Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
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.
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.