Kal Yafai is back down to flyweight on Saturday night and has set his sights on success down the WBC route
Thursday 26 March 2015 11:28, UK
Kal Yafai is preparing for a big 2015 and is confident that he will achieve success at world level as he takes the step back down to flyweight, where he boxed as an elite level amateur.
Yafai (13-0-KO9) will take on Nicaraguan Cristofer Rosales on the undercard to Kell Brook’s world title defence against Jo Jo Dan at the Sheffield Arena on Saturday, before he moves on to potentially fight for the WBC Silver flyweight belt in his hometown of Birmingham on May 9th.
However, the 25-year-old is not thinking about his big fight in Birmingham and is only focused on Rosales, who he is expecting to give him plenty to think about on Saturday night in front of the Sky Sports 1 cameras.
“I’m excited to be back in action, on a big show and I expect 2015 to be a big year for me," he said.
"I’m moving back down to flyweight, which made common sense in the end because I was weighing in light up at super-fly anyway.
“My team and nutritionist had a chat and measured me up for flyweight and decided we could do it without a struggle. Super-fly was never an issue and I never had to anything drastic, so it’s the right decision and there are plenty of big names to focus on in the division.
“Eddie Hearn is looking at the WBC Silver belt for Birmingham, but I’ve got to keep my eye on Rosales. Some journeymen come to survive, but I know he’s going to come and have a go. He’s only 20, got ambitions and he’s ranked 14 by the WBC and he can punch a bit, as he’s stopped 7 of the 10 he has beaten. He should be a good test.”
Rosales will be the third Nicaraguan in a row to share the ring with Yafai and he won’t be looking to share the same fate that Herald Molina and Everth Briceno suffered before him. He might well be on the receiving end of a fired-up Yafai, who believes he has shaken off any previous injury issues.
The 25-year-old missed 7 months in 2013 due to a bicep injury, before another 5 month lay-off following an elbow injury. However, he believes that is all behind him and he is ready to make some big steps in 2015, at the new weight.
“I turned pro in July 2012, but have only had 13 fights due to those injuries, so technically I’m still a novice really. I’ve put that behind me now and I’m ready to push on, keep progressing with every fight, improving and make some big steps.
“I’m lucky to be on these big shows, because it’s harder at the lower weights to get the attention and recognition. If I was a welterweight, I would have had more hype around me, but it’s difficult down at my weight.
“I keep looking at the headline fights on each card and it’s really motivating because I want to do that in Birmingham. I live the life and I’m hungry for success, I’m like a sponge and soak everything in in training. I want to do big things in my hometown, but I’ve got to get the ball rolling with a good win on Saturday in Sheffield.”
Watch Kell Brook v Jo Jo Dan live on Sky Sports 1 from 7.30pm on Saturday. The bill also features Kal Yafai, Frankie Gavin, Adam Etches and Gavin McDonnell.