Your fight on Saturday, against Dixon Flores, is an important one isnโt it?
Of course, theyโre all important. Itโs an eliminator so obviously itโll push me right up there and hopefully itโll bring me the champion to fight here.
Is the champion Kohei Kono? Have you watched much of him?
I watched that fight against [Koki] Kameda in Chicago. I watched that the night before my last fight. Heโs very tough, he likes to work at a good pace. But then again I feel Iโve got all the tools to beat him. Fights like Saturdayโs, this gives me good experience. A step up really.
What do think of Dixon Flores?
He seems very game. He seems very jumpy. Heโs a bit in and out. He seems like heโll be a bit awkward early on. But Iโve seen that he fades in fights and he fades after four or five rounds. I donโt think that bodes well for him.
He doesnโt have that many stoppages, do you feel youโll have the edge in power?
I can see that but then again I know Iโve got more power than a lot of super-flyweights as well. I know thatโs one of my advantages. But he does look like as heโs maturing, heโs getting a few stoppages. I think heโs stopped his last four out of five [wins]. I donโt think he stopped anyone before then. Heโs starting to put them together a bit. But when he stepped up, and he stepped up against [Carlos] Cuadras, whoโs the WBC champion, I know heโs a different level, after the first round it kind of went downhill for him and he was stopped in five, although he did come back and stop someone who was 16-0, 13 knockouts [Jose Perez]. But I donโt know how he built that record because he was pretty rubbish to be fair.
It sounds like youโve watched a lot of his fights.
Iโve looked at his fights, looked at his record. We have one common opponent. He boxed the guy that I boxed in Leeds in September [Aron Juarez]. He boxed him about two years ago. He beat him on a majority decision where I put him away in a round. But itโs different, styles make fights and he does seem like an improved fighter. I just feel like I should too much for him in every department.
Do you feel under pressure?
Iโm always relaxed but I do know Iโve got to do a job on this kid. If I donโt then it throws everything out the window. I should be beating these kind of kids, I should be beating them well. If I really struggled with him, or got beat or drew with himโฆ I want to be a world champion and a big name in this sport, I donโt think that would be possible if I canโt beat kids like this. Thatโs a bit of the pressure. Everyone expects you to beat these kind of kids. The casual boxing fan or anyone in boxing, will say Yafai should knock him out. I think everyone expects me to stop him. Even all the bookies expect me to stop him. But obviously itโs boxing, anything can happen. Thereโs certainly pressure. I kind of take that pressure into my stride. Iโm confident. Confident in my ability and Iโm confident in all the training Iโve done.
Do you feel like you could be fighting for the world title by the end of 2016?
Yes, if I can do that it would be brilliant. I need to be fighting for a world title if itโs not this year, itโs got to be very, very early next year.
Would you mind going over to Japan?
Obviously Iโd prefer it to be at home. The only way I could see me going to Japan was if I got a load of money that I couldnโt turn down. It wouldnโt be bad. Iโll see what happens but Iโve got to get this guy out the way first and do a job on him so all eyes on this kid on Saturday.
I know that this kid could be a bit awkward early on. After three or four rounds Iโll take over. Thatโs if I donโt catch him early and put him away early. Iโll be looking to take my time and use my boxing early on.
How pleased were you with your performance against Jason Cunningham [pictured above] last time out?
It was good. I had a bit of fun in that to be fair. It wasnโt a gruelling 12 rounds, never took much out of me. To be honest I was surprised he stayed in there for so long. I actually thought his corner would pull him out or the ref would just say Iโve had enough of watching this now. But he stuck in there. He was very negative. But I could see straight away, as soon as I caught him clean it was like โI donโt want to get hit by that againโ and he kind of went into his shell and tried to survive and he done well doing that.
Itโs a bit of everything, timing, distance, moving my feet in and out. Just controlling the distance I think was the main thing, just getting out the way that little bit, just to make him miss and being in a position to counter him. I think everyone thinks that Iโm just going to go in there and try to push someone back but I can box. Iโve got very long arms for a small guy.
Iโve had two 12-rounders now. Theyโve both done me really well. I think theyโve prepared me well for upcoming fights like Saturday.
How satisfying was it to win the British title?
It was good. It was nice to win it. Another title in the bag, itโs a prestigious title as well so I was really happy to win that.