28.10.06 – British Super Featherweight Champion Carl Johanneson is not one to overlook an opponent and has dismissed all talk not relating to his upcoming defence against undefeated Bradford based fighter Femi Fehintola. When Johanneson, 24-2 (17), silenced a York Hall crowd with an emphatic fourth round stoppage over local favourite Billy Corcoran to claim the title in July, he sent out a message to the super feathers of Britain that he meant business.
Fehintola, 14-0 (1), is coming to the ring well-prepared however, as he trains out of the same gym as IBF Light Heavyweight Champion Clinton Woods and will be joined in his corner by none other than Ricky Hatton when he attempts to take the British title from the formidable Yorkshireman.
But Johanneson is neither impressed nor concerned. “Unless they are going to get in the ring as well,” he told www.frankmaloney.com, “he is going to need more than that to beat me. He’s the only one who’s going to be getting in the ring with me.
“Training has been going well, and I’ve been training hard the same as always, and what he has doesn’t bother me at all. I expect him to come in and try and fend me off as much as he can, but I’ll wear him down in the end.”
Talk of matching Johanneson against then British Champion Alex Arthur was rife in March, but when Arthur chose to vacate the crown to pursue defences of his EBU title, Johanneson stepped up to claim the British strap. Arthur, who will also be in action next week against Spaniard Sergio Palomo, remains a potential opponent for Johanneson.
Johanneson, however, refused to be drawn on further talk of an Arthur bout, saying “I’m just focusing on beating Fehintola at the moment, and what comes after that will come, but I can’t look past this fight at the moment.”
Maloney Promotions presents Carl Johanneson vs. Femi Fehintola for the Super Featherweight Championship of Britain at the Metrodome in Barnsley, England on Friday November 3, 2006. Tickets are on sale at £35 standard and £65 ringside through the Box Office 0871 226 1508 or online at www.frankmaloney.com Sky Sports will broadcast the card live on Sky Sports 1.