Ricky Boylan feels his first career loss in November was a blessing in disguise ahead of his English title challenge at the O2 Arena tomorrow night.
The Carshalton light-welterweight faces 20-year-old Tommy Martin for the same strap he failed to beat Tyler Goodjohn for last year.
The 26-year-old though is looking at the positives of suffering his first defeat as a professional and is confident of tomorrow’s outcome after a full training camp with his new trainers Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis – who he joined after splitting from previous trainer Alan Smith before the Goodjohn fight.
“It was a weight off my shoulders in a way, I would have done anything to have won the fight with Tyler, but it’s a blessing in disguise losing the unbeaten record,” he said.
“We’ve looked back at the fight and seen where I have gone wrong. I’ll have had a full training camp with Jamie and Nigel in Manchester for this one and I’ll be looking to right those wrongs and come out on top.”
Martin also fought at the O2 Arena that same night Boylan lost to Goodjohn, stopping Matty Tew in seven rounds after recovering from a second-round knockdown.
The two men will contest for the vacant English title after Goodjohn vacated it in order to fight for the WBC International title on the same bill.
Despite Martin’s confidence ahead of the fight, Boylan feels his experience will be key.
“Tommy told me at the press conference that this would be his easiest fight to date,” he said.
“I am not saying that I have boxed at a really high level, but he certainly hasn’t and I think that this is too early for him and I will be going home with the English title.”
Elsewhere on the bill, Croydon flyweight star Charlie Edwards makes his professional debut after signing with Matchroom Boxing in December.
The 21-year-old European bronze medallist will face Craig Derbyshire in what will be his first step towards a British title shot, which he aims to fight for within a year.
Edwards, whose next fight will be in March, has been backed for big things by flyweight legend Charlie Magri.
The bill is topped by Kevin Mitchell’s clash with Daniel Estrada for the WBC silver lightweight title and a mandatory challenger spot for the world title.
Image of Tommy Martin (left) and Ricky Boylan (right) courtesy of iFL TV via YouTube, with thanks
