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Jamie McDonnell: ‘I still don’t get the credit I deserve’

Fighters Network
06
Apr
Photo by Lucas Noonan / Premier Boxing Champions

McDonnell (right) tags Tomoki Kameda. Photo by Lucas Noonan / Premier Boxing Champions

On Saturday, Jamie McDonnell will face Mexico’s Fernando Vargas in London, England, and the British bantamweight stalwart is looking to further bolster his reputation following two back-to-back, career-defining victories.

Last year, McDonnell ventured to Texas twice to score unanimous decision wins over the previously unbeaten Tomoki Kameda. The Englishman, who briefly held the IBF title, had kicked open the door to the bantamweight elite and the boxing world at large was finally forced to take notice.

“And I still don’t get the credit I deserve,” countered McDonnell, who is rated No. 4 by THE RING at 118 pounds. “It is what it is down at the smaller weight classes, but what can you do? On the positive side, I’m coming off two big wins over Kameda and now I’m at home for a massive pay-per-view card in the U.K. The show is also being broadcast in America, so I’m looking to impress.”

The fight will feature on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s IBF heavyweight title challenge against American Charles Martin. McDonnell’s original opponent, Juan Alberto Rosas, sustained a cut in sparring, leaving promotional outfit Matchroom Boxing with less than a week to find a suitable replacement.



Step forward the 27-year-old Fernando Vargas (29-9-3, 20 KOs), who is coming off a decision victory over former WBO junior featherweight titleholder Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. Interestingly, the Tijuana native has campaigned at featherweight or above over the last three years, so it will be interesting to see how easily he makes the 118-pound limit on Friday.

McDonnell said, “I haven’t watched him yet, but (trainer) Dave (Coldwell) has told me what to expect. I’m not going to worry about the change of opponent because I can’t do anything about it.

“In terms of my own preparation, we’ve been working on loads of new things to improve me as a fighter and I’m just looking forward to showcasing all of that on the night. I’ve come on leaps and bounds in terms of my movement, my defense and my power has also increased.”

There were many who expected McDonnell (27-2-1, 12 KOs) to be showing off his wares at junior featherweight in 2016. At 5-foot-10, he is simply massive for a 118-pound fighter and his move north is surely a matter of time.

But that’s not the way the fighter sees it.

“I have a nutritionist on board and I’m making the weight without a problem,” McDonnell said confidently. “I’m physically strong and I feel like a million dollars, so as long as (promoter) Eddie (Hearn) can get the fights at bantamweight, I’ll be staying.

“I don’t mind moving up to face the likes of (Scott) Quigg and (Carl) Frampton because I think I’d beat them both anyway. With that said, I’ll get Saturday out the way, put my feet up for a bit and make a decision on what to do next.”

As laid back an athlete as you could ever possibly meet, McDonnell openly admits that he is not a boxing fan. If a fight makes money, it makes sense and any potential career move the Doncaster man makes will be analyzed with that philosophy in mind.

This reporter brought up Lee Haskins, the new IBF bantamweight titleholder and the last man to defeat him in March 2008. McDonnell didn’t bite.

“I’m not really bothered,” he said with boredom in his voice. “I’ve moved on and even though Haskins holds a world title, he hasn’t proven that he belongs at this level. It’s not his fault, and I’m not slagging him off, but he didn’t win that belt in the ring.

“If I get paid the right money then we could fight Haskins, but it has to be worth it financially. If not, I could go after (Juan Carlos) Payano for the WBA title or Shinsuke Yamanaka for the WBC.”

No matter what happens, the volume-punching Englishman is determined to cross the Atlantic once again. And why not? He has gambled twice in the U.S. and twice he went home a winner.

“I’d really like to get back to America because I enjoyed my time out there,” McDonnell said. “You get the big fights and the big paydays and that’s what you dream of when you turn professional.

“My main objective on Saturday is to win and look impressive. If I can do that, there are plenty of big fights out there for me.”

Editor’s Note: McDonnell will be defending a version of the WBA bantamweight title which is unrecognized by THE RING.

Tom Gray is a member of the British Boxing Writers’ Association and has contributed to various publications. Follow him on Twitter: @Tom_Gray_Boxing

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