By John Evans
After claiming the Commonwealth welterweight title by beating Lee Purdie in one of the best domestic clashes of 2010, Denton Vassell makes the first defence of his belt when he faces Namibian challenger Bethuel Ushona at Wigan’s Robin Park Sports Centre on March 26th. With promoter Ricky Hatton recently declaring the bout could be a contender for ‘fight of the year’, boxing fans could be in for a treat. Ushona may be an unknown quantity to many British boxing fans but Vassell knows exactly what to expect when the pair clash
“He’s a smart boxer. He’s not a big puncher but he’s very cagey. I wanna cut the ring down and corner him. I don’t believe he’ll have the same work rate as me so I’m gonna take him into the trenches. He’s gonna be tough and has the experience of doing 12 rounds but I just can’t see anyway at all he can win. I’ll keep my hands up, keep the pressure on and box around him,” declared Denton when speaking to Boxingscene.
Vassell is known as one of the fittest fighters competing on the domestic scene. His marauding style has so far accounted for 16 opponents with nine of those failing to hear the final bell. With just eight stoppage victories on Ushona’s 23-0 record, the fight seems set to be a classic clash of styles between the Manchester man’s high volume attack and the Namibian challenger’s more measured style. Vassell isn’t going to change his game and aims to apply non stop pressure on Ushona.
“Yeah, but not wildly. With him being so cagey he’d be able to turn me easily then. I’m gonna get off with my jab and keep my composure. I’m fit enough to do twelve rounds and throw a lot of punches so it’s just a case of tightening things up, working my jab and my angles and there shouldn’t be any problems against anyone I fight let alone Bethuel Ushona.” says Vassell.
“At the end of the day this is boxing and you’re gonna come up against different kinds of fighters. It’s about believing in yourself and your own ability. I’m not being big headed but I know having a style like mine where I come forward and throw loads and loads of shots is a lot harder than being cagey and boxing off the back foot. I’m gonna be putting the pedal down and stepping up a gear then dropping it down then back up a gear. We work a lot on body punching and I should be able to break anybody down with that over twelve rounds. It should be fun!”
Vassell’s trainer Bob Shannon has called his fighter “the biggest punching welterweight in Britain”. Whilst he has eight stoppages on his record, many of the stoppages have come from an accumulation of punches with opponents unable to withstand his non stop attacks. Although aware he has heavy hands, Vassell isn’t worrying about developing into a devastating knockout artist.
“I’ve learnt that if you go looking for a knockout you don’t get it. I’m looking to get in and get out of there and boxy savvy. I think the powers natural with me but even given the size of me, I am fast. People look at me and think I’m muscle bound but I am fast and snappy. I do catch them now and again!”
Some people may see Vassell’s style of fighting and assume that he has been moulded into a version of his promoter. The 26 year old is quick to point out that he has always fought in the same fashion but that the tips Hatton provides are invaluable.
“It’s a blessing that I’m with Ricky because I share the same sort of style. He’s been telling me little ways of controlling your energy. Having little outbursts then holding it back. He used to step to the side and change angles really well too so we’ve been practising a lot of that.”
The British Welterweight rankings are home to some accomplished fighters but with Kell Brook set for a move into world class and solid domestic fighters like Michael Jennings and Colin Lynes coming towards the end of their careers there is an opportunity for one of the divisions’ potential stars to make a big move in 2011. Vassell seems to have the perfect starting point to make a real impact.
“Yeah, I hope so. I’d love to get that WBC belt one day, that’s the main goal. I wanna make a big name for myself and enjoy it. That’s the main thing in boxing, if you’re not enjoying it there’s no point in doing it,” admitted Vassell.
Recently, any domestic welterweights with title ambitions have generally found their path blocked by Hatton Promotions’ crop of talented fighters. As well as Vassell holding the Commonwealth belt, Craig Watson claimed the British title with a points victory over John O’Donnell and Matthew Hatton has enjoyed a successful reign as European champion.
Vassell is an ambitious fighter and frustration could have set in had his progression to bigger titles been blocked by his stablemates success. However, with Hatton’s upcoming clash with Mexican sensation Saul Alvarez now being for the WBC Light Middleweight title, the European welterweight crown is set to be declared vacant providing Vassell with a target to aim for.
“I’ve known Craig Watson for years and he’s a good mate. I’ve known him since I was boxing at the Fox amateur club so it would be awkward to fight him. I know people say it’s only a sport but you’d still have that awkwardness. It’s like when you spar your mates, you can hold back all you want and before you know it you’ve taken their head off! At the moment Craig Watson’s got the British title and he’s a good mate of mine so I’d not wanna jump in for it. If somebody else had it then yes, I’d want it. The European titles up for grabs so why not go for that?”
With Hatton Promotions’ growing influence there is every chance that Vassell could be guided into position to fight for the vacant belt.
“Hopefully! I know people will say it’s a big step but at the end of the day everyone’s got two arms and two legs and I won’t back down from anybody. It’s boxing and if you get a chance you have to take it. I still think the Lee Purdie fight is my best and toughest win yet and I took it at two weeks notice. I was thinking 'It’s my first 12 rounder but do you know what? I’ll just take it'. Luckily it’s turned out really well.”
Allowing himself to look to the future, Vassell is eager to avoid the pitfalls of hanging around at domestic level for too long and has ambitions to reach the highest levels of the sport.
“If you look at the British rankings, I know I’m ranked eighth but if you look at my record I’ve only had 15 fights and everyone else has had 20 odd. It doesn’t mean anything. Everybody knows I train hard, like a champion and it gets settled in the ring. Ideally I’d win the European title, have one or two defences then why not go for the WBC and make my name? Its every boxers dream to do it and you can’t stay around treading water you’ve gotta move up.”
“I’m confident. I’ve had 15 fights and I’m the Commonwealth champion. I’ve not fought bums and pushovers. I’ve fought some decent fighters like Eddie Corcoran, Jamal Morrison and Lee Purdie. I’ve beaten three undefeated fights so to be doing that after 15 fights I’m doing something right! It’s all down to how you feel inside your head. Anything could happen but if you’re confident then you feel like you can walk on water.”
