NEW WEIGHT TEST FOR TAKALOO
Posted: 23 Feb 2006, 10:06
MARGATE’S former two-time WBU light-middleweight champion Takaloo gets his 2006 campaign under way on Saturday on the undercard of the big British heavyweight clash between Danny Williams and Matt Skelton.
Takaloo makes his debut at welterweight in a clash for the WBU International Welterweight title, over 12 rounds, against German champion Turgay Uzun at the ExCel Centre in London’s Docklands.
The 30 year old will step between the ropes for what will be only his second fight since September 2004.
After a frustrating 2005, in which he only fought once – a routine points win over Brixton’s durable Delroy Mellis in Edinburgh in July – the Margate mauler is looking to make up for lost time and put himself firmly in the shop window as a viable contender for newly-crowned British champion Young Muttley.
Talking on Thursday, Takaloo said he was raring to go and finalising his preparations for his first step into the lower division.
He said: “Sparring’s been going great. I’ve been feeling very sharp and put in some good work with young prospect George Hillyard and Ruben Groenwald, who recently boxed for the British super-middleweight title.”
Takaloo was added to the big London bill after Ross Minter, son of former world middleweight champion, Alan, pulled out of the proposed clash for the EBU/EU title against Uzun.
Takaloo was initially told the fight would then be for the vacant WBA International title, only to be told it was then for the WBU version instead – a swirling alphabet soup which has left Takaloo complexed.
He said: “EBU/EU, WBA, WBU… I don’t know W.H.A.T is going on to be honest, but I don’t care. It’d be nice to have a WBA belt sitting on the mantelpiece but it doesn’t really matter – the money’s the same so I’m just concentrating on looking good against Uzun and then seeing who will have the guts to take me on.
“I’ve been kind of left in the lurch recently and I get the feeling Sports Network, my promoters, are keeping me away from their young fighters like Muttley and former British champion Michael Jennings.
“I think they know that these guys aren’t ready for me yet. Well if that’s the case, let me move ahead and get a fight for a bigger title.”
When asked whether losing the seven pounds it takes to get to 147lb will have an adverse affect on his performance, Takaloo said.
“I was meant to box Eamonn Magee for the WBU welterweight title in December. The fight was called off but I expected to be on the bill so I made the weight anyway, and did it comfortably.
“It’s like starting a job in a new office. At first you don’t know where the photocopier or other departments are but you soon learn.
“Same with going down to welter. I found out what foods I needed to eat to help me lose the weight but at the same time, help me maintain my strength. I cut out all the rubbish in my diet and drink more water and I lost weight gradually.
“My ideal walking around weight is 11st 1lb. I got on the scales the other day and was 10st 5lb so if anything I think I could get down to light-welter and still be strong, but at welter I know I’ll still be as strong as an ox.”
When asked his prediction for the main event, Takaloo said he felt Williams should win, as long as he has prepared properly.
Meanwhile, Takaloo has his own battle to win and against his 31-year-old opponent from Koblenz, and even with just one fight in the last year and half, should be in good enough shape to wear Uzun down with solid bodyshots and stop him somewhere between the third and fourth rounds. The fight will be shown on ITV4 from 11.20pm.
Takaloo makes his debut at welterweight in a clash for the WBU International Welterweight title, over 12 rounds, against German champion Turgay Uzun at the ExCel Centre in London’s Docklands.
The 30 year old will step between the ropes for what will be only his second fight since September 2004.
After a frustrating 2005, in which he only fought once – a routine points win over Brixton’s durable Delroy Mellis in Edinburgh in July – the Margate mauler is looking to make up for lost time and put himself firmly in the shop window as a viable contender for newly-crowned British champion Young Muttley.
Talking on Thursday, Takaloo said he was raring to go and finalising his preparations for his first step into the lower division.
He said: “Sparring’s been going great. I’ve been feeling very sharp and put in some good work with young prospect George Hillyard and Ruben Groenwald, who recently boxed for the British super-middleweight title.”
Takaloo was added to the big London bill after Ross Minter, son of former world middleweight champion, Alan, pulled out of the proposed clash for the EBU/EU title against Uzun.
Takaloo was initially told the fight would then be for the vacant WBA International title, only to be told it was then for the WBU version instead – a swirling alphabet soup which has left Takaloo complexed.
He said: “EBU/EU, WBA, WBU… I don’t know W.H.A.T is going on to be honest, but I don’t care. It’d be nice to have a WBA belt sitting on the mantelpiece but it doesn’t really matter – the money’s the same so I’m just concentrating on looking good against Uzun and then seeing who will have the guts to take me on.
“I’ve been kind of left in the lurch recently and I get the feeling Sports Network, my promoters, are keeping me away from their young fighters like Muttley and former British champion Michael Jennings.
“I think they know that these guys aren’t ready for me yet. Well if that’s the case, let me move ahead and get a fight for a bigger title.”
When asked whether losing the seven pounds it takes to get to 147lb will have an adverse affect on his performance, Takaloo said.
“I was meant to box Eamonn Magee for the WBU welterweight title in December. The fight was called off but I expected to be on the bill so I made the weight anyway, and did it comfortably.
“It’s like starting a job in a new office. At first you don’t know where the photocopier or other departments are but you soon learn.
“Same with going down to welter. I found out what foods I needed to eat to help me lose the weight but at the same time, help me maintain my strength. I cut out all the rubbish in my diet and drink more water and I lost weight gradually.
“My ideal walking around weight is 11st 1lb. I got on the scales the other day and was 10st 5lb so if anything I think I could get down to light-welter and still be strong, but at welter I know I’ll still be as strong as an ox.”
When asked his prediction for the main event, Takaloo said he felt Williams should win, as long as he has prepared properly.
Meanwhile, Takaloo has his own battle to win and against his 31-year-old opponent from Koblenz, and even with just one fight in the last year and half, should be in good enough shape to wear Uzun down with solid bodyshots and stop him somewhere between the third and fourth rounds. The fight will be shown on ITV4 from 11.20pm.
Maybe Frank forgot who he had lent the belt to that weekend (allegedly)