Tommy Langford dreams of Hawthorns fight

Langford appeared at West Bromwich Albion's ground for a press conference to hype his fight on Saturday October 22, writes Craig Birch.

The Commonwealth titlist is looking to add the British crown to his stash and become king of the domestic middleweight division.

The 27-year-old will now vie with Sam Sheedy for the now vacant belt at the Motorpoint Arena, live on BoxNation, after the withdrawal of Chris Eubank Jnr.

The Albion season ticket holder and match programme columnist was born in Bideford, Devon, but has family from the Black Country and is settled in Birmingham.

He attended his first game at the Hawthorns on 5 April 1999, aged nine, where the home side were hammered 5-1 by Crewe in what is now the Championship.

The now Premier League club regularly show their support for him through their media channels and allow him to use their training facilities free of charge.

And Langford, who is ranked No 2 by the WBO, has ambitions of one day gracing the turf in front of the supporters with him taking centre stage.

Everton-mad Tony Bellew claimed the WBC cruiserweight strap earlier this year in front of his fellow Toffees at Goodison Park.

Langford said: "Most fighters see the pinnacle as boxing at Madison Square Garden, but not me. It would be so great to challenge for a world title at the Hawthorns.

"I've been out on the pitch before and walked down the tunnel, where the players go out and cross that white line. That, alone, gave me such a buzz.

"I'm taking huge numbers to Cardiff and a lot of them I know through the football. They all love away days, so this is right up their street.

"The club have been a huge help, too, they've took me under their wing and volunteered to stage the press conference.

"I grew up in Devon but my dad, David, is actually from Priory Park in Dudley and I have aunties and uncles from Stourbridge and Halesowen.

"Even as a kid, I'd come down for as many Albion games as I could and I don't miss a kick now. One day, who knows where this journey may take us. It's a major goal for me."

Langford has been particularly scathing in his criticism of both Chris Eubank Snr and Jnr, who shunned publicity for the fight and then pulled out citing an elbow injury.

Sheedy has stepped up to the plate as a replacement after outpointing Andrew Robinson - a Priory Park Boxing Club graduate - on a points split decision in July.

Langford has gone from the underdog to the favourite and is still protecting his '0' with a flawless record of 17 wins from 17 bouts, containing six stoppages.

Sheffield's Sheedy, has boxed one more bout and lost once, on points to Navid Mansouri for the English super welter title. He also has 17 victories, with four TKOs.

Langford said: "Let me assure you, the Eubanks won't be in the picture for me again. They won't have anything I want.

"I never mentioned this when the fight was still on, as sparring is supposed to be private, but I trained with him 18 months ago and boxed his ears off.

"I knew from the get go he didn't want me, but I saw him as a scalp to really make a name for myself. I wasn't scared of him, at all.

"Now this has become Sheedy's world title fight, he's on a major televised show with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

"He's no mug, he's a clever fighter and he could make it a hard night for me, but only if I'm not on my game. He's never been in with anyone like me before.

"He's an awkward southpaw, but that's not enough to beat me. If I perform to the best of my ability, there's only one winner.

"I've got to go out there, do the business and become a British middleweight champion the public can be proud of. It's all down to me."

Tickets for Langford versus Sheedy are still available by calling the Box Office on 029 2022 4488 or at www.motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk.

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