Jada Karam ready to strengthen McCormack friendship with all-out war

Jade Karam [9(4)-9(4)-2] claims his friendship with Graham McCormack [3(0)-0] will be stronger after six rounds of war in the National Stadium tomorrow.

The Cork-based South African and the Limerick southpaw are close friends and agreed to fight over a cup of tea in McCormack’s kitchen.

It’s all about business and winning for both on the ‘Clash of the Titans’ card this coming weekend and Karam is adamant he is ready for 18 minutes of all out war.

However, rather than put some distance between the pair or add rivalry to their relationship, the Johannesburg-born hardman claims it will only cement a real bond.

Karam has twice fought close friends back in his homeland and claims the experience only proved to bring them closer.

“We said that we are mates and that it is nothing personal but we have to fight sooner or later and its just business. After the fight we will still be mates,” Karam told Irish-Boxing.com about his now infamous tea drinking session with ‘G-Train’. 

“It is strange but back home I fought two of my best mates and it made our bond stronger. It’s a big respect thing sharing a ring with someone that you have no hard feelings for both before and after no matter what the result.”

Karam also assures fans that the fight will be all the more entertaining because the pair are friends.

He also warns McCormack that friendship will go out the window for six rounds and that he is coming to inflict damage.

“Our closeness wont effect my performance in the least. If anything it will make me fight harder.

“I expect a super fit Graham to pitch up and try make me tired and get into my head and break my game plan. What he expects will not be exactly what he gets on Saturday. I predict a six round war.”

The adopted Cork man goes into the bout off the back of six straight results, but claims that doesn’t bring pressure.

Karam claims he knows the circumstances behind those reverses four of which came against Irish opposition and one of which saw him almost force a stoppage before losing on points.

The Blackpool resident warns people against making a quick judgement of his record and points out he has fought in six weight divisions since turning over in 2015.

“Look, it’s been a six loss run, but what people dont realise is my record is made up from six different weight divisions. I am more comfortable at middle and light middle so I feel confident ahead of this fight and at this weight. 

“If I lose it’s back to the drawing board and onto the next one. I know many world champions who have gone through slumps in their careers and got through it. I am not the best boxer in the world but I have something no coach can teach and that’s heart. I’ll fight anyone at any time. I never turn down a fight.”

Tickets for ‘Clash of the Titans’ cost €40 (general), €60 (ringside), and €100 (VIP) and are available from the boxers involved or Ticketmaster (CLICK HERE).