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Anthony Small

{{short description|English boxer}}

{{for|the New Zealand cricketer|Anthony Small (cricketer)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Use British English|date=June 2012}}

{{Infobox boxer

|image=

|name=Anthony Small

|realname=Anthony Small

|nickname=Sugar Ray Clay Jones Jr.

|weight=Light Middleweight

|nationality=British

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1981|6|20|df=y}}

|birth_place=London, England

|death_date=

|death_place=

|style=unorthodox

|total=25

|wins=23

|losses=2

|draws=0

|no contests=0

|KO=16

|}}

Anthony Small (also known as Abdul Haq{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywa6vdcjZfo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/Ywa6vdcjZfo |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live|title=Interview with Anthony Small on Islam Channel - Part 1|date=7 February 2008|work=YouTube|accessdate=3 August 2015}}{{cbignore}}) is a retired professional boxer and Islamic political activist who was born 20 June 1981 in Lewisham, London, England. He held both the British and Commonwealth belts at light middleweight. He was also referred to as 'Sugar Ray Clay Jones Jr.' (SRCJJ), in homage to Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali, and Roy Jones Jr. Small converted to Sunni Islam at the age of 24. He is active on his YouTube blog where he advocates for Sharia (Islamic political ideology) to be implemented in Britain and is a follower of Anjem Choudary and a member of Al-Muhajiroun/Islam4UK.[http://atomicnews.info/people/behead-muggers-says-ex-champ/ Behead Muggers Says Ex-Champ]{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Boxing career

=Early professional career=

Small turned professional aged 23 in 2004 with a first-round knockout of Lance Hall. He was managed by boxing promoter Frank Warren, who had seen Small to wins over former Ukrainian Light Middleweight Champion Vladimir Borovski and previously unbeaten prospect Prince Arron. He also scored a win for the UK team in The Contender Challenge: UK vs. USA on 30 March 2007, defeating Walter Wright in the first matchup of the tournament by a close split decision. However, his World Title hopes were given a massive dent when he was beaten by a technical knockout in round seven by Bradley Pryce whilst fighting for the Commonwealth Light-Middleweight title.{{cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=253611&cat=boxer|title=BoxRec - Anthony Small|accessdate=3 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316023600/http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=253611&cat=boxer|archive-date=16 March 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/boxing/6725015.stm|title=BBC SPORT - Boxing - Pryce stops Small to defend title|date=15 July 2007|accessdate=3 August 2015}}

Small's boxing style was considered to be unorthodox. He kept his gloves low, relying on body movement to avoid punches, rather than blocking. Due to his low hand position, he relied mainly on his natural hand speed to surprise his opponents when punching. Additionally, he shifted from the left-foot-forward orthodox stance to the right-foot-forward southpaw stance throughout the bout.

=Route to contention=

His first fight back following his defeat by Pryce was on 12 January 2008 for the Southern Area Title Light-Middleweight title when he defeated Mehrdud Takaloo by TKO after 7 rounds.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7191545.stm|title=BBC SPORT - Boxing - 'Sad' Takaloo ponders retirement|date=16 January 2008|accessdate=3 August 2015}} On 14 June, he made his first defence, beating George Katsimpas by TKO in the 8th, flooring Katsimpas with a bodyshot. He finished a successful year by also defeating ex-contender star Freddy Curiel with a tenth round stoppage as well as former British title challenger Steve Conway.

=British and Commonwealth champion=

On 18 July 2009, Small fought for and won both the British and Commonwealth champion with an 8th round stoppage of Manchester's Matthew Hall after overwhelming him with a vicious flurry of hooks in the 8th, which forced the referee to stop the contest.[http://www.southlondon-today.co.uk/tn/Sport.cfm?id=28255&headline=Anthony%20Small%20outclasses%20Hall South London Today | Small outclasses Hall] {{dead link|date=November 2010}} He made his first defence of both titles on 27 November 2009 in a close decision win over Thomas McDonagh over 12 rounds.{{cite web|url=http://www.badlefthook.com/2009/11/27/1176166/anthony-small-narrowly-decisions|title=Anthony Small narrowly decisions Thomas McDonagh in Wigan|author=Scott Christ|work=Bad Left Hook|date=27 November 2009|accessdate=3 August 2015}} Small was criticised for his performance with many believing McDonagh had won. Small chose to give up the Commonwealth title and hold on to the British belt, defending it against mandatory challenger Sam Webb on 26 March 2010, who had also beaten McDonagh on points. The fight, which was also close, went the distance with Webb surviving a nasty cut in the fifth round to claim the judges decision on points handing a second career defeat to Small.{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12183_6056986,00.html|title=Webb stands tall to beat Small|work=SkySports|accessdate=3 August 2015}}

Protest controversy

Small attracted controversy when he took part in a march in Barking, East London, to protest against the British presence in the war in Afghanistan. Small, a Salafi Muslim, had joined with around 50 other demonstrators who called themselves 'Muslims Against Crusades', which is a new front for al-Muhajiroun/Islam4UK, at the march on 15 June 2010.{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/06/16/muslim-militants-hurl-abuse-at-military-parade-in-barking-115875-22336550/|title=Muslim militants hurl abuse at military parade in Barking|author=Tom Pettifor|date=15 June 2010|work=The Mirror|accessdate=3 August 2015}}

In 2014, he was arrested after two other men were apprehended at Dover with false documents, and appeared in court at the Old Bailey on 15 June 2015 charged with planning to go to Syria to fight with Islamic State after spreading terrorist material online.[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-33137080 "British boxing champion wanted to join IS - court hears"], BBC News, 15 June 2015 He was found not guilty.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-44371122|title = Ex-boxer Anthony Small acquitted of terrorism charge|work = BBC News|date = 5 June 2018}} In January 2018 Small was formally charged with "encouraging acts of terrorism" in a 2016 social media post following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42735906|title=Ex-boxer charged with terror offence|date=18 January 2018|publisher=BBC}} He was acquitted in June.{{cite news |last1=Jolly |first1=Bradley |title=Former boxing champ Anthony Small cleared of calling for terror attacks |url=https://metro.co.uk/2018/06/05/former-boxing-champ-anthony-small-cleared-of-calling-for-terror-attacks-7607098/ |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=Metro |date=5 June 2018}}

Other media appearances

In 2016, he appeared on the BBC Two documentary Muslims Like Us, in which ten Muslims of diverse beliefs were placed in a house together. His appearance was controversial for being potentially unrepresentative of the views of most Muslims in the UK, although reviewers noted that he was challenged vehemently on his views by the other housemates.{{cite news |last1=Ali |first1=Umbreen |title=TV REVIEW: The best parts of 'Muslims Like Us' |url=https://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/14962762.tv-review-the-best-parts-of-muslims-like-us/ |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=Asian Image |date=13 December 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Ismail |first1=Sarah |title=Review: Muslims Like Us |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/sarah-ismail/review-muslims-like-us_b_13618000.html |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=HuffPost |date=14 December 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Versi |first1=Miqdaad |last2=Aly |first2=Remona |last3=Bano |first3=Alia |title=Was Muslims Like Us a helpful portrayal of Islam in the UK? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/dec/14/panel-muslims-like-us-islam |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=The Guardian|date=14 December 2016}}

Professional boxing record

{{BoxingRecordSummary

|draws=0

|nc=0

|ko-wins=16

|ko-losses=1

|dec-wins=7

|dec-losses=1

}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
{{abbr|No.|Number}}

!Result

!Record

!Opponent

!Type

!Round, time

!Date

!Location

!Notes

25

|{{no2}}Loss

|23–2

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Sam Webb

|{{abbr|MD|Majority decision}}

|12

|2010-03-26

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Goresbrook Leisure Centre, Dagenham, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Lost BBBofC British Super welterweight title.}}

24

|{{yes2}}Win

|23–1

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Thomas McDonagh

|{{abbr|UD|Unanimous decision}}

|12

|2009-11-27

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Robin Park Centre, Wigan, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained BBBofC British Super welterweight title.
Retained Commonwealth (British Empire) Super welterweight title.}}

23

|{{yes2}}Win

|22–1

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Matthew Hall

|TKO

|8 (12), {{small|2:21}}

|2009-07-18

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|M.E.N. Arena, Manchester, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won vacant BBBofC British Super welterweight title.
Won Commonwealth (British Empire) Super welterweight title.}}

22

|{{yes2}}Win

|21–1

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Steven Conway

|TKO

|2 (8), {{small|0:28}}

|2008-12-06

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|ExCeL Arena London, London Docklands, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|

21

|{{yes2}}Win

|20–1

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Freddy Curiel

|TKO

|10 (12), {{small|1:45}}

|2008-09-12

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Grosvenor House Hotel, Mayfair, London, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won vacant WBA International Super welterweight title.}}

20

|{{yes2}}Win

|19–1

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} George Katsimpas

|TKO

|8 (10), {{small|2:58}}

|2008-06-14

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained BBBofC Southern Area Super welterweight title.}}

19

|{{yes2}}Win

|18–1

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Iran}} Mehrdud Takaloo

|TKO

|7 (10), {{small|2:57}}

|2008-01-12

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won vacant BBBofC Southern Area Super welterweight title.}}

18

|{{no2}}Loss

|17–1

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Bradley Pryce

|TKO

|7 (12), {{small|2:14}}

|2007-07-14

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|The O2 Arena, Greenwich, London, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For Commonwealth (British Empire) Super welterweight title.}}

17

|{{yes2}}Win

|17–0

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Walter Wright

|{{abbr|SD|Split decision}}

|8

|2007-03-30

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|

16

|{{yes2}}Win

|16–0

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|RUS}} Sergey Starkov

|TKO

|4 (8), {{small|2:16}}

|2007-02-17

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|

15

|{{yes2}}Win

|15–0

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Kevin Phelan

|TKO

|1 (6)

|2006-12-09

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|ExCeL Arena London, London Docklands, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|

14

|{{yes2}}Win

|14–0

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|IRE}} Ciaran Healy

|TKO

|3 (8), {{small|2:55}}

|2006-11-18

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Newport Centre, Newport, Wales}}

|style="text-align:left;"|

13

|{{yes2}}Win

|13–0

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Prince Arron

|TKO

|2 (6), {{small|1:59}}

|2006-10-21

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Elephant & Castle Centre, Southwark, London, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|

12

|{{yes2}}Win

|12–0

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UKR}} Volodymyr Borovskyy

|PTS

|6

|2006-07-21

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Leisure Center, Altrincham, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|

11

|{{yes2}}Win

|11–0

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UKR}} Oleksandr Matviichuk

|TKO

|6 (8), {{small|2:10}}

|2006-05-30

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|

10

|{{yes2}}Win

|10–0

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|FIN}} Kai Kauramaki

|{{abbr|KO|Knockout}}

|3 (6), {{small|0:29}}

|2006-03-24

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|

9

|{{yes2}}Win

|9–0

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Ernie Smith

|PTS

|6

|2005-11-23

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|London Hilton on Park Lane, Mayfair, London, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|

8

|{{yes2}}Win

|8–0

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Ismael Kerzazi

|TKO

|1 (6), {{small|1:53}}

|2005-10-14

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Leisure Center, Huddersfield, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|

7

|{{yes2}}Win

|7–0

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|FRA}} David LeFranc

|TKO

|1 (6), {{small|2:11}}

|2005-07-20

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Monaco}} {{small|Salle des Étoiles, Monte Carlo, Monaco}}

|style="text-align:left;"|

6

|{{yes2}}Win

|6–0

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Howard Clarke

|PTS

|6

|2005-06-16

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Millennium Hotel, Mayfair, London, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|

5

|{{yes2}}Win

|5–0

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|RUS}} Dmitry Donetsky

|PTS

|4

|2005-04-24

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Equinox Nightclub, Leicester, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|

4

|{{yes2}}Win

|4–0

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|BLR}} Andrei Sherel

|TKO

|3 (4), {{small|2:09}}

|2005-01-21

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Fountain Leisure Centre, Brentwood, Essex, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|

3

|{{yes2}}Win

|3–0

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Howard Clarke

|{{abbr|PTS|Points decision}}

|4

|2004-12-10

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Hillsborough Leisure Centre, Sheffield, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|

2

|{{yes2}}Win

|2–0

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Angola}} Emmanuel Marcos

|TKO

|1 (4), {{small|1:08}}

|2004-09-10

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|

1

|{{yes2}}Win

|1–0

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Lance Hall

|{{abbr|TKO|Technical knockout}}

|1 (4), {{small|2:28}}

|2004-05-12

|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Rivermead Leisure Centre, Reading, Berkshire, England}}

|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Professional debut}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{S-start}}

{{Succession box|

before=Ryan Rhodes
vacated|

title=British Light Middleweight Champion|

years= 18 July 2009 – 26 March 2010|

after= Sam Webb|

}}

{{Succession box|

before=Matthew Hall|

title=Commonwealth Light Middleweight Champion|

years= 18 July 2009 –|

after= Craig Watson|

}}

{{S-end}}

{{Al-Muhajiroun}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Small, Anthony}}

Category:1981 births

Category:Living people

Category:Boxers from the London Borough of Lewisham

Category:English Muslims

Category:Converts to Islam

Category:Black British sportsmen

Category:English male boxers

Category:English Islamists

Category:British Salafis

Category:Light-middleweight boxers

Category:People from Lewisham

Category:21st-century English sportsmen