Billy Corcoran is confident that he will beat Carl Johanneson on Wednesday 12th July at the York Hall in Bethnal Green to become the fourth member of the Hennessy Sports team to currently hold a British Title.
The pair had been due to face off for the vacant super featherweight belt in Leeds, but problems with securing a suitable venue have resulted in a switch to the atmospheric home of domestic Boxing.
"I wish the fight was tomorrow," said Corcoran, on hearing that the date had been finalised. "I can’t wait for it. I’m one of those boxers who love to fight. I don’t like waiting around and sitting on my hands, I’m always buzzing. I’m always in the gym and I don’t care who I fight. I just want to get in there, have a tear-up and prove myself. "
Corcoran’s edge of your seat approach of relentlessly, but effectively, pouring forward and throwing a high volume of shots has earned him a reputation as one of the most exciting developing talents in Britain. Johanneson, who favours the hook, is of the same ilk. This is one to savour.
"I don’t like to take a backwards step and neither does he," added Billy. "I can see it all going off in the middle. Johanneson’s manager Rick Manners said this is going to be about two gunslingers going at it and I think he’s got it right. Some boxers going into this fight might consider playing it cute for a few rounds, but I don’t think either of us has got that in us. That wouldn’t come natural."
The 25-year-old remains typically confident in himself, despite facing someone who will adopt similar tactics.
"I think I will be able to better everything he throws at me," he predicted. "Thanks to my trainer Robert McCracken I am always getting better and I am in great shape. I will be able to handle any pace he sets. I have also started to punch harder as well. I may not have stopped my last two - they came to survive - but I always feel that I have it in me to knock out any fighter who comes to win."
Corcoran demonstrated this when winning the English title last November. After a lively opening two rounds at the York Hall, he floored former British Champion Roy Rutherford with a picture-perfect right hand. Rutherford beat the count, but his corner pulled him out at the end of the third session.
Johanneson has secured more than his fair share of stoppages. In his 23 wins he has stopped 16, last time out impressively knocking out Andrew Ferrans in a final eliminator for the British Championship. That they can both dig is yet another element of this fight’s attraction.
"It won’t be for the faint-hearted," said Mick Hennessy, promoter of the contest. "Billy is one of the most exciting fighters we have got. Johanneson is also great to watch and both can be explosive. I think were going to see a war between talented warriors who always give their all."
Should he win Corcoran will join his teammates Carl Froch, (super middleweight), Lenny Daws, (light welterweight), and Lee Meager, (lightweight), as current British title holders. He will also follow in the footsteps of fellow Hennessy Sports fighters and former Lonsdale belt holders Junior Witter, (light welterweight), and Howard Eastman, (middleweight).
"Things are going brilliantly for the team at the moment and I can’t wait to be a part of that," said ‘The Kid’ Corcoran. "The success says a lot about Robert and Mick. They have brought us through from day one with the right training, guidance and backing and now we are fighting for proper titles. We could have been taken the route of fringe titles, but you don’t have to go that route if you are genuinely talented. Rob and Mick have always had faith in us and given us the right opportunities. We are now starting to pay that back."
