Middleweight Slink Proper (aka Sona Akale) is back in the ring Saturday, Dec. 9 when he faces Tray Martin at Element Gym in St. Paul.
Proper (8-1) stunned the boxing world in August when he defeated Ali Walsh, Muhammad Ali’s grandson, on ESPN. He told the MSR last week that fighting in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in front of a favorable crowd—for his opponent—was a new experience.
“I was in a place that as soon as I walked into the arena…they didn’t care about me,” recalled Proper, a native of Cameroon, on the Walsh fight. “It was hard…all the people for him and everybody against you.”
He eventually won the fight, and won over the crowd as well. But that was over four months ago.
Martin (3-6) of St. Louis has won two of his last three bouts by knockout.
“I’m excited, eager to get back in the ring,” stated Proper.
Coach Q Promotions is promoting Saturday’s eight-fight card, featuring local fighters: middleweight Leo Medel, 8-0 (Apple Valley) versus Andre Byrd, 10-14-2 (Jacksonville, Florida) and light heavyweight Corey Thompson, 4-2 (Sauk Center) versus Wayman Carter, 4-7-1 (Topeka KS), along with the scheduled six-round Proper-Martin main event.
“Slink earned a lot of respect last summer for his victory,” said trainer Quincy Caldwell, who owns and operates Coach Q Promotions. “But in boxing it’s all about what have you done lately. Slink has a chance on this card to prove he’s ready to be scheduled regularly for boxing primetime.”
Proper invites everyone to come to St. Paul Saturday night “if you’re in the Twin Cities area or anywhere in the United States. There will be some fireworks.”
Saturday’s fight card is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Central time. Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at www.QFights.com.