Vicious Victor- Rabei working on adding more aggression to his approach

He changed his ring moniker to ‘Slick’ ahead of his most recent ring performance, but it’s more grit and grime than gloss and shine that Victor Rabei wants to add to his game.

The St Michael’s Inchicore fighter has forged a reputation as a genuine prospect since turning over in 2017.

The 25 year old is unbeaten in eight, has three Irish names on his record, fought twice on TG4 and won himself the BUI Celtic title.

In terms of style the light welterweight has been slick without crossing all the way over to stylist, but he is hoping to add a vicious string to his already effective bow.

Fighting on the Summer Brawl show in Belfast on Saturday, the Steven O’Rourke trained fighter pressed proceedings a bit more than recent fights.

Some ringside suggested that was because he was against journey man opposition rather than being faced with the likes of two domestic punchers such as recent foes Jake Hanney and Karl Kelly.

However, post the points win over Lesther Cantillano the Moldovan Dub revealed he is working on becoming more aggressive in the ring. 

“It’s a change I want to incorporate into my own style of boxing. I want to bring in more aggression and look for the meaner shots,” he explained to Irish-boxing.com.

“It’s just something that needs to be done. I need to switch that mentality and go for the kill when I see it. It’s something that will be more visible in my game and I will get some stoppages.

“I don’t want to lose what I have and what has served me so well so far, but I want be that bit more aggressive and get the good shots in.”

The aggressive approach didn’t manage to secure Rabei the stoppage on the MHD card and that left him somewhat disappointed.

In fairness the Nicaraguan has only been stopped four times in 29 defeats and Rabei did flirt with the short route to victory particularly at the end of the first.

Yet he admits he wanted to emulate David Oliver Joyce and Sean McComb by getting him out of there before the final bell.

“I am disappointed I didn’t get the stoppage. I wobbled him a couple of times, but he is a good journey man. Sean McComb and Davy Oliver both stopped him and I am kind of comparing my performance to theirs so I am a little bit disappointed.

“I wobbled him a couple of times and I thought I had him going, but you have to look at the positives it’s four good rounds. Literally at the end of the first he was about to go.”
Saturday’s victory was Rabei’s first in Belfast and a welcome break from the spotlight.

The 25 year old’s last fight with Eastwall’s Hanney was intense pre, post and during the eight round win and  he seemed to welcome a chance to get in and do some work away from the glare.

“I didn’t really have to think about this fight until I stepped in the ring. It was more just train to be fit to be fight. I enjoyed that a bit too. I love the big TV cards, but this was enjoyable in it’s own way. I like the small hall too. It has it’s own feel and it’s just get in a fight.”

The St Michael’s gym fighter is hoping to return to the ring on the invasion card, but doesn’t think it will a rematch with Hanney.

“Hopefully June 22. He is an idiot, it’s pathetic from there end. I have offered this and that and they have come back with nothing. They haven’t even come back with a yes or no. His allegations of me saying no to the fight are just stupid.”