Following a challenging year, Sam Gilley is shifting his focus to the middleweight division as he prepares to face Aston Brown in Glasgow. Gilley, a former Commonwealth champion, is looking to put his recent setbacks behind him, including a draw with Gideon Onyenani and a unanimous decision loss to Ishmael Davis in his bid for the British super-welterweight title. Despite the disappointments, Gilley remains optimistic and determined, attributing his losses to a 'rubbish year' that has taught him valuable lessons about his character and the sport. He still harbors ambitions of winning the Lonsdale belt, which he once believed he could win after watching Ricky Hatton's victory over Jon Thaxton.
Gilley's desire to claim the British title remains strong, and he would be grateful for another opportunity to fight for it. However, one fight he is not interested in pursuing is a rematch against Louis Greene, with whom he has a sour relationship after their previously scheduled rematches fell through. Gilley feels that Greene wasted two years of his career and is unwilling to give him another chance.
Instead, he is focusing on his upcoming fight against Brown, a former international amateur with impressive punching power in the professional circuit. Gilley is confident in his abilities and is eager to test Brown's toughness in the professional sport, believing that his own engine and resilience will give him an edge in the fight.