Kid Galahad is on the verge of joining Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions on a multi-fight deal, which includes potential unifications with WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. and WBA ‘Super’ titlist Leo Santa Cruz.
Following on from the disappointing news that Josh Warrington vacated his IBF featherweight title rather than fight the Sheffield switch-hitter once again, the new day has brought better fortunes for Kid Galahad (27-1, 16 KOs) with the offer of a lucrative deal on table.
PBC have been long-term admirers of Galahad having previously tabled offers to him and made a statement of intent by winning the purse bid to stage the rematch between Warrington and Galahad, prior to the Leeds man relinquishing the belt.
The 30-year-old is excited at the prospect of fighting for the vacant IBF title; No.3 challenger James ‘Jazza’ Dickens has been put forward by the IBF as his potential opponent and, if he is successful, going straight into unifications.
“They offered a four-fight deal,” Galahad told Boxing Social. “[It’s] unbelievable money, multi-million-pound deal to win the IBF title and then I could either fight Gary Russell Jr, he has to fight his mandatory [Rey Vargas] then I’ll fight him next in a unification or fight Leo Santa Cruz if he come back down to 126lbs. I’ll probably get the Gary Russell Jr. or the Leo Santa Cruz fight before Warrington,”
Galahad could not hide his satisfaction at potentially participating in a unification that had eluded his Yorkshire rival. The Sheffield man has experienced his own frustrations in securing high-profile contests. This could, in part, be due to the fact that in his 11-year career to date he has not signed a long-term promotional contract. Galahad initially worked with Hennessy Promotions on a fight-by-fight basis and, in recent years, has had a similar arrangement with Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport.
Now, Galahad feels that the time is right to align himself with a promoter.
“I’ve never actually done a deal,” he said. “The reason I never actually signed with anyone is because I always believed in my ability and I thought: ‘I’ll be able to get myself there. I don’t need protecting’. Someone posted today that every title I’ve ever won has been vacant and I can’t believe it. How crazy is that? Rather than fight me, they’d rather vacate.”
Galahad has been critical of what he perceives to be Warrington’s reluctance to leave British shores to secure fights with the division’s marquee names. The Sheffield switch-hitter knows he will have to travel to the United States if he is to face either Santa Cruz or Russell. But, rather than feeling a sense of trepidation, Galahad relishes the prospect.
Galahad previously boxed in Boston, Massachusetts, defeating Toka Kahn Clary via unanimous decision in 2018 to win a final eliminator for the IBF title and believes the experience will stand him in good stead.
“If you want them big fights, you’ve got to go to the States,” he said. “At the end of the day, you’re not drawing [here]. I don’t think there’s anyone apart from AJ who is a big enough draw to offer £30m, or even £5m to get them to come over here, there isn’t anyone. Amir Khan was a big draw, he had to go out there; Kell Brook was a big draw, he had to go out there; Ricky Hatton was a big draw, he had to go out there; it was the same with Joe Calzaghe. That’s what you’ve got to do. I’ve already been out there, I boxed Toka Kahn Clary, so I know what it’s like. I believe in my ability and I believe in what I do.”