Joel Kodua on Saturday challenges Bobby Dalton for the English welterweight title aware that his career can be transformed by fighting on the BBC.
Dalton-Kodua serves as the chief support to the vacant British heavyweight title fight between Frazer Clarke and Jeamie Tshikeva at Vaillant Live in Derby, England on the occasion of Boxxer’s first date of their new broadcast agreement with an influential terrestrial television platform recognised around the world.
Saturday’s date was postponed from October 25 because of an injury suffered by “TKV” Tshikeva and as a consequence the 28-year-old Kodua had continued training alongside Anthony Yarde under their trainer Babatunde Ajayi for the fight with David Benavidez that he then had to endure watching Yarde lose.
He regardless is focused on the opportunity that fighting Dalton presents to him, and determined to force himself into the same picture as Britain’s leading fighters at 147lbs.
In his previous fight, in June, Kodua was the underdog when fighting Daniel Francis for the southern area title; he proceeded to stop Francis in the 10th of 10 rounds that night at London’s York Hall, and he is motivated by the prospect of making a statement once again.
“[Fighting on the BBC is] a big dream come true,” he told BoxingScene. “I started boxing 2018, and the trajectory I’m going through is beautiful. I’m gonna fight for the English title – the best in England, as a welterweight. It’s gonna be good. It’s gonna be entertaining.
“I try not to focus on [the potential pressure]. I just try to keep my head down, stay working in the gym – working as hard as possible. But I do see a lot of people recognising me. They’ll either ask for a picture or be like ‘You’re that boxer, innit?’. It’s a mixture of both.
“I wasn’t really frustrated [when it was postponed]. It’s part of the sport. I’m always training; I’m always in the gym. When they postponed I was like, ‘Okay’, it just gives me time to get better.
“He’s a good opponent. He’s the English welterweight champion. It’ll be good to display my skills and my boxing IQ in this fight. He’s fit, and he comes for a fight, so it’s good.
“I’m sort of used to the pressure. My last fight I was main event, for the southern area, in a packed out York Hall. Boiling hot. I’m used to that pressure. I thrive around it. I enjoyed [being the underdog].”
Since Ajayi’s return to London following Benavidez-Yarde, Kodua has again become the trainer’s full focus. Kodua remained in London while Yarde and Ajayi were in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but he believes that his preparations for Saturday have been enhanced by training alongside someone challenging for a world title at 175lbs.
“It’s beautiful,” he said. “Anthony’s a world-level fighter. Me seeing it from the beginning of my career – it shows me how hard I need to work, and keep my head down and stay focused.
“It was difficult [watching him lose], I’ll be honest with you. But he boxed extremely well, up until his nose starting bleeding. It’s unfortunate, but he’ll be back, 100 per cent. Lions in the camp.
“With us, it’s our job, so it’s just like – we just have to get on with it.
“Regardless, I’m still proud of Anthony and Tunde, ‘cause where they’ve come from. Anthony grew up in east London, in Newham. The odds for him to make it to the world stage were minute. To do that, it’s a very big accomplishment. Especially him having 12 amateur fights. It’s a massive accomplishment.”
Kodua was then asked about who he considers Britain’s leading welterweight, and he responded: “You’re gonna have to go with [Lewis] Crocker ‘cause he’s the [IBF] champion.
“[It’s] very motivating [that the domestic welterweight scene is so competitive]. I can’t take my foot off the gas. It just makes me work harder – and I enjoy the challenge.”
