Eager to learn Callum Bradley celebrates getting punched in the face

Callum Bradley [3-0] had just fought, won and impressed on a massive show all in just his third fight.

However, when given the chance to delight in his progress since turning over as recent as March the young prospect rejoiced in a strange aspect of the fight.

Speaking after his Feile clash just over a week ago ‘Cool’ was most content with the fact he took, literally and figuratively a big shot clean on the chin.

The Omagh fighter felt shipping a shot was the one box he hadn’t ticked yet as a pro- and despite a comfortable victory over somewhat step up opposition in Jose Hernandez [4(3)-26(7)-1] Bradley was happiest with the fact his chin passed the smaller glove test.

“I got caught with a good shot in the third round and I recovered straight away,” he tells Irish-boxing.com.

“I am happy I recovered and happy I got caught in a strange way. I have never been caught clean with these smaller gloves. You going to have to take a shot in your career so I am happy I took that shot and dealt with it. It’s something I have been waiting to see. I wanted to know how much difference there is between getting caught in sparring and in a fight. It wasn’t an issue for me.”

The 20-year-old was always expected to beat his Mexican opponent, but Hernandez was more ambitious than his two previous foes and did ask some questions, albeit answerable ones.

Bradley was happy to with the increased level of threat and suggests it allowed him to show what he is capable of.

“It was the first decent scrap I had. He was very tough. I like them kind of fights. I have been working on going forward for this stage of my career, but I am used to fighting on the back foot and I enjoy it.

“He was very tough, we knew he would be. I watched him and knew he would come forward and swing over the top, so we were ready for that.

“You don’t stop a lad like that with just four rounds. I knew to just pick the head off him and to use the jab. He kept coming forward and forward and it was a great learning fight for me and I think I learnt while putting on a good performance.”

There was an obvious increase in activity from the multiple time Irish underage champion at the Falls Park.

Being more aggressive has been something he has been worked on and encouragingly for his team he took it into the fight.

“In my last fight I was very patient and was waiting too much, so we have been working on using my jab, moving forward and throwing more punches.”

The young prospect seems to look at his early days fights as learning experiences and he is keen to soak up as much know how before he progresses to title level, which is a stage he feels he doesn’t have to reach anytime soon.

“There are things I think I can work on and that’s without watching it back, but it’s early in my career. These are great learning fights. I am not knocking lads out in the first round, you don’t want that. I am learning all the time.

“I am only 20 years of age. There is no point in me calling out people and looking for titles. Personally I will take 10 to 12 learning fights. I will learn for two years if I had to. I am only young.”