PLYMOUTH cruiserweight, Courtney Richards, is ready to avenge his defeat by Henry Smith when the pair lock horns for an International Masters cruiserweight title in Torquay next month.
Bristolian Smith won an entertaining four-round contest when the pair met in March but Richards has issued a stark warning to his opponent claiming he is a different fighter this time around.
The 21-year-old took the first encounter at three days notice but now, with a full camp behind him, Richards is convinced he will be too strong, too powerful and too good for his 35 year-old opponent when the pair meet at the Riviera Centre on Saturday, 13th September.
“I’ve been in with Henry before and people enjoyed the fight,” he told www.uko-boxing.com. “I know for a fact that Henry didn’t enjoy it though.
“I went into that fight with three days notice and was told to make a certain weight. I had to lose 10lbs for that fight and Henry weighed in on the day over half a stone heavier than me. I was so lethargic and sapped of energy so he won on points because I just couldn’t pull the shots out of the bag.
“I’m not making excuses, I accepted the fight so it was my fault. I learnt from that though and now I make sure I’m in decent shape all year round. For this fight, I feel the best I’ve felt.
“Training has gone perfect. I couldn’t have asked for a better camp. In the build up to my last fight (a Bronze Masters Title win over Lee Kellett at the Riviera Centre) I had an eight week camp and the fight was over in a round, so I wasn’t fatigued and in need of a rest before the next camp started.
“I was back in the gym within a week, keeping the weight off and training hard. I’ve been bang on the weight since the fight, so I am so comfortable and fit at my weight.
“That’s down to my coach Carl Robson and my strength & conditioning trainer, Ben Hardie.
“I’m ready to go; I’m ready to blow Henry out of the water and claim a second title.”
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