Africa-Press – Namibia. NATHANAEL ‘Natty’ Kakololo intends to upstage World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver champion Nick Ball when they go head to head for the title at the Copper Box Arena in London tomorrow.
The redemption-seeking Kakololo (14-3-1, 6KOs) faces the British featherweight revelation only three weeks after he accepted the fight – a move some observers feel was rushed and may come back to haunt him.
Speaking to Desert Radio yesterday, the former African Boxing Union champion said paperwork was the reason the fight against Ball (15-0, 8KOs) was kept confidential until recently.
“After Otjiwarongo, where I won the WBA Africa title, I went back to the gym. We announced it late, but we knew way before,” Kakololo said.
English prospect Ball is looking to use tomorrow’s bout as a tune-up fight for bigger challenges.
The ferocious Liverpool puncher was originally due to fight for the vacant British title against Commonwealth featherweight champion Nathaniel Collins, but the Scot was forced to withdraw due to injury.
Kakololo is adamant that the abbreviated time frame for taking the fight will not be a factor tomorrow.
The 33-year-old said he is not deterred by Ball, who is under pressure to defend the WBC Silver title.
Ball’s fighting style entices him and intends to make him miss and then punish, he said.
“I don’t feel any pressure. Nick Ball fought other people and won all those fights simply because he did not fight me. I have watched him fighting . . .
“I see a guy who comes forward. He is a bulldozer, he is a bully, but I feel no pressure,” Kakololo said.
“That is the type of fight I want. I like someone who comes forward, someone who brings the fight to me, and then I make him look stupid,” he said.
“I’m very fit, and I’m feeling so good, so excited, I cannot wait for Saturday.”
Although Kakololo is coming off three straight wins, he said his fights against Ukraine’s Oleg Malinovskyi and Russian Andranik Grigorian last year which he lost have taught him to be less comfortable in fights and put in as much effort as possible.
“The game plan is to keep him at the jabs. He likes to bully you, come inside and wrestle you . . . We want to make sure we keep him away, he misses, and make him pay,” he said.
Ball won plenty of plaudits after announcing himself on the big stage in April, when he pummelled his more seasoned compatriot Isaac Lowe for six rounds before the referee stopped the fight.
There is no more basking in his Wembley glory for Ball.
“Nothing has changed for me though. It has just made me train even harder, to be honest, and focus more, because I have got something to lose now with the title, and I don’t want to lose that,” he told Ring News 24.
“Everyone seems to know who I am now. I’ve enjoyed it, and it’s been alright, but you can’t switch off, and you’ve got to stay focused. I’ve appreciated all the support.”
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