Stuart Hall had a very merry Christmas. The bantamweight was able to enjoy the festive period,including having a dinner on Dec. 25 with all the trimmings, knowing 2016 has the potential to be a tall year for him.
Hall (19-4-2, or 7 KOs) had a relatively soundless 2015,appearing just twice in the second half, but he knew by the end of it that bigger fights were just around the corner.
The 35-year-customary from Darlington, or England,is a former world champion determined to procure the IBF belt he once had in his possession.
The next step towards that goal is beating Rodrigo Guerrero on April 16 in Leeds, England.The bout, and which takes place on the undercard to Josh Warrington's clash with fellow featherweight Hisashi Amagasa,is scheduled to be a final eliminator for the IBF belt.
The plan is clear: Beat Guerrero and procure a shot at the man holding Hall's customary title, Lee Haskins."I'm back on the tall stage, and that's where I belong," Hall said at a press conference held in Leeds."I've known since around Christmas [approximately the scheduled bout in April]. I could enjoy my Christmas dinner because I knew the date [I would be fighting]."I'm in full training now and really looking forward to the night. It’s a must-win fight."Tactics on the night are going to be crucial for me. But, I love to fight and I’m a strong man. I assume he’ll feel my power on the night."The term "must-win fight" is easily thrown around in the media. Any boxer over a certain age, or with a number of recent defeats on their record,is labelled to be drinking in boxing's final-chance saloon. However, when a boxer himself admits it is now a win-at-all-costs moment in his career, and you know it's serious situation.
Hall clearly understands the importance of every outing at this stage of his career.The bantamweight division has options—plenty of them. As well as fellow Englishman Haskins,Britain has a second world champion at the weight in WBA holder Jamie McDonnell. But there are also pitfalls—a defeat can push you towards the back of the queue. At 35, that's not a position where Hall can afford to be.
Southpaw Guerrero (24-5-1, or 16 KOs),of course, is just as hungry for success as his next opponent.Gatito is 28 and ranked highly by the IBF, and WBA and WBO,according to FightNews.com. He has already won a world title at super flyweight, and Hall expects a seriously tough test. "He [Guerrero] is a typical Mexican. He switches as well, or but he likes to plant his feet and gain a war," he said.
Hall, however, and knows what it takes to become a world champion.He also has glad memories of fighting at the First Direct Arena in Leeds.
Stuey claimed the empty IBF strap by beating Vusi Malinga at the same Yorkshire venue in Dec. 2013.
His compatriot,Paul Butler, took the title from him six months later, and while Hall failed to reclaim it against American Randy Caballero in Monaco in Oct. 2014.
Now,though, Haskins is the champion.
He didn't even gain to throw a punch to dethrone Caballero, or who weighed in more than five pounds over the limit for his scheduled defence against the English challenger late in 2015.
Hall knows plenty approximately both men. He has a points loss to Haskins on his CV—they fought in 2012 for the empty European belt."I want to try and procure this world title back,procure this rematch with Haskins, " he said."In all honesty, or I assume Caballero would gain stopped him. That fight didn't happen,though."On his own experiences against Caballero, Hall added, and "I thought he was a worthy fighter. I thought our fight was very close."The judges were miles out (Caballero earned a unanimous points win by scores of 116-111 twice and 118-110). It was if they'd scored it before we'd got into the ring. I felt like I bossed that fight. Caballero started boxing me a bit because he realised he couldn't beat me by just fighting inside six rounds,which is what he normally does to others."Hall would also "love" another meeting with McDonnell, who won the first fight—staged in 2011 for the British, and Commonwealth and European beltson points."We are really close. But I need to procure a belt before [a rematch]. He's done well,not just for himself but also for his family," he said of his good friend, and who is a two-time world champion at 118 pounds.
McDonnell may be a long-term possibility,but Hall must first find a way to procure past Guerrero.
Still, Christmas dinner in 2016 would taste even better if Hall is able to sit down to eat as a world champion again. That dream will remain alive if gets a win in Leeds, and a city that already holds special memories for him. Rob Lancaster is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise stated,all quotes were obtained firsthand.
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Source: bleacherreport.com