Boxing News

MJ) Kieran, firstly congratulations on a terrific performance in winning the Central Area title. Did the fight go according to plan ?

KF) Thanks. Yeah it went almost to plan, we knew he was going to be really strong early. I was watching a Brandon Rios fight in the build-up and thought I’d wear him down like Rios did against Miguel Acosta. I was surprised I got him so early, I thought it’d be in the eighth or ninth round.

MJ) His record showed he wasn’t a puncher but Joe Elfidh’s said to be a banger, did he hurt you early on ?

KF) Yeah he can hit believe me! He came out hard in the first two rounds trying to catch me cold. I proved I have a chin because I took some big shots and stood up to them. It was heavy-going at first but in the third round I caught him with a good left hook to the body and I just saw a little change in the way he was boxing. I think he might have panicked a bit as he backed off more.

After the fourth session John Breen told me to throw a head shot and then whip in the body punches afterwards, so in the next I did just that. I caught him with a long left hook to the body and I knew as soon as he went down he wasn’t getting up. I even put my arms up before he had been counted out as I knew I could celebrate my victory.

I do quite a bit of sparring with my younger brother Nathan, who is a good amateur. He’s massive about 12st so I know I’ve got a good chin because he can hit hard and he’s big and strong too.

MJ) That was your third stoppage win in thirteen contests; do you feel like you are hitting harder now ?

KF) The power has always been there, I know I can hit hard but I’ve fought quite a few tough durable journeymen who never get knocked out. I knocked Jason Nesbitt down last time out and now I’ve stopped Joe Elfidh, so I’m starting to show the power now.

Early in my career, and as an amateur, I fought guys who were smaller when I was a flyweight. As I’ve come up in weight the taller boxers I find easier to fight and hit and that makes a difference too.

MJ) Did Joe Elfidh’s pre-fight comments that you were a “plastic Hatton” give you extra motivation before the fight ?

KF) I’m very professional, and didn’t go on any social networking sites for two days before the fight so I never knew that he said that until after I’d knocked him out (laughs). When I found out I laughed because it’s uncanny I stopped him with a body shot !

MJ) Your fighting weight has varied throughout your career, did you make the lightweight limit comfortably for this fight and do you intend to stay at 9st 9lbs ?

KF) I felt really comfortable making weight this time. I’ve always known I could make lightweight and, to be honest, I could probably get down to super-featherweight. Under John Breen I’m training right now and I know making weight won’t be a problem anymore.

MJ) This was your second contest for Dave Coldwell promotions. After a six-month layoff, you’ve now had two fights in two months. Do you plan to keep busy the rest of the year ?

KF) I’ll say this about Dave Coldwell, he’s a man of his word. He said he’d get me a six-rounder and then either an eight rounder or title fight when I signed for him. He got me the six rounder on the big Nottingham bill (headed by Carl Froch vs Lucian Bute) and then asked if I wanted Joe Elfidh for the Central Area title. I said “yeah, too right I want it”, and give credit too to Joe Elfidh for actually turning up to fight me after scores of lads said they’d take me on and then pulled out.

We’re hopefully out again in September in an English title fight. I want five fights a year minimum from now on. Tommy Coyle is a

MJ) Can you talk a bit about your new training set-up with John Breen ?

KF) I went over to Belfast to spar Paul McCloskey and liked the camp there and working with John Breen and (former light-welterweight contender) Eamonn Magee. I was having problems with my training and knew I was doing things that weren’t good for me. John offered to train me, I said that I had a good sponsor and I couldn’t really afford to keep coming over to Ireland to train. Eamonn Magee stepped up then and said I could stay at his father’s old house while I trained there. His father sadly died so the house is empty for me to use. It’s nice and quiet there….well, it’s where all the conflict is so I’ve been sleeping with the lights on but otherwise it’s quiet (laughs).

I love working with John Breen because we think alike; all the things I wanted to work on is what he has suggested we work on too. We’ve been working on tightening (my defence) up, speed and boxing ability. It’s hard sometimes

because my style is usually to get stuck in but I can feel myself improving all of the time.

MJ) You also have an added incentive for your boxing career with a baby on the way ?

KF) Yeah Rachy and I are finding out soon whether it’s going to be a boy or a girl. The baby’s due in September which is ideal for me as I’ll be able to spend all over Christmas with him or her.

MJ) Many thanks Kieran and congratulations again.

KF) Thanks mate speak again soon possible opponent, it couldn’t be a more even match as we are both 13-0 !

Published by kind permission of: Worldwide Weekly Boxing Predictions League