LOOKING DAPA FOR NAPA

[FtmPress]

LOOKING DAPA FOR NAPA

IAN 'DAPA' NAPA has vowed to finally fulfil his potential when he challenges Carmelo Ballone for the European bantamweight title at York Hall, Bethnal Green on October 17.

It will be the Hackney man's second crack at the European 118lb crown. Napa, 30, was previously outpointed by Italian Simone Maludrottu in March 2007.

Since that setback Napa (17-6) has captured the British crown and looks unstoppable in his bid to reach the very top.

Trainer Brian Lawrence has dubbed him Britain's answer to Floyd Mayweather Jnr, and Napa promised: "I will win this title.

"Early in my career there were other things in my life that were distractions. Now my life is 90 per-cent about boxing, and that dedication is paying off."

Many pundits believe Napa wasn't ready for the professional game when he turned over just a few months after his 20th birthday in 1998.

But since winning the domestic title, outpointing Jason Booth three months ago he has romped through defences against Lee Haskins, Martin Power and Colin Moffett.

Napa said: "I am now fulfilling the promise expected of me when I turned professional all those years ago.

"People say I should have stayed amateur for the 2000 Olympics and tried to win a major championship, but it is not always that simple.

"Even if I had won an Olympic medal it is no guarantee of professional success. Look at Audley Harrison and Amir Khan.

"I've grown up and my attitude is completely different.."

Ballone, 32, will be making his second defence of the crown he won last December when he knocked out Eugen Sorin Tanasie in the eighth round.

Ballone (21-2-1) also came unstuck against quality operator Maludrottu losing a controversial points decision almost three years ago.

Also on the bill at the spiritual home of British boxing will be Londoner Ajose Olusegun who has leapt to number three in the WBC light-welterweight rankings.

Promoter Frank Maloney also has high hopes for undefeated Harrow featherweight Akaash Bhatia. 'Kash the Bash' bids for win number 13 on the big FTM card.

Tickets for 'Dapa Napa!'can be obtained from www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the box office 0871 226 1508.

[Chambers2]

I can't fault Ian Napa, he's going on from strength to strength and I expect him to win this Euor title (despite never seeing or hearing of his oppo ) Napa's great to watch (unless you just like KO's), he's like Jame Toneys Mini-Me

[Chambers2]

Anyone know what the T stands for in FTM?

[johnswan1]

Britains answer to Floyd Mayweather? Is British boxing that bad? Good luck to Napa - he has had an amazing run and winning a European title would be a fantastic achievement, but to refer to him as Britains answer to Mayweather is embarassing and stupid, and I'm not even British.

[Rocky Balboa]

Napa hardly ever gets the credit he deserves when people talk about British boxing. Amir Khan should get Napa in for sparring - Ian could teach him a thing or two about keeping your chin down, hands up, etc.

I wish nothing but the best for Ian. Seems like a really nice guy. Very slick fighter I might add.

[TerribleTerry]

A great little fighter.

A pleasure to watch.

[Ted]

Anyone know what the T stands for in FTM?

Timothy.

[BigEars]

I can't fault Ian Napa, he's going on from strength to strength and I expect him to win this Euor title (despite never seeing or hearing of his oppo ) Napa's great to watch (unless you just like KO's), he's like Jame Toneys Mini-Me

Napa's much better to watch than Toney, a great little fighter and if only he had a little more pop who knows.
This guy should be pretty tough, only losing a close split to Maludrottu in Italy and with wins over Pozo, Patrac and Tanasie he has proven himself at European level. I really hope Napa can do it but judging from the records he would be pulling off a bit of a shock if he did. Does anyone know how tall Ballone is ?, that could be a significant issue.

Damaen Kelly has been thinking about a rematch recently, I think if Napa were to win he'd go ahead with that.

[Gray-Fox]

Britains answer to Floyd Mayweather? Is British boxing that bad? Good luck to Napa - he has had an amazing run and winning a European title would be a fantastic achievement, but to refer to him as Britains answer to Mayweather is embarassing and stupid, and I'm not even British.

Ian Napa is the most skilled active professional in Britain in my opinion. There's someone who has never had it easy...but he is a talent.

[johnswan1]

Britains answer to Floyd Mayweather? Is British boxing that bad? Good luck to Napa - he has had an amazing run and winning a European title would be a fantastic achievement, but to refer to him as Britains answer to Mayweather is embarassing and stupid, and I'm not even British.

Ian Napa is the most skilled active professional in Britain in my opinion. There's someone who has never had it easy...but he is a talent.

I didn't say he was shite but he is not and will never be anywhere near the same league as Mayweather. He will not even be remembered as one of the very good British fighters. He's "a good little fighter" but that's as far as it goes. If he wins a European title then he has a fantastic story to tell, but I can't see him making much of an impression at world level, but if he challenged at that level of course I'd support him, despite thinking he would be far out of his depth.

[Gray-Fox]

Britains answer to Floyd Mayweather? Is British boxing that bad? Good luck to Napa - he has had an amazing run and winning a European title would be a fantastic achievement, but to refer to him as Britains answer to Mayweather is embarassing and stupid, and I'm not even British.

Ian Napa is the most skilled active professional in Britain in my opinion. There's someone who has never had it easy...but he is a talent.

I didn't say he was shite but he is not and will never be anywhere near the same league as Mayweather. He will not even be remembered as one of the very good British fighters. He's "a good little fighter" but that's as far as it goes. If he wins a European title then he has a fantastic story to tell, but I can't see him making much of an impression at world level, but if he challenged at that level of course I'd support him, despite thinking he would be far out of his depth.

I certainly did not say he was in Mayweather's league. The biggest physical difference (proportionally) between the two is that PBF has pop in his shots.

The only reason he would be out of his depth at world level would be because he hasn't got (or never has had) the perfect team around him to succeed at that level. Skills wise, he's got it.

[BigEars]

Ian Napa is the most skilled active professional in Britain in my opinion. There's someone who has never had it easy...but he is a talent.

I didn't say he was shite but he is not and will never be anywhere near the same league as Mayweather. He will not even be remembered as one of the very good British fighters. He's "a good little fighter" but that's as far as it goes. If he wins a European title then he has a fantastic story to tell, but I can't see him making much of an impression at world level, but if he challenged at that level of course I'd support him, despite thinking he would be far out of his depth.

I certainly did not say he was in Mayweather's league. The biggest physical difference (proportionally) between the two is that PBF has pop in his shots.

The only reason he would be out of his depth at world level would be because he hasn't got (or never has had) the perfect team around him to succeed at that level. Skills wise, he's got it.

I dunno, going back to Damaen Kelly he did box rings around Napa for 10 rounds(winning a shutout for me) even if the ref had it bizarely close, and Kelly never won a World title. Though he possibly should have.

What I'm saying though is while Napa may be extremely slick and skillfull at British level, World level is something entirely different and fighters will more than match him for speed and beat him with size, strength, power and in the case of someone like kelly, maybe even timing.

However even though he'd fall quite short at World level for me, he may still be good enough to take that European title and I really hope he is, because he's a fantastic little pro.