Bob Westerdale
22 October, 2024
Sport

Sheffield fighter makes weight switch in hunt for titles

Sheffield's Levi Kinsiona is giving up on his chance to become English lightweight champion - but he insists that there will be other challenges and belts to compete for, soon.

Kinsiona v Marksby poster

For months, he has been planning to fight Youssef Khoumari for the coveted strap but, in common with several previous occasions, the potential date for their meeting kept getting changed.

It reached a stage where, at 28 years old, it made sense for him to move up to super lightweight and forego the opportunity to take on Khoumari at York Hall, Bethnal Green on a Goodwin Boxing show on December 7.

The Parson Cross fighter bemoaned the fact that: "Loads of opponents have pulled out...but that’s the game I’m in."

He explained: "I had been asked to fight for it on October 12th when Youssef pulled out with and injury...they wanted it to be December 7th.

"I told them October was the last month I’m making lightweight - I’ve outgrown it but we’ve got bigger things coming up once I win my next fight."As a result, Kinsiona will be fighting at 140 pounds on November 22.

It's a stiff task, he is facing Darlington's 10-fight unbeaten Ben Marksby, 25, at the Walker Activity Dome, Newcastle, on a Wasserman Boxing production.

While it is a non-title fight, the 14-bout away fighter, who is trained by former WBA world lightweight champion Anthony Crolla in Manchester, believes his "unreal" camp will put him in good stead as he pushes on at super lightweight.

It should do his profile the world of good too, as the North East event is being screened live on Channel 5.Levi deserves a break. 

He has endured rotten luck in 2024, the contest next month will be his first of the year.

His last outing was back in 2023, a points' win against Mexican Christian Lopez Flores.

Meanwhile, another Parson Cross lightweight, Keanen Wainwright is heading back to action and is also hoping for better times to come.

The 26-year-old lost his last two fights (Billy Pickles and Louis Horn) earlier this year and has been out of the ring since July.

The southpaw's Sheffield Boxing Centre trainer Glyn Rhodes said: "It is good to have him back.

"He's put a bit of weight on but that is okay because I wanted him to have a bit of a rest because his last three fights have all been ten-rounders.

"He lost two and won one of them and needed some time off.

"We'll get him in a four rounder and then see what happens."

Kinsiona v Marksby poster
Kinsiona v Marksby poster Credit: UGC