My preparation’s going well for Malik Bouziane, says Jamie McDonnell

European and Commonwealth bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell says preparations for his March 3 European title defence against Malik Bouziane are going to plan and that he is confident of victory.

Doncaster-based McDonnell has had to deny reports that he has left Stefy Bull and Dave Hulley to work with Kevin Sanders, former trainer of Nigel Benn, but says his training for the Bouziane fight are going to plan.

“Everything’s going good,” McDonnell said. “I’d been training before Christmas so, before I ever got back into the gym I was fitter than I’ve ever been [before beginning to train].

“I don’t want to peak too soon so it’s been steady – I’m already fit. Things are coming together now, I’ve started sparring for a good week and I’m feeling good. It’s all coming together, just as it should.”

McDonnell is on a 10 fight winning streak that includes rigorous battles against fellow Briton Stuart Hall and Belgian Stephane Jamoye but believes Bouziane is likely to be a different challenge.

“Physically, this isn’t going to be a 100mph fight like the [Stephane] Jamoye fight, or Stuey Hall – they were pretty intense and flat out,” he said. “This fight’s going to be more – I’m going to have to take it to him a bit, I think he’s going to stand off and box – he’s a counter puncher, and he picks his shots.

“It’s going to be a hard fight – a thinking fight. My tactics need to be right; if I get them wrong he could beat me on points. It’s not going to be as tough and flat out as [some of] my other fights.

“I feel like I’m that close to a world-title shot, I can’t let it slip. I need to put that hard work in and get my tactics spot on. I believe I can beat anyone, I genuinely believe I’m going to be a world champion.

“Everytime [I fight] I’m confident. A world title fight sometime this year would be great.

“I’m a good boxer anyway but in my last two fights I’ve had to get stuck in. I were a good amateur; I’m a good thinking fighter. I just have to take it to him a little bit but I think he’s going to counter and he’s good at what he does.

“If I take it to him, and rough him up a little bit, I think I can make an easy night’s work of it. But that’s just me being confident.”

Tickets for Jamie McDonnell versus Malik Bouziane can be purchased from www.frankmaloney.com

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