Whatโs your mood like ahead of the fight?
Iโm excited. Iโve worked very, very hard for this fight. Iโm in a good place mentally and physically. All I have to do now is just peform which I always do.
My first pro fight in the Echo arena, itโs going to be amazing. I reckon the atmosphereโs going to unbelievable. Iโm going to listen to my coach. Iโm going to keep my shape, work my jab, keep my cool.
Keep level headed and do what Iโm told.
Youโve been known in your amateur days to wade into a tear up when you didnโt need to.
Iโve learned my lesson. I was over training and I had three rounds to make an impression. Now the six round format suits my style a bit more. With these little gloves, when Iโm hitting them, theyโre feeling the shots. I just feel Iโve improved as a whole under Dave Coldwell.
I made a lot of mistakes in the amateurs, Iโm trying my best to correct them.
I was doing a lot of things wrong that I thought was right. Iโve always worked extremely hard, now Iโm training a lot cleverer. Iโm doing a lot one on one with Dave. I want to show my improvement, that Iโm a different fighter to what I was in the amateurs. Thatโs important to me.
Danny [Wilson] has got me so much more explosive and powerful. Iโm moving faster. Iโm fighting at 11st now, whereas in the amateurs I was fighting 12st. Iโm fighting at a lighter weight now.
In the amateurs you were having to fight bigger guys.
They were all six foot, six foot one, Iโm only 5โ 11โ. They were naturally bigger men. They were coming down from 12ยฝst, Iโm 11ยฝst. They were bigger than me. Now Iโm fighting people my own size.
What do you think of Jay Byrne as the opponent in just your third fight?
People keep saying heโs tough. Iโve travelled the world fighting tough, tough, elite fighters, the best in their country for years. I donโt want a walk in the park.
I want people like Jay Byrne who come, they show a bit of ambition. Heโs going to feel the strength behind my jab, the snap in my shots.
Heโs boxed Felix Cash, heโs boxed Josh Kellyโฆ Iโm known for hurting people. Heโs probably taking confidence from Kelly and Cash didnโt [hurt him]. I think Iโm a lot more powerful than they are.
Would it be nice to put on a better display against him than Josh Kelly did?
Of course, obviously Josh is a friend but every fight I go into now I want to perform. I want people talking about me.
Iโm taking this very, very seriously because this is professional boxing. Iโve trained six days a week, Iโm doing everything Iโm told. I want the reward on fight night.