Ducker ready to take opportunity in Super Series
SHEPSHED’S Joe Ducker believes he has a secret weapon getting him to the top of his game ahead of his opening test in this weekend’s BCB’s Midlands Boxing Super Series.
Eight super featherweights have been paired for four six-round bouts when the elimination tournament begins at Walsall Town Hall on Sunday (October 15).
The competition will play out to a final, with the Midlands title up for grabs, and take place over three separate shows, staged by BCB Promotions.
Ducker was present at the Grosvenor Casino in Walsall, for the draw and was paired with Luke Jones, from Chasetown in Staffordshire.
Jones has managed to get a keep-busy contest under his belt since, outpointing Andy Harris after a four-round outing, while Ducker last saw ring action at the end of June, defeating Joe Beeden over the distance.
The 32-year-old gas engineer, from Shepshed trains in Derby at the base of father-and-son coaching team Mike and Jay Shinfield.
Now Rendall Munroe, the Shinfield’s star graduate and former British, Commonwealth and European champion who challenged for WBC world honours, has joined his camp.
He travels to Leicester once a week to work with Munroe, who is retired but still in great shape and now has a boxing and fitness gym.
Ducker can see the weight dropping off him but still feels healthy and strong, due to assistance from the city’s top fighter in recent years.
“It’s the first time I’ve really been this involved with Rendall and I’m seeing the benefits. He’s been up there and you can see why.
“He’s got so much knowledge to pass on, it’s the little things that are making a big difference and it needs to, as I’ve never made super feather before.
“This is the first time I’ve had any sort of notice, too, so I’ve got no excuse not to be at my best and Rendall is helping me to do that.”
Ducker has boxed some prospects over his nine pro outings so far, leading to a chequered record of three wins, four losses and two draws.
Ducker insists he knows what to expect from Jones, nearly nine years his junior at 23 with four wins, a draw and a loss on his ledger.
He said: “I’ve seen bits of Luke and he’s got nothing I haven’t seen before. I’ll be ready for what he can bring.
“He’s a front foot fighter with fast hands who works the body well, but I don’t think he’ll be able to handle my strength coming down in weight.
“There’s no one in this that I’m afraid of. I’m not looking past Jones, so I’m not bothered who i get in the semis.
“I like the look of Josh Baillie, he’s a good operator and he can switch hit.”
Apart from Ducker-Jones; unbeaten Indi Sangha replaces former Midlands champion Paul Holt, who this week announced his retirement. Sangha takes on Waqas Mohammed, Josh Baillie takes on Louis Fielding with Manny Zaber tackling Jack Summers. Alex Florence and Dilly Singh also feature.