That belt is staying in Newcastle.
This was the message from Rob Ismay ahead of his challenge for the vacant English heavyweight title against Solomon Dacres at the Utilita Arena.
The undefeated Whickham fighter has sold hundreds of tickets for the Matchroom show and a number of them were inside Newcastle’s Civic Centre for the media conference, where Ismay believes he chalked up round one after a bullish performance on stage.
“I’m going to knock him out, it’s as simple as that,” predicted the 35-year-old from Nik Gittus’s WBA gym in Wallsend.
Few observers are giving ‘Isy’ much of a chance against the former GB Boxing star, who has won his first five professional fights and is one of a seemingly endless supply of UK heavyweights.
Ismay is no natural heavyweight as the picture above shows, he is conceding height and reach to the 29-year-old from Warley in the West Midlands.
But several things he is not conceding is fire, passion and a meaty punch – his core skills are pretty good too after an amateur career at Birtley ABC and an eight-fight winning run at light-heavy under Neil Fannan at the start of his professional life.
His career took a six and a half year break before returning with three wins in as many years and he’s ready to make his name when many have already hung up their gloves.
“The only reason that you haven’t heard of me is because of what I thought was a career-ending hand injury,” he said.
“The only reason that you haven’t heard of me winning British and Commonwealth titles is because of that.
“My career was on the up, and do you know what? I would have snubbed my nose up at the English title on the way up.
”But obviously I’m not now. I’m 35 and I’m having one last crack at the whip.
“I intend to take it with both hands.
“I’m not giving absolutely anything away about what I’m going to do. We all know what he’s going to do, he’s going to dance.
“He’s going to run. If you don’t run, and you stand in the middle of the ring and meet me then there’s only one outcome. You’ll come out second best.”
It was an entertaining and at times feisty affair on the media conference stage as the two boxers went back and forth verbally.
If the fight is half as good, we are in for a treat with Ismay vowing to hit Dacres “on the button”.
Rob added: “You don’t know who you’re stepping in the ring with kid. You haven’t got a clue.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom
