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'2 Pound' Forbes training at the Wildcard, faces Augustus on April 12

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
Former champ leaves Detroit

Experienced campaigner Steve ‘2 Pound’ Forbes is training with Freddie Roach at the Wildcard Gym as he heads towards a ring return following the collapse of his move to the UK.

The 35 year-old, who captured the  IBF upper-featherweight title in 2000, is currently fighting at what he says is his natural weight of 140lbs and will tackle Emanuel Augustus on April 12 in a warm-up before his fights for a fringe world title.

The 45-fight veteran was pencilled in for a two-fight stint in England starting in January, but the deal fell through at the last minute and Forbes felt a complete change was needed from his old haunt in Detroit at The Kronk.

“I’m at the wild card gym and loving it,” Forbes told World Boxing News.

“I have been getting great work in there with world title challenger Jorge Linares and welterweight world title holder Sergiy Fedechenko.”

“Freddie Roach is not my trainer officially, but he gives me pointers and I’m always trying to pick his brain on boxing.

“I will always love The Kronk, but needed a change from Michigan after I went through a lot of personal stuff living in Detroit.

“Everything is good now and I will always go back and visit Detroit from time to time, but finally this is for me and about me and there are no more distractions.”

Forbes is leading up to a challenge for the WBF light-welterweight belt against current champion Ali Funeka in a bout that will take place in the summer in the US at a venue yet to be announced.

First up is the popular journeyman Augustus, 36, who has lost five in a row, including his last fight a year ago against Vernon Paris. The Illinois fighter should be a hurdle Forbes can overcome though if he has any aspirations of getting back in the elite at his favoured weight-class.

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