By Terence Dooley

EBU super-bantamweight champion Rendall Munroe, 29, is taking an extreme step ahead of his clash with Simone Maludrottu at The Harvey Hadden Leisure Centre, Nottingham on the 20th of this month, in a fight that also doubles up as a WBC title eliminator.  The Leicester boxer’s family have moved into his mother’s house in order to give him the space needed to focus on the biggest night of his life.

Munroe told thisisleicestershire.co.uk that this severe move will only add fuel to his fire come fight night.  “Everyone says boxing is a lonely sport – and it feels like it at the moment,” joked Munroe.  “But it shows my family are supporting me all the way.  They know I need my rest before a big fight and this is my biggest fight yet.  It's tough for all of us, but it's what I have to do to give myself the best possible chance of winning this fight.  My family know I am doing it for them.”

A meeting with his boxing idol has also boosted Rendall, former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson - the two shared the top table at a function in Derby. 

“People used to watch me when I was an amateur and say, 'Who's this crazy guy throwing bombs!’,” revealed Munroe, “and it was all because of Mike Tyson.  I used to watch him when I was a kid and wanted to be just like him.  I couldn't believe I got the chance to sit at the table with him.  It was unbelievable and another reward for all the hard work that I've put into boxing over the years.”

Munroe, 19-1 (8), is on a roll; he is 9-0 (4) since his 2006 reverse to Andy Morris up at featherweight.  Munroe, who still works as a bin man, won the European belt by diffusing Alicante’s dangerman Kiko Martinez in 2008.  Rendall repeated the trick in February of this year, showing that the first result was no fluke. 

Now, though, Rendall is within touching distance of the WBC green; he has to tread carefully and adopt a ‘win at all costs’ outlook ahead of the clash with Maludrottu, who has fought, and defeated, Damaen Kelly, albeit controversially first time around, and Ian Napa.  Those EBU title wins came at bantamweight but the Italian is still a high-risk opponent for Munroe.

You can obtain tickets for Munroe's fight by telephoning 0787 1946671, 07525 469421 and 0116 2223680.

Please send news and views to neckodeemus@hotmail.co.uk