Born and bred in Bethnal Green, boxer Harvey Horn knows just how special York Hall is.
And the light flyweight is hopeful the British Lionhearts can draw in the crowd as they bid to improve on last year’s final defeat this time around.
Horn helped British Lionhearts make it all the way to last year’s World Series final, where they lost 5-0 to Cuba.
And as the 21-year-old waits for his first outing of the new 2017 season he has watched his teammates open up with defeat to Italia Thunder last month only to bounce back with victory over France Fighting Roosters.
Both those clashes were away but Wednesday will see the British Lionhearts take on Morocca Atlas Lions at York Hall in Horn’s home of Bethnal Green.
And while Horn won’t be donning the gloves this time around, he knows how special the venue will be for his teammates that are competing.
“You can’t explain it until you’ve actually been there to York Hall,” he said.” I’ve been there as a fan and as a boxer, on the British Lionhearts shows as a home boxer.
“In my opinion the southern fans are the best, you get a brilliant reception, it is great to win in front of your fans and maybe I didn’t get that first win in front of them, but they definitely got me through it.
“You can’t explain it until you’ve been there, so it’s definitely one to watch.
“To anyone who hasn’t been to York Hall already to watch the Lionhearts fight then definitely get yourself down there.
“It’s a cheap night out for a start, and it’s an atmosphere like nothing else, you can’t explain it until you’ve actually been there, and it’s good to support your own boys!
“Fighting for the British Lionhearts, in front of our own fans, in my own back yard, is a feeling like no other.
“It’s great to watch, too, I’ve been there as a fan, but when you’re boxing in front of your own crowd, my neighbours, it’s brilliant and they get me through it, they make me want to be better and make sure that in my head I know I’m not going to lose.
“After the weigh in, normally, if I’m on the squad I take the boys to the Repton Boxing Club, which is only five minutes from York Hall.
“And I take them up Bethnal Green High Street, it’s not so much a ritual, but we have a little bit of sightseeing.”
Although he is still waiting for his bow this season, Horn has impressed for the British Lionhearts over the two previous campaigns.
His World Series record currently stands at three wins and one loss and he is itching to continue that,
“I’ve had four fights overall, over two seasons,” he added. “I’ve won three and lost one. I lost my first ever one against Mexico, when I think I was 18, so a couple of years ago now.
“Then I’ve won my next three against America, Algeria and Ukraine, so I’m not doing too bad.
“The British Lionhearts are fantastic, it’s all the boys on the GB squad and last year we actually got to the finals of the entire competition, so that was really good going from us.
“The competition is brilliant, as well, we get to visit all these other countries, get to box in our back yard, which is great because we never really get to box at home, so it’s a brilliant competition.”
See the British Lionhearts in action in London, March/April 2017.
Tickets just £20 at sky.com/tickets.
