Dutchman Harry Duiven Jr, ranked fourth in the European Boxing Federation (EBF) heavyweight category, boasts a remarkable record as he has lost only seven fights in 23 encounters with four of those defeats coming against boxers who were ranked number 1 in the EBF rankings at some time.
This is why Malta’s semi-professional heavyweight boxer Billy Corito faces what is being described as his toughest fight yet when, on December 7, he meets Duiven Jr.
It is an important appointment for ‘The Hit Man’ who is keen to extend his positive run of victories and better his sixth placing in the EBF heavyweight rankings.
Based at Lords Gym in St Julians, Corito follows a hard training regime to sharpen his physical condition which includes long hours of practice with one of his favourite sparring partners, Scott Whelton, also known as Bam Bam, a tough six-footer plus who can take strong punches.
“Yes, I prefer sparring with Whelton as he can stay on his feet while we spar, he’s a strong man,” Corito said.
For his part, Whelton, who has been in Malta for the past fortnight, describes Corito as “the best boxer I’ve fought – fast, powerful, agile and technically correct. He is improving every time I come over to spar, a tough opponent for anybody on the planet.”
Since his official debut in 2007, Corito has a perfect record of 10 wins in as many fights.
Corito has won one of these fights on points while the remaining nine encounters he won with technical knock-outs – eight of which in the second round and one in the first. His last three fights were valid for classification in the EBF heavyweight rankings.
The December 7 grand nine-fight night is being staged at the Dolmen Hotel, Buġibba where besides the Corito-Duiven en-counter, Dione Galea and Jason ‘Ruthless’ Curtis (UK) will fight for the EBF Super Middle Weight European title.
The rest of the programme reads: Tyrone Borg vs Jack Butler, Justin Grech vs Morgan Jackson, Ronald Tabone vs Joseph Quayle, Etienne Spiteri vs Lawrence Fitzpatrick, Brandon Borg vs Luke Bennett, Lydon Chircop vs Raja Afzal and Carl Spiteri vs Daniel Helwitt.
The main sponsors of the event, organised by the European Boxing Federation and local promoter Paul Borg, are RE/MAX, Fortina Hotel, the Party Bus Malta and MedAsia Playa.
Other support is provided by Golden Harvest, Badass Burgers, Barcelona Lounge, and London Butcher of Gżira.