Martin Wall hoping to build towards Tony Nellins fight following New York detour
Martin Wall [1(1)-0] didn’t get to take a bite of the Big Apple or anything overly appetizing on a quick trip to New York last week but stocked up some edible goodies so he can celebrate a second pro win in style this Saturday night.
The fighting fan is scheduled to face tough Bulgarian Radoslav Mitev[11(3)-43(16)-2] on the Celtic Clash 7 card this coming Saturday night, but took the fight despite having a trip to New York already scheduled.
The new to the pro ranks welterweight wasn’t going to pass up the chance to travel Stateside but points out the recent trip was more change of training surroundings than jolly up.
Indeed, rather than hamper his second pro camp, he believes it may have freshened things up – although it did leave him with some food envy.
“New York was actually a nice change of surroundings for several days and the gym in the hotel was open 24 hours so I kept the training going,” he told Irish-boxing.com.
“Sure we were walking all day everyday anyway but yeah I probably would have enjoyed some more food if I didn’t have the fight. I’ve a drawer full of American sweets for Sunday though!”
“Camp overall hasn’t been too bad, slightly different from my camp for my debut but nothing too bad. However there’s always room for improvement.”
Wall takes on an experienced Bulgarian well known to the Irish small hall regular at Good Counsel GAA club this weekend.
Mitev will man the away corner for the eleventh time against Irish opposition. Surprisingly, for such a boxing nut, the Crumlin BC graduate doesn’t know too much about a fighter that faced Belfast’s Tony Nellins – a prospective future opponent of Wall – just a few days ago.
However, he knows enough to predict the well traveled journeyman has the capability to bank rounds, something the qualified accountant is happy with.
“I’m actually quite happy with the opponent as he’s an experienced lad who I expect to give me a few rounds. I haven’t seen much of him though apart from boxing Finbarr Eade and Succo years ago which I can hardly remember,” he added before steering clear of of making a prediction.
With Nellins having gone the distance with the Magyar last week there would be a temptation to look for the stoppage but Wall, who is keen for domestic dust-ups, is staying level-headed.
The Dubliner explained that “I won’t make any predictions as I never go in there with the intention of doing anything other than using my boxing and sticking to the game plan. I’ll box and use my head but, of course, if the opportunity presents itself then I’ll go for the finish.”
“Of course I would [want to do better than Nellins v Mitev] but that’s the competitive side to me – I’ll always want to outdo any Irish lads if we have a mutual opponent.”
“But I’m smart enough to know that styles make fights and boxing maths doesn’t exist as one punch can change a fight.”
The Nellins angle remains an interesting one, however, and the respectful pair have both stated their willingness to fight on social media this week
It’s not a pairing that would entertain a Dancing With the Stars audience but Wall believes both he and Nellins could produce a fight version of the ‘tango’ that could entertain Irish fight fans.
The Jay Byrne-managed welter adimitted that “a fight with Tony would definitely be interesting as he’s a good lad from what I saw when he fought on the same night Shortty Carroll fought Jamesy Gorman but nothing is personal .”
“I’m open to fighting any of the lads around my weight just to give Irish boxing fans the type of fights they deserve.”
“No bullshit and no call outs just an open invitation to tango.”
Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)
