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Rohan Daté aims to make KO return after testing the distance


Rohan Daté [7(5)-0-1] has assured fans that highlight reel knockouts are still part of his arsenal and will be seen again.

The Waterford welter went the distance for just the third time on top of a British Warriors bill in Watford last Saturday night despite having two rounds more than normal to end the fight early.

However, he points out his clash with experienced journeyman Radoslav Mitev was more about working on things and experiencing rounds than registering another eye-catching stoppage.

Such is the killer instinct of the 25-year-old, he admits that he did want to another KO to his record, but wanted to registered it one of the last two rounds of his first six-round contest.

The bruising Bulgarian had different ideas however, and despite being warned for not looking to fight by the referee, managed to make it to the final bell for 39th time in his career.

While Daté’s coach will more than likely be happy to see his charge bank six stanzas, the fighter himself was somewhat frustrated he couldn’t emulate noted punchers Phil Sutcliffe Jr and Lewis Crocker as well as light middle Bernard Roe by stopping a Mitev.

Indeed, the Déise fighter felt the need to go as far as reassuring that he will be back to his devastating punching best when it’s all just about winning and his opponent is more ambitious.

“We were working on something specific throughout,” he explained to Irish-Boxing.com following the win.

“Boxing to instruction is going to be the big difference in my fights going forward, but there will still be my big knockout bursts don’t worry,” he promised before reflecting on the performance. 

“My performance was okay, it was very diffucult to get through when he’s being that negative. I thought the ref would have stopped it after the third as he had two cuts going across his eyes and I just worked on them for the next two rounds without losing composure. ”

Mitev was certainly more cautious than normal. It looked like he tasted the power early and took a safety first approach.

Indeed, he became so negative the referee felt the need to warn him about his his inactivity and Daté claims at times it was like fighting a punchbag on legs.

The Waterford mnan, who fights out of London, may have stepped it up a gear and got one of those volume of punches stoppages, but instead elected to take his time.

“It was a mixture of both, obviously I want to take everyone out but at the same time I need to get the rounds in so the plan was to chip away at him for the first four and then put him away. Unfortunately he went in to his shell so I basically just had a punchbag on legs in front of me for those last few rounds.”

“We had been working on keeping composed throughout the fight in training. I was looking to do eight rounds Saturday but it changed to six due to the British Board which was unfortunate.”

“We had been working to box and wait for the power but really he left no openings really and was a tough guy,” he adds before claiming doing the full eighteen minutes does bring a deal of reassurance.

“I had trained for eight so really could have done more,” he noted,

“I had been warming up since the show started and did the six with ease which brings confidence going forward.”

“I’m still looking to get my eight rounder in but hopefully that will come soon.”

Daté was back to work straight after his seventh pro win and is currently in Philly helping John Joe Nevin ahead of the Olympic silver medallist’s fight tomorrow night on the big Matchroom bill at the Liacouras Center.

Keeping sharp, the St Paul’s graduate expects fight news imminently and outlined how “I’ll be back out real soon, first I’m out in the States getting some rounds in with some quality operators such Jaron Ennis and Ray Robinson along with helping John Joe with fight week prep.”

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Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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