Chris Kongo plans on proving himself as one of Britain’s best welterweights when he takes on Luther Clay for the WBO global title on the undercard of the Dillian Whyte vs. Alexander Povetkin fight on Saturday 22 August.
Kongo (11-0, 6 KOs) came from the amateurs in 2016 but has found chances hard to come by since he turned pro. He fights Clay (13-1, 5 KOs) at Matchroom Fight Camp Week 4.
The 27-year-old Bermondsey fighter is full of confidence and is already pencilling in fights against Conor Benn and Josh Kelly as he looks to move up within the 147-pound class. Kongo wants to avenge the hotly contested defeat he suffered to Kelly in the ABA finals in 2013, but he needs to defeat Clay before he will get a chance to feature against bigger names.
Kongo said: "I took the fight straight away. I didn't even have to think about it. I’ve been waiting for the opportunity and it’s here now, so I’m going to take it with both hands. It has been a long time coming. I’ve come up the hard way in the sport of boxing and there's fire in my belly. I’m going to rip the belt from him. I’m not taking any chances. I’m not leaving it to the judges. We’re going to rip the belt off the champion. Guaranteed."
He explained that he would be using the fight as a stepping stone to greater challenges.
"I believe I’m coming to take the title regardless of what Luther does. I believe this is my time. When it is someone’s time, it doesn’t matter what happens, you can’t stop it,” he said.
“I believe this is the moment Chris Kongo is going to be announced as one of the top welterweights in the division. I need to prove that I am the No. 1 welterweight in the country. I know my level. That’s why I believe I can be at the top table.
"He’s going to try and bring the pressure because he thinks I'll be rusty due to my time out of the ring. They’re going to be in for a big shock. They will try to put pressure on me and wait until the later rounds. It’s probably the worst thing they can do. We all know what kind of shape Jim McDonnell is going to have me in.
"We know he’s not going to try and out-skill me or outbox me because he can’t do that. His greatest attributes are always coming from the front foot. If he wants to bring the pressure, trust me, we’re going to meet head on. I’m a big welterweight. I’ll be ready for that."
Kongo meets Clay on the undercard of Matchroom’s Fight Camp Week 4 at the company’s Brentwood headquarters. The headline fight is between Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin for the WBC interim heavyweight title. The night will also see Katie Taylor fight Delfine Persoon for the WBC, WBA, IBF and Ring Magazine lightweight crowns. Jack Cullen vs. Zak Chelli and Alen Babic vs. Shawndell Winters are the remaining fights on the card.