Chatham’s Robert Caswell beats Logan Paling with a brutal body shot at York Hall
05:00, 08 June 2023
updated: 09:37, 08 June 2023
Robert Caswell admitted he was only just getting warmed up as he brushed aside his latest opponent.
A stunning body shot towards the end of the second round was enough for the Chatham light to floor Logan Paling and move onto 7-0, edging another step closer to a potential title fight at the end of this year.
The 22-year-old said: “I didn’t think I would get the KO like that, it was like a one-punch body shot. I’m buzzing - I can’t believe it!
“Six minutes in and I was only just getting warmed up - but I will take that every day.”
That win, with a left-handed uppercut, came exactly a year after a two-round TKO win against Myron Patrick in Southsea.
Caswell knows he needs more rounds ahead of a title shot and will look to get out again in September ahead of a possible challenge for a belt before the year is out.
He said: “We are nearly at the stage for a title fight - we are on the cusp, I have one more, stepping up to eight rounds in my next fight and then hopefully after that, around November time I will challenge for my first title, if all goes well, that’s the plan.
“I want to get some more rounds in for the experience because I have only done four rounds and the six rounds so far, so I just need to get an eight in for more experience, just to get used to that and then I will be ready for a title fight.”
Caswell boxed with St Mary’s as a amateur but since turning pro he switched to the Boxing Booth Gym in Redhill, Surrey.
It means he’s having to travel to train but generous sponsorship, including from main backers L& S Carpentry, has allowed him to concentrate on his boxing full-time.
He’s also been getting support from his local football team, Chatham Town, who have invited him to the club to drum up more support for his boxing journey.
His family help out too, with the arduous task of selling tickets left to his mum.
“She’s a legend!” he said.
“I have it quite easy, I just have to do the training.
“Luckily I am full time training thanks to all my sponsors. Not many at my level at the moment, starting out, are able to go full-time, they have a job and are fitting training around their work.
“It is tough, you have to do it for the money, but you can’t be at your best while doing that as well. I just have enough to get by and then trying to put everything into my boxing.”
While he’s picking up fight-night experience fairly regularly - his seven fights have come over a 19 month period since his debut in November 2021 - it’s his work in the gym that is helping make a difference.
Former Olympian Kurt Walker is a regular sparring partner while World title challenger Mick Conlan gave him some tough prep ahead of their respective bouts.
“It is a bit of a trek to train but it’s worth it,” said the young prospect.
“It’s a good environment to be around. I had to get out of my comfort zone a little bit and get out there.
“You get most of your learning from sparring and being in the gym, it is good being under the lights but the people I am fighting at the moment are not at the level, they are there for the experience, to learn a few things, but you get the learning from really good sparring and being in the gym with good fighters.”
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