Pro ranks suit Haigh’s style
MACCLESFIELD boxer Jake Haigh believes the professional ranks will bring out the best of him as he prepares to make his debut this weekend.
The 22-year-old supermiddleweight will be competing in a bout at Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke-on-Trent on Saturday evening.
Haigh is trained and promoted by boxing legend Ricky Hatton, and he’s looking forward to getting his career underway.
“I’m very excited. I just want to get in the ring now and put everything together. I enjoyed the amateurs but I think the pros will suit me better,” he said. “I always strug- gled to balance the tournaments with working and going to university as an amateur, but I’m a pro now and I think being able to train everyday will bring out the best in me.
“It’s been a big transition coming into pros. It’s a slower pace and you get to sit down on your punches more so I can’t wait for the night to come so I can put what Ricky has taught me in the gym into practice.”
Haigh has studied the game for many years, and despite having Hatton in his corner, it’s one of the Hitman’s former rivals who the youngster takes inspiration from.
“Ricky will hate me for saying it but I really love to watch Floyd Mayweather. I like how he could use his opponent’s attacks against them by rolling with the punches and then finding the openings,” he said.
“I didn’t used to, but I’ve started to watch a lot of fighters and I’m taking little bits from each. If I see someone do something I like, I’ll try and add it to my game but I won’t try and replicate their style as such.
“I like boxing on the back foot, picking people off, but Ricky is teaching me all the tricks of fighting on the inside as well. You can’t get a better teacher for that kind of boxing than him.”
Haigh’s fight takes place on a bill which sees highly-touted heavyweight prospect Nathan Gorman take on Sheffield’s David Howe for the vacant Central Area title in the main event.
The card also features two further title fights as unbeaten welterweights Craig Morris and Nathan McIntosh clash for the Midlands Area crown, while Stoke’s Kieron McLaren meets Chris Adaway in a British Challenge title bout.
Tickets are still available for the event and can be purchased from www. hattonboxing.com