MIKE Tyler Christopher – the fighter who swapped Bermuda’s powder beaches for Birmingham – is proving too good for his own good.
Last time out, in March, the light-middle dropped Jordan Grannum – possibly the best journeyman in the business – twice on the way to a landslide win.
That’s a near impossible achievement: Grannum has hardly ever taken a tumble.
The performance has made good fighters wary and meaningful bouts a lot harder to get.
The fact that Christopher isn’t a major ticket seller hasn’t helped his cause, either.
Progress has been slow – only one outing in 2024, two in 2023.
With 10 straight wins, the 29-year-old is ready for a breakthrough test.
While he waits for opportunity to knock, Christopher stays sharp with a four-rounder on Jon Pegg’s “Jingle Brawls” bill at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham Airport, this Sunday afternoon.
It’s no four-round walk in the park for the Caribbean craftsman. Opponent Jensen Irving, from Swindon, is much better than his patchy record suggests and has only been stopped once in a 38-bout career.
In August, Jensen travelled to Birmingham and outpointed previously unbeaten Zain Ali. Christopher needs to stay focused.
“I’m looking for the stoppage,” Christopher told me. “I’m hoping Irving comes to fight, I’m told he comes to fight. When people come to fight me things go badly wrong for them.”
Christopher is good, with a style as smooth as butter and power as potent as his native island’s most famous cocktail, rum swizzle.
Exactly how good will be revealed when he faces men with winning records.
Christopher was, he informs me, slated to face former British title challenger Mason Cartwright in September, but a brain scan issue – now resolved – scuppered the scrap.
Pity, because that would’ve told fans a lot more about the Bermudian.
“Next year, that has to be the step-up because I’m past the apprenticeship stage,” Christopher said.
“Titles are not on my radar, except for British and European. Not the English or Midlands because I’m not from England.
“I’m improving. Every fight, I get more comfortable with what I’m capable of doing, I think I’m turning into a boxer-puncher.
“I thought 2025 was going to be a big year for me, but God has a different plan for me than I have.
“I do know this is boxing and things fall apart, but I’m staying in the gym, staying positive.”
Christopher aims to become a big name in Britain and Bermuda.
His list of sponsors are evidence of his international appeal: WOI (Bermuda), Flower Wall party planners (Bermuda), Tikur organic farm (Ghana), Mellow’s catering (Birmingham).
A major title victory here would make him a champion. In Bermuda – starved of ring success – it would make him a hero.
