BRITISH lightweight champion Scott Cardle insists he will beat Sean Dodd more convincingly when the pair meet in a rematch for Cardle’s belt on April 2.
Cardle stopped Dodd in the final round of their barnburner back in November, though Dodd had pushed the Scot hard all night.
Cardle was keen to secure the rematch, despite having won the first fight, in order to clarify who the better fighter is.
“Straight after the first fight I mentioned the rematch to Sean Dodd, but the reason Iโve taken the rematch is not for his sake, itโs not to give him another chance,” he told Boxing News.
“Itโs more to do with redeeming myself and exorcising the demons of my last performance.
“Sean Dodd did well, donโt get me wrong, but he still lost to me in my worst performance yet as a professional. The next fight will be a lot different.”
The pair will once again meet at the Echo Arena in Liverpool but Cardle insists the vociferous support for the Merseysider will not distract him this time around.
“I had a good game plan for the fight and I got a reception Iโve never got before, I think that played its part, going into the lionโs den and Iโm not used to it,” he admitted.
“Iโm used to having good support behind me, it was a bit of a shock. But mentally I didnโt think that worried me, once I got in the ring.
“I got caught early on, there were a few things but Iโm not using them as excuses โ itโs all experience. I got through it. I can say Iโve learnt from it.
“I wasnโt too surprised by his performance, I was more surprised about mine. Iโm not expecting much different from him. Heโs probably hungrier now and heโs obviously much more confident, I think he believes it now. Iโm looking forward to it.”
Cardle is of course a part of Joe Gallagher’s excellent stable of fighters and is spurred on by those training around him, including Callum Smith, who tops the bill in April in a world title eliminator.
He has also been keeping a close eye on Scott Quigg, who is finalising his preparation for Carl Frampton on February 27.
“Everyoneโs in the gym now. Weโre coming into the last week of the Quigg-Frampton preparation. Itโs very important for everyone.
“Joeโs been put under a lot of pressure training all the boys but Quiggโs looking the best Iโve ever seen him – I’m very confident he’ll win by knockout.
“A lot of pressure will be taken off of Joeโs shoulders once that fightโs done and then Joe can focus more on the rest of us lads again, weโve all got a big year. Weโre all helping each other to that end result.”