By Lee Collier
Back in November, on the undercard of Matthew Hatton’s IBO world title fight, fans witnessed Peterborough’s Cello Renda, 24, take part in some of the most exciting three rounds of boxing witnessed during 2009 when facing 36 year old Paul Samuels.
Renda (18-8-1, 11 early), who had beaten Sam Horton within two rounds in a British title eliminator back in September, stood toe-to-toe with the big punching Welshman and lost when referee Terry O’Connor stopped the contest at 0:37 of the third round, with Renda in serious trouble on the ropes. The fight also included the unusual occurrence of a double knock down in the second round when both fighters simultaneously landed left hooks and ended up on the canvas.
Renda faces Samuels in a rematch on the 15th January and is keen to make sure he makes amends for the loss in November. “The preparation has gone brilliant for the fight,” Cello declared. “We are working on completely different tactics to the last fight. I got the tactics wrong last time out thinking I could go in and knock him out but when you have two bangers like me and Samuels the result can be decided on a flick of a coin.
“I know I can bang as good as any middleweight out there but you have to be smarter than that and use better tactics and break it down. I went in like a mad man and tried to knock him out.”
Renda feels the Horton fight, where he stood toe-to-toe with his opponent before stopping him in the second round, did him no favours in the build up to the Samuels fight. “I went into the Sam Horton fight and knocked him out in the second round so I didn’t learn anything from the fight,” explained Renda.
“With the Samuels fight I feel I learned something even though I lost. I learned a tremendous amount about myself and am glad it happened early on in my career than later on when I could be fighting for a British or other title and making that mistake.”
Renda feels that his reputation as a big hitter has led to him getting away from showing some of the good boxing skills he feels he possesses. “I can box as well as bang, it’s just I haven’t showed it in the last couple of fights as they have finished early. I have shown glimpses of my boxing ability in fights but I need to be more professional and do it more often. There is a side of me that can bang but there is also a side of me that can box and I am an exciting fighter.
“I don’t want to be an exciting loser though, I want to be an exciting winner. I want to win; I would rather have a boring fight as long as I get the win. There is a different side to me and I have to show that on the night.”
Renda is hoping for a win in the rematch with Samuels so he can get on with his attempt to win the British title currently held by Darren Barker. The Peterborough-based fighter is under no illusions that the odds are stacked against him if he does enter the ring with the fighter known as ‘Dazzling’.
“Darren Barker is an exceptional champion, he has class boxing skills but he has a suspect chin,” claimed Renda. “Barker has world class boxing skills and I have world class knock out power, which means he could be winning the fight going into the last round and one punch could change it all.”
He continued: “Barker is a very good champion and the odds will be stacked against me but I have faced that my whole career. Boxing News expected Horton to win and in previous fights I have had the odds against me. I know I’ll be the underdog so there will be no pressure on me. I have everything to gain and nothing to lose.”
Another possible fight being bandied about is a fight with Renda’s promotional stable mate Martin Murray. Renda and Murray faced each other in late-2008 when the St Helens-based Murray emerged victorious over three rounds in a close Prizefighter final.
“A fight between me and Martin seems to be on a lot of people’s minds. It is something that could definitely happen down the line,” explained Renda. “We are in the same stable with the same promoter now. I think Martin would agree that whilst it may happen it will only happen if there is something on the line like the English or British title.”
Renda is confident that a 10 or 12 round fight with Murray would be just as good as the Prizefighter final. “It would be as good of a fight as the first one was. Martin is doing well and we have become good friends. There is no animosity and if it does happen I am sure he will be up for just as much as me,” said Cello.
Whilst Renda is confident in his own ability he is not setting himself any targets past getting a British title. “I can definitely see myself becoming British champion and whatever happens after that I will just have to take on board. I don’t want to put too much on my shoulders and want to set myself realistic targets - at the minute that target is a British title,” declared the confident power puncher.
