SPECIAL BRANCH
James Branch on achieving his target in the amateur code
YOU won the Elite championships last year at 86kgs. Were you staying amateur to win that title?
I got to the final in 2014 and I said that’s it, let’s win the ABAS. I boxed Warren Baister in 2014, that was a hard one. I’d boxed so many times and beaten some good names coming through that year. I boxed eight times to get through to the final. Me and my dad just said let’s win the senior ABAS, because I’m always talking about winning the senior ABAS, and then we’re going to turn professional after. So that’s what I’ve done. How difficult was your final with Bryce Goodridge?
He’s an awkward fighter as well. He’s very tall, very tall. It was good. The superheavyweight [Chez Nihell, who won the Elites in April] I boxed and beat him as well. I beat him in the semis as well. It’s good I’ve done well.
I’m only 22, everyone forgets. I know I’ve been around for so many years, everyone thinks I’m older than I am but I’m only 22. So I’ve got the time so I can take it slow and develop.
With your father having won a lot as an amateur, were you feeling pressure?
There was and there wasn’t a lot of pressure. Because I noticed going through the amateurs, even though I won everything, I never really got out of my dad’s shadow… I never really got the recognition for what I was winning, which in a way was good. I suppose when I got to the seniors the pressure did start to mount. But I enjoy that pressure … going in there, putting on a performance.
Do you feel by turning pro [Branch will make his debut June 23 at the O2 in London] you’ll move out of
‘I’M ONLY 22. EVERYONE FORGETS, I’VE BEEN AROUND FOR SO MANY YEARS’
his shadow?
I feel like I’m making my own name now… I’m going to finish off what he started. He was meant to go the whole way, he was the next big thing. He didn’t make it but I’m going to finish off what he started. You boxed Lawrence Okolie, you beat him once, then he beat you in the London final, what can you tell us about those bouts?
We just went for it. It sets it up, one day who knows? As I go up the ladder and he’s going up the ladder, I’m sure it would be very interesting. It would be number three. I’d love that. Imagine that, it would be a great event.
We went toe-to-toe, it was nine minutes of action. Toe-to-toe the whole time… Down the line I think it would be a massive event.