Luke Crossley, a 19-year-old from Leeds, northern England, is gearing up for his second fight on April 26 in Beraun. He initially arrived in Donostia through an exchange program and, after a sabbatical year, has returned at the invitation of his friend Ibai. Before starting his Communication and Sports Journalism studies at Liverpool university, Crossley is improving his Spanish, has attended an euskaltegi, is training online to become an English teacher, works weekends at a cider house, and trains daily at the Team Látigo gym in Errenteria.
Under the guidance of his coach, Sebastián Pérez, Crossley is finalizing preparations for his bout against Bayonne boxer Enmanuel. For this fight, agreed at 65 kilograms, the boxer needs to lose two kilos from his current weight of 67. The training focuses on a strategic plan for the three three-minute rounds.
“"The ring in Hondarribia seemed huge to me! And the shouts were so strange"
Crossley recalls his first fight, held on March 26 at the Jostaldi fronton in Hondarribia, where he faced Carlos Blanco. Although he won on points, he admits he didn't fully execute the plan devised by his coaches. His strategy aims to avoid constant attacking and defending, instead focusing on holding his ground and delivering clean punches. He also practices a unique punch from Tommy Morrison, combining a right hook with an uppercut, targeting the opponent's chin or stomach.
The experience of his debut in the Basque Country was impressive. Despite having trained and fought in the Alliance Boxing Club in his hometown, he found the level of professionalism here to be very high. He also attended the event in Orio, organized by the River Box&Roll Kluba, which he described as tremendous. Before his fight in Hondarribia, he was very nervous, as it was his first fight away from home, and the crowd's shouts, in two different languages, felt strange to him. He was also surprised by the significant boxing enthusiasm, noting that the semifinals of the Euskadi Championship would be held on May 9 in Soraluze.
Regarding the ring size, Crossley states that those he fought in England were smaller, and amateur boxing there often involves fighting “inside” and dancing. However, he and his coach seek a different strategy: to firmly establish themselves in the ring. In football, he is a Leeds supporter and admires Gonçalo Guedes of Real Sociedad, highlighting his evolution since his time in the Premier League with Wolverhampton.
