Gamal Yafai has talked up his bright future ahead of Hull fight
Thursday 30 July 2015 17:31, UK
Gamal Yafai insists he will fight any opponent handed to him in pursuit of Britain’s top super-bantamweights.
The Birmingham banger will box Spaniard Angel Lorente on the undercard of Luke Campbell's clash with Tommy Coyle’s in Hull this Saturday, live on Sky Sports.
The undefeated Yafai (6-0) believes his upbringing in the amateur boxing scene has readied him for taking on all comers but accepts he must gain more professional experience before progressing his burgeoning career.
At tournaments, I’d fight top amateurs and never dodge them. So I expect that as a pro, I don’t feel pressure.
“I’ll fight anyone, that’s the way I am,” he told Sky Sports. “Because I was a top amateur in the Great Britain squad, whenever we’d go abroad I’d fight top fighters. That was expected.
“At tournaments, I’d fight top amateurs and never dodge them. So I expect that as a pro, I don’t feel pressure. I’m good enough and capable of beating them but I need experience and more rounds.
“If I could do 12 rounds, I’m good enough to beat top opponents, but I can’t do that just yet.”
The 23-year-old knows that world champion duo Scott Quigg and Carl Frampton are currently out of his league but his short-term ambitions remain high.
Yafai wants to establish his name among the best domestic super-bantamweights but claims that will just be the beginning.
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He said: “My next target is to get up there among the top boxers in Britain, bar Quigg and Frampton because they’ve been pros forever. I’d like to be seen in the top five in Britain by the end of the year.
“I’m a novice in this pro game. I’m capable of being world class but I’ve got to put the work in to climb the ladder.
“I’m a good boxer but I’m a good fighter as well. In my early fights I was just fighting and looking ragged but now I use my skills. When it’s time to box it’s time to box but when it’s time to fight…”
Watch Campbell's clash with Coyle and a packed Hull bill from 8pm on Sky Sports 1.
