Exclusive: Anthony Fowler eyeing titles in 2022 ahead of middleweight debut
- Jack Fealy
- 26 February 2022
Anthony Fowler is hoping to win titles in 2022 and believes fans will see him at his best as he moves up to 160lbs.
New to the middleweight division, Anthony Fowler wants a British or European title belt to his name before the end of the year.
The Liverpudlian kicks off 2022 against Lukasz Maciec on Sunday night at London's O2 Arena.
Fowler believes that he will enjoy a breakthrough year underΒ Shane McGuigan at 160lbs.
"I would like to box for a British and European title next if possible, but that obviously stands with Eddie Hearn," Fowler exclusively told Planet Sport.
"I want to potentially have four fights this year, so by the end of the year I want to be at least a British or European champion."
Eddie HearnΒ hinted at a few names in Friday's press conference that Fowler could face later this year.
Chris Eubank JrΒ was thrown into the mix but Felix Cash was the name that caught the ear of the 30-year-old.
Cash is the current WBC International middleweight champion, claiming the title back in early February against Magomed Madiev.
With that title to his name, a win for Fowler this weekend could set him up for a dream title challenging bout.
π€ πππππππ¨πππππ₯ πππππππ π€ @afowler06 returns this Sunday up at 160lbs!#FowlerMaciec #OkolieCieslak pic.twitter.com/vLS4Zhsejm
β Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) February 26, 2022
"Felix Cash is the ideal fight for me after this weekend. I don't know what his plans will be but I would like to fight him next."
Fowler returns to the ring following a disappointing defeat to fellow Merseyside rival Liam Smith in November - the second loss of his professional career.
A sweet left hook from Smith secured him the WBA International super-welterweight title, however as Fowler makes a step up to middleweight, he has sent out a warning.
Fowler said: "I was really disappointed and unhappy on how easily I came apart against Smith. I felt as if I was boxing underwater at times, it's hard to describe but I felt my energy go really fast.
"I went from having all this energy to being really fatigued. That wasn't happening in the gym so I am going to put that down to the weight cut.
"I had a bit of daft fight week. I looked really bad on the scales, I looked like a crack head, and I had a banging headache. I don't think I fully recovered. That's the main thing from that fight, the weight cuts.
"But you're going to see a different animal this Sunday night because I am going to go into the ring fully fueled, I'm in the best shape of my life, and I am so mentally focused. Lukasz Maciec has never been stopped as a pro but I am going to break him down and stop him."
Hearn and Matchroom Sport signed Fowler back in 2017 and since then he has picked up a record of 15-2, 12 of those wins being inside the distance.
Speaking about Fowler, Hearn said: "Yeah I think Fowler can bounce back against Lukasz Maciec. I am really looking forward to seeing him at middleweight. I think it is a good fight for him against Maciec who is a tough middleweight that has never been stopped.
"Fowler is going to feel a lot stronger in there, I think he had a good fight against Liam Smith and his profile has risen and I think he is going to be a force in middleweight. There are some big fights for him this year."
