By Ben Carey
Anthony Small will look to continue his fine run of form by defeating former USA Contender contestant Freddie Curiel in a light-middleweight 10-rounder in London tonight. This Frank Warren dinner show will raise money for DebRA, the charity that helps those suffering from the genetic skin blistering condition Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). SKY Sports will screen the fight on delay at 10pm on Monday.
Eighteen months ago Small and veteran Curiel recorded victories on Warren’s and Sugar Ray Leonard’s UK vs USA Contender competition staged in Newcastle. Small withstood a torrid final round to outpoint Walter Wright over eight rounds while Curiel came from behind to sensationally flatten Ross Minter in the final round.
Both men have enjoyed mixed fortunes since then. Small subsequently lost his unbeaten record in his next fight when running out of steam and being stopped on his feet by Bradley Pryce in the seventh round of their Commonwealth title clash. It is a stoppage which the charismatic Small still contests today but the Deptford man’s legs had gone and he wasn’t firing back when trapped against the ropes.
Small has since got his career back on track with fine stoppages over the one-time (though admittedly now faded) WBO title challenger Takaloo and the useful George Katsimpas. Wasting fewer punches and showing less flamboyance and more accuracy in his attacks, Small’s improvements are have been largely attributed to trainer Brian Lawrence. Small’s decision to recently part company with Lawrence and once again employ Spencer Fearon as his sole trainer is somewhat mystifying then, particularly when one considers the excellent work Lawrence has also done with British bantamweight champion Ian Napa.
Curiel will enter the ring with a modest 18-7-2 (8) record and has only fought twice since he last visited the UK, stopping Fontaine Cabal in four and conceding a split decision points loss to Sven Paris last time out. Small’s speed, movement and unorthodox punches should be too much for the 33-year-old American.
Anthony can blow hot and cold though and has a tendency to lose concentration. His hands down-style will always present his opponents with opportunities to land, which as Curiel proved against Minter could be catastrophic for Small. Anthony may have to weather some uncomfortable patches late on, as he did against Curiel’s countryman Walter Wright, before emerging a points winner.
