Josh Wale - I can stop Marsh

[Wake up call]

By Andrew Wake: Barnsley’s barnstorming Josh Wale not only feels he will emerge victorious when he tackles former British champion Matt Marsh for the English super-bantamweight crown at York Hall, Bethnal Green this Friday (18 September), he also feels that can put the West Ham man away within the distance.

The 21-year-old, who currently holds the Central Area crown at 8st 10Ibs, stated: “I don’t want to sound like a big headed lad because I’m not, but I know I’m gonna win and reckon I’ll knock him out if I get to him. It’ll be a good statement to do an ex British champion.

“He [Marsh] is a very good opponent to box for the English title. He’s not much of a puncher but he’s got decent skills. He’s only lost once and that was in a world title fight to Derry Matthews. He seems a good kid and he’s the best I’ll have boxed as a professional, but I think I’ll rise to the occasion and do him.

“I can’t wait [to fight]. To box for a national title at 21 years of age is brilliant. I’m not going down to London for a day out, I’m going down to do the business on him and bring the title back.”

Wale, a relentless pressure fighter, had scored an impressive run of seven wins without defeat until his attacking attitude cost him against Rugby-based South African Harry Ramogoadi last year.

The Yorkshire man won every round, but was caught several times coming in and was retired by his corner after three completed sessions due to badly swollen right optic. Despite this Wale has no intentions of altering his thrill-a-second technique.

“I won’t change my style for nowt,” he said. “I think everyone knows what they are gonna get from me. I can box when I want to, but being aggressive and going forward is what I’m good at so that’s what I’ll be doing.

“Losing to Ramogoadi was just one of those things that happens in boxing. I mean, I was absolutely devastated at the time, I thought it was the baddest day of my life. But obviously he was a lot heavier than me so he could tie me up a bit more than a super-bantamweight could, but I still won every round so it didn’t bother me too much.”

The loss to Ramogoadi has painted a distorted picture of the young Barnsley native’s promise, but he believes in some ways that is a good thing.

“People that were there saw that I won every round, but if you didn’t see it and went on Boxrec and you saw a loss by retirement in three [rounds] you’d think ‘oh, what’s gone on there’.

“It’s took the pressure off me a little bit because everyone was ranting and raving about me and saying was I was hot prospect and this and that. It sort of died down after that, but that’s been good because I can just stick to what I do best and show what I can on the 18th.”

If successful this week, Wale, who had previously held his own in sparring sessions with European champion Rendall Munroe, doesn’t want to wait around for long and has set his sights on winning the coveted Lonsdale belt.

“It’d be brilliant to box Jason Booth. I really rate him and I think he’d bring the best out of me because he’s a good, classy opponent. But we’ll see how it goes with Marsh. My eyes are focused on that, but once it’s out of the way I’ll concentrate on the British title.”

He added: “I’m willing to box anybody because you’ve gotta do if you wanna get to the top. Too many people want to be fed puddings all the time.”

http://www.secondsout.com/columns/andre ... -marsh-out

[JamesH]

Looking forward to this one, i like both fighters here. Hope Wale can do it though as I thought he was unlucky with the cut against Ramogoadi.

Josh must have been one of the first departures from Hayemaker I think...

[DavidPayne]

What happened to his older brother?

[standing8]

Go on Josh!!!!!!!!!!

[antony]

yeah! was unlucky against Ramogoadi, looked like the eye injury that rogan had vs sexton,
was never really hurt but too bad an injury to continue!
'come on josh you've got the tarn behind you lad'!

[JamesH]

Thats right.. if i remember correctly wale had been slated to fight marc callaghan and Ramogoadi was a late stand in.

[Wake up call]

What happened to his older brother?

Quit boxing and now works a full-time job. Josh told me what he did a while ago but my mind has gone blank.