Boxing: Jimmy Sains sets sights on next test after debut win

The 22-year-old middleweight hopeful produced a convincing three-round stoppage of Poland’s Bartlomiej Stryczek at Wembley’s SSE Arena on Saturday.

From the moment Sains, who is promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, began throwing his first set of punches as a paid boxer it was simply one-way traffic. 

The 28-year-old Stryczek, who scored a four-round points victory over Josef Lacina on his debut in May, spent most of the time on the back foot and hardly troubled the enthusiast and free-flowing Sains.

And as the Pole soaked up more big shots to head and body without responding referee Bob Williams jumped in and halted the bout after one minute 23 seconds of round three.

Sains, whose cricketing father Chris plays for Hamro Foundation Essex League champions Hornchurch, believed he could have taken out fellow novice Stryczek in the opening round.

“I did feel like the stoppage was coming in the first round,” Sains told Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel.

“I tried forcing it a little bit but I got a little bit reckless. 

“I wanted to get him out first round but he’s a tough opponent and he was tucking up quite well so it was harder for me to make the openings.

“I made a few openings with the body and I thought he was going to go down a couple of times.”

Sains was thrilled to make his pro debut on the undercard of Matchroom Boxing’s double world title bill at Wembley in front of the live DAZN cameras as Australia’s Jai Opetaia retained his IBF world cruiserweight title against Jordan Thompson in four rounds and South London’s Ellie Scotney claimed the IBF women’s super-bantamweight crown after outpointing New Zealand’s Cherneka Lee Johnson in 10 rounds.

“I’m just absolutely buzzing – that’s the only words I can say, just buzzing!” added Sains, after selling 600 tickets for his debut night in North London.

“It was a great atmosphere in there and I just want to thank everyone for coming out for making it such a good night.

“I’m very fortunate. I’ve got a great fan base, everyone in Brentwood and Essex gets behind you and fortunately everyone came out and were all singing ‘Sainsy Massive’ and I’m over the moon.”

Sains, trained by Tony Sims at the Matchroom Elite Boxing Gym near Romford, is eager to have his second outing as soon as possible and has his hopes firmly set on appearing on the undercard of Joe Cordina IBF world super-featherweight title defence against American Edward Vazquez at the prestigious Casino de Monte Carlo in Monaco on November 4.

“Joe Cordina is fighting on the card and that will be an unbelievable show to get on,” he added.

“He’s a good mate of mine and he’s in the Matchroom Boxing team as well, great stable. I’d love to get on that but whenever Eddie (Hearn) gets me out that’s what I do as I’m told.

“I’m right at the bottom, I’ve got to work my way up now. I’m just so grateful, a great opportunity like this in my pro debut in London, not far from Essex, it’s unbelievable so I couldn’t ask for anything better.”