EXCITING boxer Leo Atang keeps on learning as he continues to gain traction on the professional scene \u2013 with the York prospect hoping he can produce a winning start to 2026.<\/p>\n
Atang, a highly-regarded prospect, had an incredible first year as a professional boxer by making his pro debut, maintaining an unbeaten record, and earning global attention after bursting onto the scene.<\/p>\n
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It comes after years of training under the expertise of Ash Martin, of local gym Legions Boxing Club.<\/p>\n
For the 18-year-old, he intends to keep learning and improving after recording an incredible TKO victory against Ugandan Baba Yusuf, with the referee stopping the fight after just 1 minute and 25 seconds.<\/p>\n
That victory came in Matchroom Boxing\u2019s first event in Ghana, a new experience for both Atang and coach Martin, who were given the \u2018presidential treatment\u2019 by their hosts.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI don\u2019t want to get too hung up on it, because I\u2019m beating guys that I should be beating,\u201d Atang told the Press.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m glad that I\u2019m doing it in the way I want to be doing it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was more of an interesting experience, because it\u2019s something that I\u2019ve never really experienced before.<\/p>\n
\u201cFighting outdoors, in a big arena, the heat, it was more just to gain experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was trying to give it to me in the press conference a bit, so it was a good little build-up for the fight.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI went in there and did my thing, there\u2019s always stuff we can improve on in the gym and we\u2019ll look back on that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019ll bring to the next fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was class, everyone was so welcoming and friendly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was all new cultures, new experiences, I proper loved it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey made me feel like I was at home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Martin reiterated what his prodigy had commented on the Ghana experience, and opened the door to a return to the African country should another event emerge.<\/p>\n
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The York coach said on Atang\u2019s performance against Yusuf: \u201cThe fight itself was kind of what I expected it to be, with an opponent that was absolutely coming to win.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had called Leo out at the press conference and when he came in there, we knew he was turning up to win.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did say that I think this guy [Yusuf] will be Leo\u2019s fastest stoppage now, and it was.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was unreal [in Ghana], we got presidential treatment the entire time we were there and they couldn\u2019t have looked after us any better.<\/p>\n
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York boxer Leo Atang celebrates with his team from Legions Boxing Club after defeating Baba Yusuf within one round in Ghana. (Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d love to go back for another show, it was really special.\u201d<\/p>\n
Next up for six-foot-six Atang, he returns to the UK to fight on the undercard of Bakhram Murtazaliev\u2019s defence of the junior middleweight title against Josh Kelly.<\/p>\n
The fight, set to take place on Saturday, January 31, will be held at Newcastle\u2019s Utilita Arena.<\/p>\n
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Atang will be fighting alongside another York prospect of Legions Boxing Club in Brad Casey, who also boasts a 3-0 record since turning professional.<\/p>\n
When asked how his experience back in England will differ to his time in Ghana, Atang responded: \u201cIt won\u2019t be as hot! My friends, my family will all be there showing their support, the people who support me.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll be great to be back out in front of a home crowd, and hopefully I can give them another big night.\u201d<\/p>\n
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It will also be fantastic for Atang to have close friend Casey back on the same undercard, allowing the pair to show their support to one another as they both look to extend their unbeaten records.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did it once on my second and his first fight, and we\u2019re so glad that we\u2019re able to do it again for both of our fights.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be class.\u201d<\/p>\n
Martin added: \u201cIt\u2019s nice to have them on the same night, not just in the same country but on the same show this time.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThis will be the second time that they\u2019ve been on the same show as each other, the third time they\u2019ve been on the same night.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt\u2019s good for us, it\u2019s good for us as a gym to be able to showcase both of them under one roof.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe boys are really looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
And ahead of a first fight of 2026, training has been as sharp as ever for Atang, who did benefit from a brief break at Christmas, in order to reset and charge into his next fight head on.<\/p>\n
Martin believes Atang is \u2018nailing\u2019 his training camp ahead of his Newcastle fight, with his opponent still yet to be announced.<\/p>\n
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\u201cHe\u2019s bounced straight back into camp and has had a few days off for Christmas after his last fight,\u201d Martin explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe trained after Christmas, he got back into it and was working on everything that we\u2019ve worked on.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs much as we are working fight to fight, we\u2019re always looking at the bigger picture, how it needs to look for that.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s nailing it, he\u2019ll be ready tonight if we needed him to be.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 31st of January, he\u2019ll be ready.\u201d<\/p>\n
Atang continued: \u201cI\u2019ve rested over Christmas and stuff, but we\u2019ve gotten straight back into it.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019ve been working on things, sharpening up on things which I messed up in the last fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully I can make it look better in this fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a bit [of analysis] but I mainly leave that to my coach, and I just work on them things, whatever he tells me we work on in here.\u201d<\/p>\n
As Atang enters his second full year as a professional boxer, he\u2019ll be hoping he can continue to boast an unbeaten record, whilst also gaining needed experience to establish himself in the pro game.<\/p>\n
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Leo Atang and Brad Casey will be on the undercard of Bakhram Murtazaliev versus Josh Kelly in Newcastle on January 31. (Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n
2025 was therefore a special year for the 18-year-old, being the year that he first turned professional and began to make a name for himself: \u201cIt was good. It was exactly what I wanted it to be.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got the fights under the belt and we got the exposure, so now we just need to keep on that.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully I can stay injury-free and have another big year.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI just want to get as many fights as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I can get the wins, then I can get the experiences and can hopefully impress everybody.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to give everyone a lot of great nights.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a special 12 months for Legions Boxing Club and Martin too, who have been successful in their attempts to develop York talent to become professional boxers.<\/p>\n
Both Atang and Casey are now flying the flag for not only York, but also for Legions \u2013 with Marin admitting it was a \u2018dream\u2019 for the future of the sport in North Yorkshire.<\/p>\n
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\u201cLast year, on this day last year, neither of them were turning pro in the calendar year,\u201d he reflected.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve now both finished the year 3-0.<\/p>\n
\u201c2025 boxing-wise was a dream for us, the boys have turned pro, have got on the big stage, we\u2019ve moved into the new gym and have got that fully established now.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a brilliant year for the boxing gym.<\/p>\n
\u201cMoving into this year, it\u2019s exciting to see what\u2019s going to come.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe boys have got plenty to come, and we\u2019ve got various dates in the calendar to look at.<\/p>\n
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\u201cGiven how last year looked, this year is only going to be more exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n