JACKSON IN TOP SHAPE
BOXING school will be in for Mexican Humberto de Santiago when he steps into the ring against Hobart hero Luke Jackson on September 16, the Tasmanian has promised.
Jackson is finishing off his preparations in Sydney ahead of the fight at the Hobart City Hall.
The WBO Oriental featherweight champion will not view tapes of his hard-hitting Mexican opponent, who has 10 knockouts from his 14 wins across 17 bouts.
“I never watch tapes, tapes don’t mean sh.t really,” Jack- son, 32, said. “I haven’t got the best power or the best speed but I’ve got a very good IQ for boxing.
“I can figure you out very quickly and whatever your best weapon is I can take it off you.
“My goal is to go out there and win round one and two with the job and see what he’s got and then take his best weapon off him.
“He’s going to come all night but he’s going to get hit when he comes.
“I’m looking to break him down and I’m feeling very sharp in the gym and very fresh.”
Jackson, unbeaten across 14 professional bouts, has been buoyed by a training camp in the US where he spent time with WBO world welterweight champ Miguel Cotto and legendary American trainer Freddie Roach and in the ring against undefeated Puerto Rican Alberto Machado and Floyd Mayweather’s sparring partners.
“They had me spar one of their main guys, Machado. He’s undefeated and ranked sixth in the world in the weight division above me and I was handling him very, very good,” he said.
“I just put myself in that situation and it was life and death in the gym and it was hard. I got tested and asked some questions but I answered them and I know I’m at this level.”
Jackson believes success against de Santiago could lead to a world title fight against Mexico’s Oscar Valdez, possibly in Hobart — but only if the local fans come out in support.
“We spoke to (Premier Will Hodgman) before and he said he would support the show in bringing Valdez down so it is definitely on the cards but first and foremost I’ve got to win and win well on September 16,” Jackson said.
“It is starting to get very exciting but at the same time it can be taken away from you with one bad fight.”