Footballer Natty Howell turns pro - as a boxer!
Natty Howell had the world at his feet as a teenager - now the former footballer is hoping a future will come from his fists.
The 25-year-old light middleweight, first name Nathaniel, was a young striker with Birmingham City and Walsall before hanging up his boots.
He was in the academy at Blues until he turned 16 before joining the Saddlers on a scholarship, his chances of making the grade hampered by a groin injury, writes Craig Birch.
Lost and without a goal to aim for, Howell fell out of the game and went on a downward spiral that led to him being spending six months in prison for dangerous driving.
The road to redemption started upon his release - he left Birmingham to live in Rowley Regis, getting a job as a personal trainer at Base Gym in Blackheath under Paul Caldicott.
But it was walking into Priory Park Boxing Club that got him back into sport again. He took to pugilism as he did to football, soon earning the nickname 'the Natural.'
It's not without an ironic twist that he makes his pro debut three years later at Aston Villa Football Club, as promoter Tommy Owens again stages the paid code in the Holte Suite on Saturday night.
Howell hopes to take the same route as former Birmingham City and England under-21 international Curtis Woodhouse, who swapped boots for gloves to win the British light welterweight title.
He said: "I can't wait, it's been a little while coming for me. I have only been boxing for three years, but I was a fast learner from the get go.
"I used to play football for Birmingham, then I went to Walsall and got a bad groin injury, so I stopped playing. By the time I recovered, I had lost all love for the sport.
"I never got back that focus back until I started boxing. I was in and out of jobs and I got in trouble with the law, which led to me spending a bit of time inside.
"Now I am back doing everything right. I don't drink or smoke and I diet properly.
"If I apply myself, I think I can win a British title. I need to have that sort of hunger.
"When I was a kid, I dreamed of playing in the Premier League, but I feel like this was meant to happen. I had all the talent for football, but not the mentality like I have for boxing."
Howell turns over after a short amateur career which produced seven wins from 10 bouts, bypassing national competition completely. Thanks to his football grounding, he's pretty nifty on his pins, too.
He said: "I first came into the club for fitness, really, I looked up Priory Park on the internet and just turned up one day.
"I jumped into the ring one of the times to spar and I was just a natural at it, hence the nickname! I was in the beginners class for about a week, then they moved me up to the amateurs.
"I had my first fight after six months, won the Redditch Box Cup in my first tournament and then a Uni Box belt later on, towards the end of my amateur career.
"I think I will be more accustomed to the pro ranks, I am advanced and I surprise everyone with some of the things I do. Football definitely helps with foot-work and agility."
It's a homecoming of sorts for Howell at Villa, who is from nearby Nechells and will attract a healthy fan-base of family and friends.
He's been paired with Ben Robinson and is expecting a war, as his opponent goes by the nickname 'Rumble.' And as he knows from football, noisy support also brings it's own pressures.
Howell said: "That's why I wanted to take this fight, I am a Brummie. It's perfect for me, it's like coming back home. I will definitely sell more tickets there!
"This lad comes to have a go and I think his inexperience makes him more dangerous.
"I don't really know what I am getting, rather than someone who has had 70 or 80 fights. He's a live opponent."
For tickets to watch Howell punch for pay at the weekend, call 07811 744 193.
