Oshunrinde aiming to avoid controversy this time around
Dollis Hill based American Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Oshunrinde feels that he has a point to prove when he returns to York Hall to face Sam Couzens, at the Graham Earl promoted ‘Redemption Day’ double title headlined event, on Saturday 7th May 2011.
Back in January, at Graham Earl’s ‘Capital Punishment’ event, Oshunrinde plain outclassed and out punched Jahmaine Smyle until the referee called a halt to the proceedings, after just two minutes and eleven seconds of the first round, due to a bad cut over Smyle’s right eye. Oshunrinde’s pure delight at getting his first win on British soil quickly turned to disbelief as the referee then declared the bout a technical draw, claiming the cut was caused by an accidental clash of heads. The only problem is that at no time were their heads in close proximity for the alleged clash to occur. Video replays showed that the damage to Smyle’s right eye, and the heavily swollen left eye, were entirely due to Oshunrinde’s exceptionally long and hard straight jabs.
Following a sparring session with Leon Williams, at the TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, Oshunrinde spoke of the fight with Smyle briefly before moving on to his upcoming showdown with Sam Couzens on May 7th.
“The last fight I was pretty confident before the fight. I trained really hard here at the TKO Gym with Johnny (Eames) and Barry (Smith) as you know. I felt really good, you know Jahmaine Smyle was making out like he was some kind of bulldozer and was going to walk right through me. Tell you what, he couldn’t get past my left hand, so that really proved my critics wrong I guess.
"It was a pretty controversial night. Anyway I’m putting that in the past because right now I’m looking forward to May 7th when I get to fight Sam Couzens. Hopefully this time I’ll get that KO on my record, that is as long as there is no controversial technical decision, if you know what I mean.
"I’ve been training really hard and been sparring a big cruiserweight, Leon Williams, the Southern Area cruiserweight champion and sparring’s going great you know. He’s bullying me a little bit but you’ve got to do it and it’s good sparring for me. I’ve also been sparring with another cruiserweight here, Mitchell Balker, the Dutch guy. He’s real technical, real come forward fighter, real hard worker. They are really putting me through it, they’re two weight classes above me but I’m holding my own. I’m not just getting through it I’m also learning in the process of handling bigger, heavier guys. I’m benefiting a lot from it.
"I want a KO finish on my record, one that stands, not just that but I want to get my first victory on British soil, so to speak. I’ve had eight fights overseas with eight knockouts, which apparently the British Boxing Board of Control don’t recognise. Apparently the boxing organisation is not recognised by them as a legitimate professional organisation which is wrong as they have been proven to be authentic, but that’s the way things are sometimes.
"Anyway I am just going to look forward to my next fight. This is my year and I’m just going to rack up all the wins I can get and then hopefully by the end of this year we’re talking titles. I’m feeling good, I’m with the right trainers, I’m with the right sparring partners and I’m in the right family, the TKO family, which is a pretty good place to be. I’m just looking onwards and upwards and am looking to make a name for myself. Last time I beat him up with just my jab, this time I’m using my whole arsenal. I can guarantee that Sam hasn’t fought anybody like me before. I’m gonna box his head off.”
Manny Oshunrinde, against Sam Couzens features on the Graham Earl promoted ‘Redemption Day’ event which is co-headlined by fellow TKO Boxing Gym mate Leon ‘Solid’ Williams who defends the BBBofC Southern Area Cruiserweight title against Danny Couzens at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 7th May 2011.
Co-headlining will be the eagerly anticipated Paul Morby-Daniel Cadman rematch for the Southern Area Super Middleweight title. Heading up the support card for the two title fights sees Michael Grant making his first appearance as a lightweight.
