Custio Clayton is grateful for the chance to fight even as COVID-19 has delivered a stiff uppercut to the boxing industry.
Many gyms took a mandatory eight-count as the coronavirus spread across the country. But even as clubs and gyms reopened, fight cards were knocked to the canvas in the name of social distancing.
Clayton, the unbeaten welterweight contender from North Preston, had to look elsewhere – namely south of the border – for his next bout.
It was announced earlier this month that the 33-year-old, who’s now based out of Montreal and is 18-0 in his professional career, would be a late replacement for this Saturday’s 12-round interim IBF welterweight title bout against Russia’s Sergey Lipinets in Connecticut.
“You can’t really find any fights in Canada; there aren’t many fights going on, if any. It’s tough for boxers in Canada to look for a fight,” Clayton said in an interview over the weekend. He left for the States on Tuesday.
“But in the U.S., they kept the sport going. I’m happy to get this opportunity and it was an opportunity we had to take.”
Lipinets’ original opponent Kudratillo Abdukakhorov of Uzbekistan withdrew due to visa issues which kept him from entering the United States.
Clayton said while his spot in the title fight only became official on Oct. 10, he has known for the past month or so that Abdukakhorov’s visa problem could land him in the ring against Lipinets.
“I would say I’ve known for about four or five weeks that a fight could possibly happen,” Clayton recalled. “The possibility was there so I’ve been training like it was going to happen. It’s not the same training when you don’t actually know. Until you know who you’re actually fighting, it’s a big difference.
“But I am more than ready for this.”
A former super lightweight world champion, Lipinets (16-1) – like Clayton – has scored 12 knockouts in his pro career.
The 31-year-old is unbeaten since moving up to the welterweight ranks nearly three years ago, putting together three straight victories since losing the 140-pound title to Mikey Garcia in March 2018.
“He’s a former world champion who has moved up weight. He’s been there and he’s a tough fighter,” Clayton said of his opponent. “He’s going to come to fight. I’m expecting him to come at it.
“But I think there will be a time when I can showcase another part of me. I can show how smart I am not just how aggressive I am. I want to show my boxing IQ but I don’t want to overdo it or try too much. I’ll let everything come and be patient and not get caught by the stupid shots.”
Clayton’s last bout was an eighth-round knockout of Diego (El Chacarero) Ramirez in a four-fight pro card in Toronto on Jan. 28.
The 2012 Olympian and six-time Canadian amateur champion is the No. 1 welterweight contender in Canada. He’s the fourth-ranked WBO welterweight contender, No. 5 in the IBF rankings and is 10th among WBA contenders.
“One of the biggest things about me is my boxing IQ,” he said. “When it comes to a fight, I will adapt to what the fighter gives me or shows me.
“Sometimes I have to be aggressive but I think this fight will show a different part of me.”
The title bout will be unlike any boxing match Clayton has fought as a pro. There won’t be any fans at Mohegan Sun Arena, plexiglass barriers will protect ringside judges and everyone, save for the fighters, will wear face masks and observe social distancing.
Clayton said he will undergo more COVID-19 tests once he arrives in the States and must stay in a bubble with his coaches and trainers until Saturday’s match.
“When I step into the ring, it’s just me and the boxer and the referee,” Clayton said.
“I think they’re doing everything right. I’ve been tested three times already. And I’ll get tested a couple more times in the U.S. And then, of course, I’ll have to isolate when I return to Canada.”
After this year of uncertainty, which included three months of training strictly from home while his club was closed, Clayton is thrilled to be back in the ring.
“We are all excited,” he said.
“It’s been different for everyone. For a boxer, training at home is not a good way to go. It was way different. But everyone had to adapt to that. At the same time, when I’m not boxing, I’m home with my kids, so it didn’t really change much for me.
“It was still nice to be back in the gym and to have the coaches there with you. It’s a little bit normal now.”
