Big Alfie: football’s loss is boxing’s gain

Alfie Harrison...crowned Midlands champ at weekend

WHEN Alfie Harrison was deemed too bulky to make it as a footballer, he turned to boxing – and has proved a knockout.

The 17-year-old – a very big lad at 17st 7lbs and 6ft 2ins tall – capped something of a Cinderella story last weekend by becoming a Midlands champ.

The boxer from Willenhall ABC, Coventry, beat old foe Leo “Big Dawg” Gregory in the youth development championships’ over 92 kilo category.

The Acocks Green battle proved a real Clash of the Titans. Leo, from Mercia ABC, is even bigger than Alfie, standing 6ft 4ins tall. He won their previous meeting, but lost out on a split decision in the title return.

Now Alfie moves forward to the national quarter-finals in two weeks’ time.

It appears the lad has a personality big enough to match his frame. Joe Donnely, one of the coaches at Willenhall, said: “He’s such a laugh. After winning the title, he rang me and asked, ‘where are we going for a celebratory pint?’ I told him nowhere, he was 17.”

Joe first encountered the boy mountain when helping at a local football team. In that sport, Alfie’s size was considered a handicap and he lost his place in the team.

“He was just getting slower and slower,” said Joe. “He couldn’t move around as much as the pitches got bigger. Alfie’s built for short distances not long ones.

“He was down, he thought he’d never play football again.”

Joe took the lad under his wing, gave him private fitness sessions and provided the groundwork for a career in the fight game.

Two years into the journey, Alfie has had around 10 contests and is a titleholder. Joe said: “He was soon good enough to box at a competitive level and began with a good few wins but came up short in his first championship bout.”

He put that right at the weekend.

Alfie has found a new sporting passion and, as an adult, could be a heavyweight to watch.

Tyson Fury is a very big physical specimen, but he’s stopped growing. Alfie hasn’t.