Ambitious Leeds boxer Jack Bateson keen to make up for lost time in 2021 with British title fight

The 26-year-old super bantamweight extended his professional record to 12-0 with a dominant points victory over Matt Craddock in September.

That was his first bout for 12 months after a hand injury kept him out of action in the latter stages of 2019.

He was due to return to the ring in April but saw those plans dashed by the coronavirus outbreak.

With 12 wins under his belt, the Leeds fighter feels it is time to start challenging for titles, with his sights fixed on becoming a British champion.

“As soon as I can I want to be in the mix for title fights,” he explained.

“I have had 12 fights, I have been pro for just over three years. I feel like I have served my apprenticeship and I am ready to get let off the leash a little bit.

“I want to work towards a British title. Hopefully, next year I will be able to lift a title.”

Bateson hopes to become more active in the ring in 2021 after injury and the Covid-19 pandemic restricted the number of fights possible.

He continued: “Towards the end of 2021, it would be nice to have a title under my belt.

“If I was able to fight for a British title by the end of next year that would be my dream. In the first half of the year, I want to pick up some sort of title. I want to be more active. In the first year I turned pro I had around eight fights but in the last year-and-a-half I have been a lot less active due to the injury and Covid.

“I am just looking forward to pushing on next year. I am seeing a lot of other fighters winning titles and I know I can beat them.”

Bateson is managed by MTK Global and feels he is in good hands in that department.

The worldwide management organisation has a host of world-class boxers under their care, such as WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, unified light-welterweight champion Josh Taylor and former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton.

“It is nice being able to put my trust in them because they have done it for the likes of Tyson Fury and Billy Joe-Saunders, who have proven they can do it at the top level,” said Bateson.

“I feel like if I keep producing the goods in my fights they will get me the fights I need to get to the top.

“It is on me to go out and do what I can and perform to the best of my ability.”

Despite being able to fight just once in 2020, Bateson has been keen to not waste the last 12 months.

He has been training every day and using the extended time out of the ring to hone his skills.

“My dad was on my case every day, he is my coach, about training and, luckily enough, he was in my bubble so I could go round to his house and we would train in his garage,” he said.

“We were hoping for a call and, thankfully, we got one, saying there was a potential fight for September.

“I had the fight then and from then it was just training hoping for a call but nothing came up.”

He added: “Not being able to fight, I feel like I have been able to sit down and look at where I really need to improve.

“Especially this last year, I have been able to go back and work on those little basics.

“It has been about working on things like head movement, sitting on my shots and I feel like I have matured so much over the last year or two.”

The last 12 months has represented rich sporting success for Bateson’s home city of Leeds.

Leeds United ended their 16-year wait to return to the Premier League as they secured promotion as Championship winners, while Leeds Rhinos lifted the Challenge Cup with victory over Salford Red Devils behind closed doors at Wembley.

Add to those memorable moments the fact that Leeds already has its very own world champion in Josh Warrington, who has not been able to fight this year due to Covid-19 and it is understandable why Bateson hopes he can be another success story for the city.

“I want to do it for myself and my family, especially my dad who has had me involved with boxing since I was a young kid, but I also want to do it for my city,” he said.

“When I have got a fight coming up, no matter how far away it is, people are always there to support me.

“Those big nights in Leeds like Josh Warrington has enjoyed recently, hopefully one day that will be me.

“It has been a good time for sport in Leeds and, hopefully, I can be a part of that.”

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