A boxer who chose not to chase an Olympic spot with Team GB is now seeing the rewards of that decision after securing his first professional title. Aaron Bowen, who earned a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, won the Midlands super-middleweight championship with a unanimous points victory over Klinton Baptiste in the same city.
At 27 years old, Bowen described this victory as a significant step closer to achieving his dream of becoming a world champion. “This is my first professional belt, and it’s something I will keep forever—no one can ever take it from me,” he said.
Bowen claimed the British Boxing Board of Control’s Midlands title at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena in only his ninth professional fight. After the Commonwealth Games, the Coventry native decided to turn professional instead of competing for a spot on Team GB’s Olympic boxing squad, even though he had always dreamed of competing at that prestigious amateur level.
“There were many of us fighting for just one spot, and I figured I needed to strike while the iron was hot,” Bowen explained. “I had the chance to turn pro and follow my ambition of becoming a world champion.”
A key factor in his decision was getting noticed by prominent promoter Eddie Hearn during the Games in Birmingham. “He was there watching, and luckily it was in Birmingham; I had probably 1,000 Coventry supporters cheering me on as I won the bronze,” Bowen recalled. “The atmosphere was electric.”
Although Bowen had a strong amateur career, he said winning his first professional title felt almost surreal. “It’s such an amazing feeling now, and no one can ever take this away. No matter what happens next, I’ll always be a Midlands champion,” he said. “I want much more, but it’s a proud moment my younger self would admire right now.”
Bowen’s next target is the England championship, and if he stays on this unbeaten path, British, Commonwealth, and European titles will likely follow as he advances toward a world championship.
Fan Take:
This milestone victory is exciting news for fight fans, as it signals the rise of a new talent with the potential to shake up the super-middleweight division. Bowen’s choice to turn professional early could inspire other amateurs to seize their moment and accelerate the sport’s growth at the pro level.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
