BOXING ACE MAY DROP A WEIGHT
BRAMPTON boxer Josh Wale could be set to drop down to bantamweight, in a bid to improve himself ahead of a new assault at gold, writes Liam Hoden
Finding a breed of opponent to test him before moving up to championship level has proved difficult for the highly rated prospect at his natural super bantamweight so he could opt for a spell at a lighter weight to aid his improvement, dad and trainer Mick Wale told the Times.
He said: "The bantamweight division is much stronger than super bantamweight at the level Josh needs to be.
"There is too big a gap between the journeymen and the top level so it's hard for him to get in there with the right kind of opponent who can bring him on.
"Josh weighed in for his last fight just two pounds over the bantamweight limit and he probably went into the ring just four pounds over so he's there or thereabouts naturally.
"And there's some good kids in there who Josh can go up against and really get that experience he needs for the title fights."
Wale failed in his first bid to become English super bantamweight champion after being out-pointed by Matthew Marsh in September. The difference in experience told as the fight wore on with Marsh's bouts at the top level of domestic boxing proving the advantage he needed to fend off his young challenger.
Mick said: "Josh has never had anyone to really test him and get him ready for that kind of fight. You come against kids who just want to survive because they know you're going to go straight at them.
"Marsh dug in, his experience showed and with the massive weight advantage he had it was always going to be difficult for Josh."
Suggestions of drop down the weight classes sets up the possibility of a mouth-watering local clash between Wale and Dunscroft's Jamie McDonnell who now trains with Stefy Bull at the Empress Ballrooms.
McDonnell is the current English champion at bantamweight and the type of opponent Wale would go after.
Mick said: "McDonnell is a good fighter and he's someone we'd be keen on. And there's Ian Napa who has got all the experience in the world. These are the boxers we want be be coming up against".
Wale returns to the ring on December 4 at the Doncaster Dome when he takes on Jason Thomas.
"It isn't the exact type of fight we were after at the minute but it keeps him ticking over," Mick said.
"We ideally wanted it over six rounds because experience over the longer fights is what Josh needs.
"But Thomas didn't want that, he would only do four so we'd rather have that than nothing at all.
"These lads aren't keen on going longer than four because they know they'll struggle to last the longer distances. It's all about surviving for them."
The senior Wale will be in his son's corner for the first time when he takes to the ring at the Dome after becoming a licensed coach.
He said: "When Josh fought Marsh it was awful for me to not be able to go over and tell him what he needed to be told. Since he left Dave Coldwell he's had every Tom, Dick and Harry in his corner.
"Me being in there will give him some stability and someone he can trust. I’ll not be shuffling in my seat as much either.”
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