By Terence Dooley
Ashton’s Jon Kays has been training for a title fight since the turn of the year. The 26-year-old was one of the names in the running to meet British super-featherweight boss Gary Sykes only to see Carl Johanneson get the nod. Kays decided to continue ticking over, his dedication was rewarded five weeks ago when Frank Warren approached Kays’s promoter Steve Wood to discuss a fight between ‘2 Smokes’ and Commonwealth titleholder Liam ‘Destiny’ Walsh, 10- (7 early).
“We got a phone call from Frank Warren's matchmaker [Dean Powell] asking us if we were interested in a fight between Liam and Jon. Jon was in training hoping for Gary Sykes anyway so we had no hesitation in taking it. A title fight is a title fight and we've got it at home as well, which is a bonus,” revealed Wood when discussing this Saturday’s Robin Park Centre, Wigan showdown.
He added, “Frank's brought the top of the bill and I already had a show on there that night anyway so he was nice enough to let me keep my ten fights on, that is good for VIP Promotions.”
Wood believes that his charge has proven himself already by maintaining focus after the disappointment of losing out in the race to fight Sykes, this commitment helped persuade Steve to take the title plunge.
“This is a very hard fight but no harder than the Sykes fight would have been. Gary is a big, active fighter but Liam hits harder than Gary so it is hard in a different way. He likes the swanky stuff does Jon but he has forgot about all that and put his head down, he’s trained hard. If he does get beaten then it won't be for the want of trying. I'm really pleased with him,” said Steve.
“He’s the underdog, if he gets beaten a lot of people will have been expecting it so if he comes through and wins it be seen as a real bonus.”
Bobby Rimmer took charge of Kays’s training regime in 2009, the chief cornerman told me that they thought long and hard about the upcoming contest before deciding to attempt to hand Walsh his first professional defeat.
“I am looking forward to it now,” says Rimmer. “We were offered Gary Sykes at the beginning of the year but that fell through. Then we were offered this one at five weeks notice. Jon was already in the gym so I told him to have a think. We looked at the kid, because he looks special, this Liam Walsh, but Jon came back and told me he can do it so we took it. I think he can win it otherwise I wouldn't put him in the fight.
“Jon is very tough, very fit and we've been working on a lot of things so it is looking good. I told Jon that if I had any doubts in training then I'd have pulled him out of the fight but he's just got better and better, he's really up for it.”
Kays holds a 13-1 (4) record, his only blemish a 2008 points reverse to Craig Johnson. Jon regrouped, picking up the vacant International Masters 130lb title with a seventh round TKO win over Dai Davies in September of last year. Rimmer feels that Kays’s seven fight winning streak could reach a big peak come Saturday.
“Jon is a really good fighter, he's got ring craft and has shown that his whole career so I'm looking forward to this. Jon is the type of guy who will swim under that type of pressure, he's never lost for words and is confident so we're all looking forward to the night,” he enthused.
“Jon's a massive underdog, it is great because as long as he goes out, performs and we do everything right then I can't see it going wrong. There will be some sticky moments, I'm under no illusions but I know Jon can do it.
“I have also been really impressed with Liam. He's got a nice, laid back style and he's a really good fighter, this is good for the fans and Sky. The Walsh lads always bring their fans with them, they're popular boys. Robin Park is a good hall for boxing and it’s a good bill.
“It is great that Frank Warren came in with this fight and then Sky came in, I was made up with that. Steve was putting a good bill on anyway with some good kids fighting. Jon was disappointed by the Sykes fight not coming through but he's come back and got this title fight.”
Rimmer had a few tough moments in 2010 – most notably Brian Rose’s KO defeat to Max Maxwell and Tony Jeffries’s decision to relocate – but kept the faith throughout, this title fight has come at the perfect time for Bobby, who provided Brian with a place to live during Rose’s early career.
“Towards the end of the year, the enjoyment was kind of going out of it for me, then I went on holiday and relaxed and it all came back. That's my way now, I go away a few times a year and am really enjoying the training,” smiled Rimmer when asked how he juggles the pressures of his work and life.
“People said I had got too close to Brian, and maybe I did, but it was a bad knockout he suffered and it is great that he's come back to win the English light-middleweight title [a points win over Lee Noble last November]. I am dead proud of him. Brian has got his own house now and is fending for himself. He comes and stays with me at the weekend and goes home in the week – I'm not shut of him just yet!”
Sky Sports HD1 and 1 televise from 8pm on Saturday.
Please send news and views to neckodeemus@hotmail.co.uk
