Exclusive: Levi Giles Aims to Make History by Headlining Fight at Grimsby's Blundell Park

Levi Giles wants to put a smile back on Grimsby’s face by staging a fight at Blundell Park.

Three months after proving his quality by drawing with former Olympian and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Qais Ashfaq, the 28-year-old returns to the ring later this month on a show in Newark.

But Giles, whose latest opponent is yet to be officially confirmed, is dreaming of one day headlining an event at his home town’s football stadium in order to help raise its profile.

“I’d love to do something there eventually,” Giles revealed during an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.com. 

“That would be the dream."

“Grimsby means everything to me. I’m born and bred there, it’s where I’m from and I’m immensely proud to be able to say that."

“It’s at the end of the pier, it’s an end of the road place and so it doesn’t always get the help, support or recognition it deserves."

"But that doesn’t mean to say that we shouldn’t be proud of it. I know I am and that’s why, as well as myself, I always represent Grimsby whenever I’m out there. I think that’s really important."

“I put in the hard work but I’m putting it in for Grimsby too. I want to put it on the map for boxing as well as for football because there’s lots of really good up-and-coming talent around here.”

“First, let me win these ones I’ve got coming up, let me win these really big fights and then we can definitely try and look at doing something there,” he continued. 

“It would be a brilliant night and I’m sure it would really put a smile on the faces of a lot of people where I’m from."

“If we can, and it did, then I’d be a really happy man. And a proud one too, because of what I think of Grimsby.”

Despite operating in high-calibre company for the majority of his career so far, Giles entered his bout against Ashfaq as the underdog given the Leeds man’s amateur pedigree. 

Many people who witnessed their encounter, at Sheffield’s Canon Medical Arena, felt Giles’ growth in stature towards the end of the contest should have been enough to see him get the verdict. 

But with referee Steve Gray scoring the bout 95-95, the pair could be set to meet again in the not-so-distant future.

Giles (15-2-1) had been making his first appearance since losing to Reece Bellotti at the Copper Box, east London, in July. 

Bellotti also successfully defended his titles against Michael Gomez Jr - the only other person to beat Giles as a professional - in Manchester last month. 

TOO GOOD, TOO SLICK

Speaking before that clash, Giles, whose appearance at the Lady Eastwood Pavillion is scheduled to take place on March 22nd, had correctly predicted that Bellotti would be “too good, too slick” for the Mancunian.

“I’ve never dodged a name in boxing,” said Giles. 

“That’s why I took the fight against Qais, because coming off a loss for the British and Commonwealth titles it made perfect sense."

“I think there’s more respect now for people who are willing to go in there against anyone rather than just pick and choose to improve their record."

"You’re getting more 50/50 fights now and that’s something that’s been needed, rather than just having one right at the top of the card.”

“I believe you’ve always got to test yourself,” he added. 

“In boxing, you are always learning inside and outside of the ring. With Bellotti, I learned more in that fight than all the others."

“I’ll show what I picked up and mentally and physically I’m in a great place. The best place I’ve ever been.”