Olubamiwo gets title shot
Big-punching heavyweight prospect Lanre Olubamiwo 7-1 (6 KOs) has been handed his first shot at a professional title on Frank Maloney's May 14th bill in Dagenham, Essex. Boxing on the Ashley Sexton v Shinny Bayaar British title fight bill, Olubamiwo will fight Colin Kenna 16-10-2 (7 KO) for the vacant Southern Area Heavyweight title.
"I'm really looking forward to it", said Olubamiwo.
"It marks a huge step up for me in terms of fighting for a title and fighting Colin Kenna who's an experienced campaigner and he's actually won this title before.
"Fighting for my first professional title, it's a bit mind boggling actually. You dream about these things as an amateur looking to turn pro and when it actually does come it's a bit surreal.
"But I'm just really looking forward to the fight, looking forward to picking up that title, and moving onto bigger things from that."
The title bout will be over ten rounds and Olubamiwo, known as the 'War Machine' for his explosive, powerful style, has never been beyond six in his career so far, winning six of his eight fights within the first two rounds. Nevertheless, the Hackney fighter is relishing the challenge of boxing over the longer distance.
"I don't really see it as a problem. By the time the fight comes round I'll be ready for 10 rounds," added Olubamiwo.
"There were some doubts about my stamina before, after the Peret loss, but I put that to rest with my fight with Yavor Marinchev where I went six rounds. I looked comfortable going six rounds, and I did six hard rounds. Even during that fight I felt I could have done another two very easily so really my stamina wont be a problem.
"If it does happen to go ten, I feel I'll have the stamina to be able to do that at a higher pace."
Olubamiwo's opponent, Colin Kenna, boasts the greater experience and has boxed the higher calibre of opposition of the two, going in with the likes of Sam Sexton, soon-to-be world title challenger Albert Sosnowski and, more recently, Prizefighter runner-up Coleman Barrett.
"He actually dropped Barrett, in the second round", said Olubamiwo.
"It just shows that it's not going to be an easy fight for me at all. He's very experienced, he knows his way around the ring and he's going to make it a difficult fight.
"Being Irish, all the Irish fighters that I've seen all come to fight. I've always said, if you're going to be fighting an Irish guy you better be prepared to fight because that's what they're coming to do!
"But like I said before I fought Scott Belshaw, if I do everything I'm supposed to do, I should come away with the victory."
Elsewhere, full undercard details for the Maloney Promotion are still to be announced, but already confirmed is fellow heavyweight hopeful - Tom Dallas 9-0 (7 KOs).
