THE BRITISH LIONHEARTS are eager to maintain their unbeaten run in this season of the World Series of Boxing (WSB) as they prepare to host the USA Knockouts at York Hall tomorrow night [March 3].
The Lionhearts have so far won all three of their fixtures – including an away contest against the Knockouts in Miami.
Wales’ European lightweight gold medallist Joe Cordina has experience in the WSB format, and is looking forward to boxing in front of a capacity crowd.
“I’ve had three [WSB] bouts, I’ve lost two. The last one I think was a bad decision, the one before that I just didn’t perform and the first one I won comfortably,” he told Boxing News.
“It’s a bit up and down, I’m not sure what to make of it yet. It’s a fight at the end of the day, we’re all amateurs. It’s not as if I’m boxing Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather, I just go in and do my job.
“It should be really good tomorrow, we’re all quality operators.”
Super-heavyweight Joe Joyce – the Lionhearts’ most experienced WSB operator – boxes in the competition for the first time this season.
“I’m feeling in better shape and I’m looking forward to boxing tomorrow,” he told us.
“I’ve had 14 bouts, 12 wins so I’m a bit of a veteran now. I enjoy it. It suits me because all you’re training for is one fight, it’s only two extra rounds and it gives you a taste of what it’d be like to be a pro, it has all the glitz and glamour.”
Promising flyweight Muhammad Ali burst onto the scene last year and has been tipped for big things. He made his WSB debut against Morocco earlier this year, picking up a win, and after eyeing up his opponent at today’s weigh-in, feels he has a good measure of his man.
“He’s not as big as I thought he was – I’ve seen footage of him and seeing him today, he didn’t look as big as he did in the footage. I think he’ll try to keep it long, use head movement,” he said.
“I won over in Morocco. The pace is a lot slower so you can stay calm and you don’t have to rush. It’s nice to be boxing at home for once, I’ve got a few people coming down. I can’t wait.”
Light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi and WSB debutant Cyrus Pattinson, a welterweight, complete the five-man team.
