn.
“I actually just like the combat with Lamont Roach Jr. for the WBA title.”
