I think Muhammad Waseem is tough. I was maybe a little bit disappointed that this was the most lucrative, most viable fight for me to take. For me thereโs other exciting fights out there. I was holding out for a fight with Julio Cesar Martinez that fell by the wayside.
But I had the back-up plan. The day we found out about Martinez and Chocolatito fighting I think the next day we announced my fight because it was all pre-agreed. Iโm liking to think Iโm getting to a point where Iโm knowing how to navigate this boxing world a little bit better.
Over 12 rounds I feel like every fight goes the same way. By the second round theyโre putting a lot of effort into it, the third round Iโve got their rhythm and for the next nine rounds I punch their head in. Thatโs what I think is going to happen with Waseem. But I donโt think heโs going to make it the whole 12 and this is the first time Iโve ever said that as a pro. Iโve never said Iโm going to stop anyone. I might not because he is genuinely quite tough, he put Moruti Mthalane down, he went the distance with Moruti, someone who hits harder than I do. But Iโve just got a youth and an exuberance and a rhythm to my work that I think is too much against someone like Waseem. Bear in mind weโve sparred rounds before, I punched his head in in a 14-foot ring with a metal bar headguard in front of his face, with 14-ounce gloves on. He canโt hit me. He struggled to hit me and I hit him at free will.
It doesnโt matter what heโs going to try and do. Iโm going to batter him, Iโm going to make him look silly. Iโm going to make a joke of him. Iโm going to showboat, make it flashy, Iโm going to goad him. Iโm going to hurt him, Iโm going to bust him up. Iโm not focusing on what heโs going to do. For me, he doesnโt deserve to be in the ring with me. The last thing he did that impressed me in a boxing ring was when he put Moruti down in the 11th round. Since then heโs had close fights against D or E level opponents, if that. Heโs the other end of the spectrum from me.
But obviously weโve got to find out. Iโm going to come out and Iโm going to show him Iโm levels above him. But I still have to do that.
The stakes are high. This is something Iโve worked my whole life to gain. Do you think Iโm going to give it up?ย
I was always asking for the best fights. If youโre as good as you think you are, and youโve got a good ย team around you, and you prepare, youโll be able to beat everyone or at least think you can.
As soon as someone mentioned my name I was ready to go there and then. Any name Iโve ever mentioned Iโm ready to go there and then. Iโve never said anything related to boxing that I wasnโt ready to stand on in my whole entire life and that includes flying out to San Diego on 24 hoursโ notice to fight Romรกn Gonzรกlez. I would have gone. I donโt say things I donโt mean.
I might just be completely deluded. But trust me in my head, I believe it.
Every step I take is vital. Because the fall-off at this point is way too far. The fall-offโs way too far.
Ideally I get a fight like a Martinez next and have a wicked little belt collection that would probably give me British fighter of the year. Because, I canโt lie, I want to win that so bad. I got nominated this time, and that was nice. Josh Taylor was a very deserved winner. Beating Waseem thatโs not going to move the needle too much but if I beat a Martinez at the back end of the year, after the year I had last year, after already being top threeโฆ I could get there. I could push for pound-for-pound in Britain.