Tweet
Munroe to face champion Nishioka
Leicester super-bantamweight Rendall Munroe will fight champion Toshiaki Nishioka for his WBC title in October.
Leicester super-bantamweight Rendall Munroe will fight champion Toshiaki Nishioka for his WBC title in October.
No date for the fight has been announced but it is set to take place in Tokyo towards the end of October.
Nishioka, 33, has held the title since January 2009, making three defences, but has lost four of his 43 fights in a record that includes three draws.
"This is a big opportunity. It makes no difference to me if the fight's in Japan," said 30-year-old Munroe.
Munroe, who works as a binman out of the ring, has just the one loss from his 22 fights with eight of his victories ending inside the scheduled distance.
I enjoy what I'm doing but if they tell me I can't have the time off to train I'll have to leave
Rendall Munroe
He last fought in April, stopping Mexican Victor Terrazas in the ninth round and insists he is undaunted by the prospect of facing Nishioka in Tokyo.
"To be a world champion you have to fight world class fighters in world class places," said Munroe.
"This is a chance for me to show I'm good enough to be thought of as world class."
However Munroe says he hopes to continue working as a binman even if he succeeds in defeating Nishioka.
Trouble is brewing, however, as Munroe fears he may not be given the eight weeks off work needed to train for his clash with Nishioka, who is a national hero in Japan.
If he is refused permission he will quit, but he would rather return to his bin round in October as a world champion.
"Normally work are OK but for my last fight they were getting a bit funny about taking time off," said Munroe.
"There's a new manager there now so I don't know what will happen.
"I was talking to the guy who drives my truck and he was right when he told me I had to take this opportunity.
"I enjoy my job. Effectively I'm training at work because I'm running around all day emptying bins.
"I'm outside mixing with the people and it keeps my feet on the ground. I've got a family and two kids so the job is a little provider.
"I want to stay at work and as soon as I win the fight I'll go straight back to it.
"I enjoy what I'm doing but if they tell me I can't have the time off to train I'll have to leave."
Nishioka, 33, has held the title since January 2009, making three defences, but has lost four of his 43 fights in a record that includes three draws.
"This is a big opportunity. It makes no difference to me if the fight's in Japan," said 30-year-old Munroe.
Munroe, who works as a binman out of the ring, has just the one loss from his 22 fights with eight of his victories ending inside the scheduled distance.
I enjoy what I'm doing but if they tell me I can't have the time off to train I'll have to leave
Rendall Munroe
He last fought in April, stopping Mexican Victor Terrazas in the ninth round and insists he is undaunted by the prospect of facing Nishioka in Tokyo.
"To be a world champion you have to fight world class fighters in world class places," said Munroe.
"This is a chance for me to show I'm good enough to be thought of as world class."
However Munroe says he hopes to continue working as a binman even if he succeeds in defeating Nishioka.
Trouble is brewing, however, as Munroe fears he may not be given the eight weeks off work needed to train for his clash with Nishioka, who is a national hero in Japan.
If he is refused permission he will quit, but he would rather return to his bin round in October as a world champion.
"Normally work are OK but for my last fight they were getting a bit funny about taking time off," said Munroe.
"There's a new manager there now so I don't know what will happen.
"I was talking to the guy who drives my truck and he was right when he told me I had to take this opportunity.
"I enjoy my job. Effectively I'm training at work because I'm running around all day emptying bins.
"I'm outside mixing with the people and it keeps my feet on the ground. I've got a family and two kids so the job is a little provider.
"I want to stay at work and as soon as I win the fight I'll go straight back to it.
"I enjoy what I'm doing but if they tell me I can't have the time off to train I'll have to leave."
Comment