Ian “Dappa” Napa v Jamie McDonnell on 22nd January 2010

LONDON, UK –  With the first defense, of his second reign as British Bantamweight Champion, looming large, Hackney’s IAN ‘DAPPA’ NAPA, instead of relaxing with his family over Christmas and New Year holidays, has been hard at work in the gym training.

‘Dappa’ Napa, who faces Jamie McDonnell on Friday the 22nd January at the Brentwood Centre in Brentwood, Essex, took a little time off from his grueling workout routine, at Rooney’s Boxing Gym in South East London, to talk about his preparations for this highly significant fight. “I’m not taking this fight lightly. I’ve really been working hard in the gym, getting in as much time as I can. Been getting lots of good sparring as well.

The only thing the bad weather has really affected is my running routine. Instead of road work we’ve been going to leisure centres and running on treadmills.”

When asked about his nomination to face Frenchman Jerome Arnould for the European title Napa replied. “Yeah I’d like to get the European title again but right now I’m really focused on the fight with Jamie. It’s a serious fight and I’ve got to do what it takes to win this first. I’ve been studying a DVD of his (Jamie McDonnell). You know, I boxed at the same gym as him and seen him fight a few times before, so I’m pretty confident.”

Napa’s coach, Brian Lawrence, chipped in at this point saying “We’ve got the European, but we’ve got to get past this fight (against McDonnell) first. The purse bid (for the European title fight) takes place just before the fight with McDonnell.”

British boxing fans are in for a treat as the undercard of Napa vs McDonnell is stacked with top class match-ups including Napa’s gym mate Ben Murphy 6(3KOs)-2-1 challenging Lee ‘Cooky’ Cook 12(3)-1(1)-1 for his BBBofC Southern Area Lightweight title and unbeaten Ashley Sexton 8(4)-0 and Usman Ahmed 6-2-1 battling it out for the vacant English Flyweight crown.

That’s not all, by a long shot, as the card also includes; heavy hitting knockout artist Larry ‘The War Machine’ Olubamiwo 6(5)-1 against Scott Belshaw 10(7)-3(2) in a 6 round heavyweight contest. Liam ‘Cannonball’ Cameron 2-0 vs. Geraint Harvey 7(3)-44(7)-0 at Middleweight.

‘Dappa’ Napa’s highly talented stable mate, Super Middleweight,  Erick ‘The Eagle’ Ochieng 2-0 is also in action, against Plymouth’s Gavin Brook 1(1)-4(2)-1, at this event.

Southampton’s awkward southpaw Tony Hill 3(1)-0 in a Middleweight contest against Latvian Alex ‘Pit Bull’ Spitko 6(4)-19(8)-0. Peterborough’s undefeated Super Bantamweight Michael Maguire 5(2)-0 takes on another Latvian in Pavels Senkovs 2(2)-11-2.

The highly entertaining Featherweight ‘Kash The Bash’ (Akaash Bhatia) 14(5)-1-0 takes on West Ham‘s awkward southpaw Mickey Coveney 9(1)-8(2)-0 and Swanley Welterweight Martin Walsh 3(1)-0  faces debutant Terry Fletcher.

Also on the card are undefeated duo of Heavyweight Tom Dallas 8(6)-0 and Super Middleweight George Groves 7(5)-0  as well as former WBF Super Featherweight Champion Carl Johanneson 27(19)-4(3)-0.