Drawing on the positives – Blaney won’t let stalemate stop his title hunt

Chris Blaney admits not quite getting the job done against Owen Jobburn is a slight ‘setback’, but is adamant he won’t let the draw prevent him from challenging for a title at home in September.

The Navan favourite fought former Last Man Standing opponent Jobburn for a second time in Manchester over the weekend and shared the spoils over four rounds.

It wasn’t ideal, but for a fighter mid-return from a long injury, a four-round stalemate versus a game opponent isn’t the worst result.

‘The Ginja Ninja’ certainly doesn’t think so and points out it won’t prevent him fighting for a title come September.

The Meath man wasn’t forthcoming as to the who, when, or the what in terms of that title, but there have been rumours circulating that he many face Westmeath’s JJ McDonagh in an Irish title fight on a TG4-broadcast show in the Autumn.

“It’s a bit of a setback but it’s not going to stop what we have planned. We are looking for title in September back in Ireland,” Blaney told Irish-Boxing.com. 

Blaney, who fights over six rounds in Northampton as early as May 25th, felt he did enough to claim victory over the weekend, but the Ricky Hatton-trained former BUI Celtic champion admits his opponent did as predicted bring his A game.

“It wasn’t a great night,” he adds with a smile. 

“I didn’t really feel myself in there but that’s taking nothing away from Jobburn. I knew he was going to be tough.”

“I thought I won the first three rounds. I felt I was catching him with cleaner shots. I did feel I lost the last round, but that’s the way it goes,” he adds before assuring he didn’t underestimate before assuring he didn’t under estimate the 29-year-old Stoke slugger. 

“I knew what way he was going to be – and with it only being a four rounder I knew he was going to come and give it a good go.”