Muay Thai to shine – Jaime Morrissey ready to show his boxing credentials

Jamie Morrissey is determined to convert from Thai convert to boxing prospect this coming Saturday.

There has been some intrigue around the Limerick man since he confirmed he was turning over.

Fight fans have been talking about the 6’5″, super middleweight, former Irish Muay Thai champion, who has been sparring the likes of Paddy Donovan, Edward Donovan and Jason Harty.

The fighter with Sagat dimensions fuelled that excitement by declaring he was an action junkie with a degree in true grit when he confirmed he was turning over.

However, the Shawn Kelly-trained 168lbs fighter now wants to earn a reputation as a talented boxing prospect.

Morrissey isn’t disowning his past and is proud of his combat roots but still wants to impress the boxing faithful and make sure the intrigue surrounds his capabilities rather than his transition.

The process starts this Saturday when he fights in Luxembourg alongside the likes of Katelynn Phelan, Owen O’Neill, Kevin Cronin and Dominic Donegan

“There is a lot of talk of me being a Thai boxer but that is part of marketing me. My story is my story and I am happy to own it. I m coming over from Thai boxing that’s just the case. Still, I will show people this weekend I have a lot more to my game than the attrition and marching forward I would have shown in Thai boxing,” he told Irish-boxing.com.

“I have a lot more to my game and I plan to show that this weekend. The intention is to be known as the boxer after this weekend and the Thai boxing will be a thing of the past.”

“I want to show in this fight I can box, box silky and aggressive. I am going to come forward but in doing so be intelligent. I want to show people my skill level is above what people think it is. I know what I am capable of and I want to show people that.”

Boxing Ireland’s latest debutant fights alongside stablemates who are more or less keeping busy or getting in rounds ahead some massive fights later this year.

For the new, to the game pro, there is a different ambiance around his clash. Morrissey has put himself under a duel pressure, the pressure to stick two fingers up to any doubters and pressure to perform for those who have leant him massive support.

Morrissey is determined to perform, wants to impress and goes in with a kill or be killed attitude.

The fighter who fights Adnan Zilic [14(13)-48(31) on the heavily Irish influenced card continued: “There is an element of pressure on me. I’m transferring to a different sport, sport can be bitter there are a lot of people questioning me switching over, but I have a lot of people wishing me well.”

“There are also a lot of people I want to do proud, so there is pressure. But I am not new to pressure. I have had pressure defending titles in Limerick and in other fights. There is pressure but it’s healthy.”

Speaking with regard to how he will approach the journeyman who registered a number of knockout wins early in his career, he suggested there will be no feeling-out period.

“What I can guarantee is I am going to take the middle of the ring and start quick. I want to start quickly and maintain the pressure on him. In saying that I will keep my range but I like to come forward. I don’t like to be on the back foot for too long, so you will see me take the middle of the ring and work from there.”

“There is a lot of people I fight for, a lot of whys, so the fuel is there to go and perform. So what you will see is a fighter going in for the kill. It’s kill or be killed,” he continues before declaring he can’t wait to get what he is confident will be a noteworthy career started.

“I am very excited. It’s a stressful time to go and fight so I am very conscious of trying to enjoy every second of this. It’s been a long road, luckily I have stayed ready, it’s been a lot of training and a lot of sparring. Not the time right. I am ready to go in and show I am worthy of my place here.”