Sam Noakes doubts that upcoming opponent Yvan Mendy will be able to go the distance with him on Saturday night.
The British lightweight champion has 13 knockouts from 13 fights, and he now gets to challenge for the vacant European strap when he meets the Frenchman.
Speaking to BoxingScene.com, he discussed the ambitious approach he has taken towards his career so far.
He said: “I just try and be myself, to be honest. If you’d met me around my debut, you’d see I’ve not changed at all. I just try and be a real person. Listen, I’m confident.
“Just because I don’t sit there and call out every person doesn’t mean that I don’t believe in myself. I just think there’s a place for it. I’m very understanding in that there is so much politics to it all.
“It’s not just a case of ‘I’ll fight you.’ It’s just a business at the end of the day, and as long as I’m still winning, that’s the important thing at the end of the day.”
With his 100% stoppage record, he believes that his performances and the manner of victory in each fight should worry his rivals.
“Maybe. It probably would get in your head wouldn’t it?” Noakes added. “Flip reverse it, and if I was getting in there with someone who was 22-0, with a load of knockouts, I’d be thinking, ‘Bloody hell, I’m in for a rough old night here.’ Obviously you’re still training and working hard, but any normal person would have that in their head.
“You could look at it this way, though: Mendy’s a seasoned, tested pro. He’s been in there with better fighters than me. I could be thinking, ‘Oh, I’m worried about doing the rounds here. I’m gonna slow it down a bit.’ Nah, I’m thinking, ‘F--k it. Even if he’s twice as hard as anyone I’ve ever fought, I’m bang-up for this one.’ I’m not worried.”
Such is his self-belief, he thinks Mendy will have earned his respect if he manages to go the 12 rounds with him, and he is under no illusion on just how important the bout is for his future.
He said: “My whole career balances on winning this fight. That’s the seriousness of it for me, and that’s how I’m looking at it. Losing is not an option for me. Credit where credit’s due. The geezer’s very tough. If he goes 12, I’ll shake his hand at the end of it.”
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