Birmingham-based middleweight Tommy Langford hopes to bring a close to his most successful year yet and prove just how ‘accomplished’ he has become.
The Barnstaple-born Brummie won the vacant WBO Intercontinental Middleweight title against Mexican Julio Cesar Avalos in July by unanimous decision, fulfilling one of the goals he had set for himself for the year, and hopes to continue in similar fashion in 2016.
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“It was always a target of mine to pick up the first title this season, which I’ve managed to do with the WBO Intercontinental Middleweight title which is a great title for me to win at this stage. It’s put me in the world rankings and now I’m at number five in the WBO rankings and there is a possibility now of the world titles next year” said Langford, reflecting on his title victory and position it has seen him climb to.
The tireless champion has attributed his improvements and success to the hard work he puts in during time in the gym, though he accepts there are still areas he can get even better in: “The things that have improved me as a boxer are all the things that I’ve been doing in the gym.
“Obviously now I have the title I’m doing longer training camps against tougher opposition – all the training is more focused. I’m at the stage now where if you make a mistake you get punished for it so it’s really important that in the ring you are polished.”
Langford squares off against Polish opponent Robert Swierzbinski on Frank Warren’s ‘Xmas Cracker card, which sees Billy Joe Saunders face Andy Lee for the WBO World Middleweight title in the main event of the same bill. Langford, looking to take his professional record to a perfect 15-0, has outlined his hopes to finish his bout – and his year – in style.
“I want a knockout! There are a few shots we have been working on in the training camp so it would be nice to put him away with one of those. I want to show how accomplished I am and the things that I can do.
“I’m feeling brilliant. I’ve had a really good camp – a top notch training camp. I’ve had some great sparring with Liam Smith who is world champion in the weight below me, so sparring with world champions has been really good.
“You wouldn’t say I’m at that level yet but I know I am because of how I have been doing in sparring and how I have been competing in there. We have developed a few things and it’s a confidence boosting spar – because of how well I have been doing in everything it has given me a lot of confidence.”
With Langford coming off the back of a very successful year, only time can tell how far the 26-year old can go in the boxing world.
