By Terence Dooley
Femi Fehintola is set to take the second step down comeback road this Sunday when he takes on Daniel Thorpe over six-threes at the Octagon Centre, Sheffield. Fehintola, 27, defeated Steven Bell to grab the English super-featherweight title in 2007 only for Ryan Barrett to rip the title from Femi courtesy of a brutal third round knockout in October of last year. Femi hooked up with Joe Gallagher and Kerry Kayes earlier this year, he then defeated Sid Razak on points back in October. Femi, who is 20-2 (1), regularly posts enthused updates on Facebook to let people know how much he loves his new training regime.
“I’m loving every second of it,” beamed Femi when asked how his training was going. “This is the hardest week because I’m not allowed to be at the gym as much in fight week and I miss the lads. Things are buzzing – Anthony Crolla had that win over Michael Brodie the other week and Joe Murray looked good that night as well so it is a great atmosphere. Kerry is always there for me so I’m over the moon and things couldn’t be better.”
Femi mixed his shots well in the Razak fight, working to the body before switching to the head when he needed some range. However, the Bradford boxer believes that he only showed a glimmer of his potential in the Razak victory.
He said: “The last fight was a ‘getting to know you’ fight. My defence wasn’t as high as it could have been and I was a bit slower. This time, I’m going to be a lot faster. Only the other week Joe was telling me that my body looks a lot more complete and solid overall. I used to come to the gym to get fit and start over, this time I’ve come to the gym fit and worked on a lot of stuff, and on the mistakes I made last time. You will see a better Femi this time, without a doubt.”
“It was alright”, he admitted when asked to grade his performance. “I give myself six out of ten but want to be at eight out of ten for this fight. I was out for a year and had been inactive so it was alright but there is a lot more to come.”
Femi has been a constant at his gym-mates fights’; he joined John Murray and Matthew Macklin in the changing room ahead of their big title wins. The likeable stylist believes that the success enjoyed by his friends will rub off on him.
“I turned pro around the same time as John and that is where I should be,” declared Femi. “We’ve got a great team at the gym, there is no animosity and we are all rooting for each other. Before Crolla fought Baguley we were on the bags tapping off and we said that 2010 will be our year. We’ve both been wrote off but will rip it up in 2010. Anthony did it against Brodie and got his name back up there so now it is my turn to get my name up there – starting with this fight. Joe’s put us both on the fast track to titles. It is all up in the air title-wise at super-featherweight so it is all there for me.”
Femi has fought Thorpe once before. They clashed in 2005; referee Mickey Vann awarded the win to Fehintola by a one-point margin. Fehintola, though, believes that he can improve on that performance.
“I’ve got Daniel Thorpe in a six-rounder. I fought him back in 2005 and beat him by a couple of points, boxed crap, so it will be good to see how much I’ve improved,” admitted Fehintola. “I never look for the stoppage because I’m never going to be a one hit knockout merchant, but I am looking for a top, top performance.”
Still, Femi was sitting on his shots in the Razak fight, digging hard hooks to the body and gunning for Razak’s chin – is Femi looking to land harder shots these days? “A little bit,” he confirmed.
“I didn’t do it purposefully, it is all the work that Joe’s been making me do, making me concentrate and be strong on my shots. I’ll be even stronger in this fight. Crolla and Joe Murray came into spar with me a few days after their fights; they should have been out on the town but came to give their help to me. Joe fights on the 15th of January so I’ve told Joe, ‘You did that for me so I’ll be in the gym with you over Christmas’ – it is a team thing. I can’t wait to get back in the gym with another win under my belt. Those nights of having a blow out are gone. I’ll be on a high after the fight. When you love something you want to do it all the time, and I love training. I’ll enjoy my Christmas dinner then get back in there with Joe and John.”
Femi has had a tough 2009; Lancelot Bryan, his adopted father, died earlier this year. Femi sought comfort by heading to the gym; he also strengthened his bonds with Christianity and brought his family into his boxing bubble.
“When I first went to that gym I was almost suicidal”, revealed Fehintola. “I’m not just saying that to you. Things were that bad for me. But being with the lads was a big help for me. My brother is living with me now, doing my cooking and giving me moral support. I’ve never had this family thing and the team bonding before so it is unbelievable. I wake up some mornings and wonder if I’m in a dream, but I’m not and the world is my oyster. I’m a strict believer in my faith as well and that’s helped me a lot.”
He added: “We had always had Christianity in my family anyway but when my dad died it brought me closer to god, it helped me get on with my future. Now I’ve got god in my corner and everything is coming right for me. I’ve also got a son on the way so I couldn’t wish for more. I just want some belts around my waist in 2010 – English and British, without a shadow of a doubt. I don’t care who I have to fight. My training is great and I’m ready to go.”
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