Whilst in training for a low key clash with Gary Cooper for the vacant Welsh middleweight title, 30 year-old Kerry Hope received a call that sees him on the cusp of joining an exclusive roll call of Welsh fighters who have reigned supreme in Europe. Hope, from the fighting town of Merthyr Tydfil that has produced such boxing luminaries such as the legendary Jimmy Wilde, Howard Winstone and Eddie Thomas, faces a daunting task when he squares off in a surprise chance against current European middleweight champion
Grzegorz Proksa on March 17 on the undercard of Kell Brook and Matthew Hatton.
Having defeated Tony Hill in a British title eliminator back in October last year, Hope expressed his frustration at not landing his shot at Martin Murray when Secondsout caught up with him as he relaxed at home. “Yeah nothing really materialised after beating Tony in the eliminator, I don’t understand what it was all about, it ended up being just another fight. I respect Martin Murray probably wants to fight for a world title or against Barker, but I got myself into a position to fight for the title so yes it has been frustrating.”
With Matchroom having extended Proksa’s contract in October 2011 it looks clear to most observers that a match between the undefeated Pole and Barker won’t be made until one or both men have won a world title, something that doesn’t surprise Hope. “He’s dangerous and pretty much avoided, but I can see why they (Barker and Murray) aren’t too keen to face him yet. With me though nothing has materialised down the British route and I think Proksa has under estimated me, I fancy myself to pull off an upset.”
Asked if he had to sit down and mull over the pros and cons of taking this fight, Hope was adamant now is the right time. “At the end of the day I know I’ve got three defeats on my record but you need to look at the reasons I lost those fights. The fight against Matthew Hall I was so weak at the weight (light middleweight) I was starving myself two or three days before just to make 11 stone so my punch resistance just wasn’t there. As for Taz Jones I got cut twice on the same eye from head butts and I thought I was winning the fight. No doubt about it I’ve been brought in as the opponent but I’ve trained hard and this is a massive chance for me.”
Training under the tutelage of Bolton based Karl Ince, the man from the valleys seems settled and happy with the way his career is developing, but like many fighters he has had to search out the right man, the right fit, as he explained to Secondsout. “I was training with Enzo Calzaghe in the same gym as Joe and to be honest it didn’t work out. He tried to train me the same as Joe, but all fighters are different. As an amateur I stopped a fair few of my opponents but Enzo killed my power, all those arm and slapping punches just isn’t me- It was still great experience training with those guys.”
The American adventure is another box already ticked under the heading of life experience for the Merthyr southpaw, and although in the end it didn’t work out he is grateful the opportunity arose. “I was training out there with John Tandy and I could have stayed, the standard of living was fantastic but I got some bad decisions and I thought to myself I’m too good to be used- so I came home. I missed out on the chance to fight at Madison Square Garden as well because my opponent failed to make weight, but in the end it was the right choice to come back.”
Hope’s final contest over in America culminated in a wide point’s loss to the undefeated Caleb Truax back in November 2009 and his subsequent return to the UK set about a chain of events that would see him out of the ring for 16 months. “When I returned home I was suspended by the board” explained Hope. “I was still licensed here but I forgot to tell them I was going out to the states to fight so they suspended me and I got a fine, it was stupid really. Then we had fights in place and people started pulling out so it wasn’t like I wanted a break, things just happened that way.”
After the disappointment of winning an eliminator that came to nothing, the prefight underdog is keen to grasp his big opportunity with both hands. “I’m going out there with a game plan” said Hope. “I won’t go gun shy and just turn up so he can get a win. When he beat Sylvester for the belt that fight made him look good, in fairness to Sebastian he’s at the end of his career, but I’m ready to go 12 hard rounds”
If he can make good on his prediction and bring back the European title on March 17, then the likeable Welshman may well get that fight he craves with Martin Murray later this year
