Midlands champ inspired by Conah Walker to win British title

Ethan Rutter promises thrills ahead of second fight

Ethan Rutter (1-0) isn't here to make up the numbers; he has his eyes set on achieving big things in boxing, and his second professional fight comes this Saturday night at the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on BCB Promotions 'Winter Is Coming'.

The 20-year-old from the second city made his professional debut in September with a comprehensive points win against veteran Stephen Jackson. It was an eye-catching start to life in the paid ranks after a stellar amateur run where he collected seven Midlands titles and appeared at the national semi-finals four times.

“I thought I boxed well," said Rutter. "It's very different from the amateurs. The tempo of the fight was new, as it was more about trying to break him down, whereas the amateurs are more like a chess match. The style you are up against is very negative, and it's on you to work out how to push the pace, and that's how I want to box. People told me not to look for the stoppage, as these opponents don't get stopped, but I'll always look for it if it comes. I want to be an exciting fighter.”

Rutter fought the majority of his amateur bouts for Kingstanding Second City ABC before making the switch to Shiney Singh's Box Smart Elite in Walsall. The gym has an excellent roster of pros as well as the next crop of amateurs coming through, and after linking up with manager Errol Johnson, it has opened up a lot of great training opportunities for the bantamweight prospect.

“After the fight I had a week away for a family holiday, and then I was straight back to the gym, so I've been working nonstop since October for this," Rutter explained. "I've been sparring with Jon Tom Varey and Troy Hayer and the amateurs at Box Smart Elite, and then over at the BCB gym with Ryan Griffiths—I've done a lot of rounds with him ahead of his last fight and with his big one coming up in January. I'm always in the gym and wanting to train and push myself.”

When he isn't putting in the hard yards in the gym, Rutter works at a funeral director's to supplement his boxing, but his focus is always in the ring, and he knows he is fortunate to have a job that allows him to train like a full-time professional.

“I'm lucky with the hours that I do, being able to finish in the afternoon so I can run in the morning and train after work. I take one fight at a time, but I promise I'm here to stay, and I think I can go far. I'd love to win the British title, and if you do that, the world's your oyster. Look at what Conah Walker is doing now."

Rutter promised, "Saturday, people that come to see me will get more of the same: a high tempo and entertainment. I won't say too much, but I've got an interesting fight kit as well. I just want to please the fans and put on a show.”

The rest of the stacked card sees Gabriela Strikaityte and Doina Costin clash for the vacant Midlands Area Super Bantamweight title, and Zoe Newton makes her professional debut alongside the unbeaten duo of Jamie Edwards boxing in his first six-rounder and Torquay's Ben Andrews, with the BOXXER Series winner and big ticket seller Dylan Cheema completing the line up for our final show of the year.

Final remaining tickets are available now, priced at £45 for general admission and £85 for VIP, from the boxers directly or by emailing info@bcb-promotions.com