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Norman wants Conlan clash: “I just feel like I’ve got the beating of him”

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With the Belfast Boxnation show now officially confirmed for the Titanic Exhibition Centre on November 5th, attention has turned to whom headliner Jamie Conlan [17(11)-0] will fight.

The bout has been confirmed as a defence of Conlan’s Commonwealth super flyweight title and most assume that it will be a rematch of his Fight of the Year contender with Anthony Nelson.

One man however who wants to be considered is Louis Norman [11(2)-2(0)-1]. The former English flyweight champion and British title challenger spoke to Irish-Boxing.com and stated that he believes he would make it an unhappy homecoming for ‘The Mexican.’

‘2Sweet’ Norman isn’t one to trash-talk, and noted that Conlan “has a lot of strengths,” however he explained that “I just feel like I’ve got the beating of him.”

“Everyone has weaknesses, I feel like he gets hit to much and no-one has took advantage of that.”

“I’d love to fight Jamie Conlan because he is a warrior and he has title which every boxer wants, he is a great fighter.”

The prospect of fighting in front of a hostile crowd is not something which bothers Norman, in fact the opposite applies, and he described how “I’d love to fight in Belfast, to be booed, to have people hating me.”

“It was the same when I fought Selby, I entered the ring with boos and exited with claps and congratulations.”

Following the knockdown-filled drama of April, many want a Nelson repeat. Indeed the South Shields fighter was in the ascendancy at the time of the stoppage. Norman feels that a repeat of the CopperBox thriller is “a good idea – but why have a rematch when you’ve already got the victory over someone?”

“As a fighting fan and a fighter, the Nelson and Conlan fight was a cracker and it was surprising as I thought Conlan would have finished it within a couple of rounds, but turned out to be proper fight.”

“It probably would be a good fight if they fought again, but I just think Norman v Conlan is a different kind of fight, different styles, it could be a war or a masterclass.”

The two losses on Norman’s record came against top opposition, a British title fight with Andrew Selby and an English title loss to Charlie Edwards, both distance defeats. The straight-talking Leicestershire scrapper however isn’t making excuses and admits that it was “just unfortunate for me they was just both better then me on the night.”

“I’ve boxed two lads that are at World level.”

Still only 22, Norman would be stepping up in weight for the bout, but he feels it should not be a problem and outlined how “I’m naturally a big flyweight, so super flyweight is a really good weight for me and that’s where I’m looking at making my career now.”

“I think dropping them last couple of pounds was taking just too much. People don’t think three pound is much, but when you’ve got nothing left and you’ve still got to lose a bag of sugar and a bit in weight it is a lot! ”

“The only man at super flyweight I don’t think I’m ready for is Kal Yafai but any other super flyweight I’d fight tomorrow.”

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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