Chris Blaney confident ahead of Last Man Standing rematch

Chris Blaney [11(3)-1(0)] believes he will be first over the line yet again as he heads into an interesting Ireland’s Last Man Standing rematch this weekend.

The Meath man fights Owen Jobburn for a second time in his career on Trafford Road in Manchester on Saturday and is confident it will be different format same result.

The pair were Last Man Standing rivals last March where Blaney outpointed [30-27, 30-27, 29-28] the game Stoke native over three rounds in the quarter-finals of the Prizefighter’style knockout tournament – with Blaney being defeated by Jack Cullen in the following round.

They renew acquaintances over four tomorrow [Saturday] night and, while ‘The Ginja Ninja’ knows he will have to earn it, he is more than confident of victory.

“He’s a game fighter and comes to win, so that’s a plus,” Blaney told Irish-Boxing.com ahead of his second fight back since recovering from a persistent eye issue.

“When I fought him the first time I was rushing in because I was worried about starting slow and it only being a three-round fight, so I think this fight will be better for me.”

Jobburn [5(1)-3(1)-1] has enjoyed mixed results since the pair meet last year, losing to Ryan Kelly for a Midlands Area title as well as shipping a shock defeat to journeyman Gary Cooper.

The 30-year-old steadied the ship with a win over Chris Jenkinson last time out and, while the defeats takes some shine off his record, the Ricky Hatton trained Blaney is predicting he will have to be at his best to secure victory.

“I wouldn’t rate him as a journeyman,” explained the popular Navan man.

“He lost against a good lad for a title and lost against a journeyman after fighting me, but I know I have to be at my best and preform to my best to beat him again,” he adds before stressing he is confident of victory.

“I only see me winning, every fight I get in the ring I see me winning. I’ll take the points win, anything better than that is a bonus.”

Interestingly enough, the Navan favourite is down to fight on May 24th – less than three weeks after this Jobburn fight.

It’s the kind of schedule the fighter who missed just under a year through injury has been calling for, but a fight a schedule he doesn’t want to tempt fate by talking about.

“I am not saying much about my next fight just in case anything happens in this fight. I’m not looking over Owen,” Blaney promised.

“I’ve a job to do first, but after this fight yes I want to be very busy this year with titles,” he adds before revealing he has enjoyed a smooth camp.

“Camp has gone great as always and I am looking forward to putting on a show, and making a statement this year.”

Photo Credit – Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)