Chris Blaney targeting tricky Fox before starting title hunt

Chris Blaney [7(3)-0] has his first professional title fight tentatively pencilled in for five weeks from now, but the Meath fighter hasn’t even thought about his upcoming belt battle.

The Navan super middleweight is in action tomorrow night in Walsall at Banks’s Stadium, and faces a banana skin opponent in game journeyman Anthony Fox.

The Ricky Hatton-trained fighter has his head firmly screwed on and knows better than to overlook the fighter who held Cork’s Vladimir Belujsky to a draw and has caused a number of other upsets – including coming into this bout off the back of two draws with prospects.

It’s a third successive fight for Blaney against tough opposition, having been involved in good scraps with Christian Hoskin Gomez and Central Area champ Darryl Sharp in recent months

The Manchester-based fighter isn’t taking Fox [1(0)-8(1)-4] for granted, but then again, isn’t sweating about his upcoming opponent.

“I’ve not seen too much,” Blaney admits to Irish-Boxing.com. “I’ve seen about 30-40 seconds of him, that’s enough for me, I don’t really like looking at my opponents.”

“I’ll leave that to Ricky and the team”

“It’s just good to get a fight there’s as much pressure on me as always. I don’t take anything for granted, it’s just another fight and hopefully another win under the belt.”

While his title fight is on the horizon, Blaney is keeping active. Indeed, most rising pros will be looking at the Ginger Ninja’s record with jealousy. This will be his eighth fight in 14 months, and Blaney believes he is feeling the benefits.

“It’s great to be back in the ring again nice and early,” he agreed. “I don’t really take breaks, just a week off after each fight then back in the gym hoping to get out again quickly which is paying off.”

Indeed, many of Blaney’s large support may not even know that he is on course to box for the BUI Celtic belt, and that’s exactly what he wants. The thought of titles or opponent Matiouze Royer do not cross his mind as he keeps his focus lasered in on Anthony Fox.

Blaney outlined how “I haven’t announced my title fight yet just incase I pick up a cut etc.”

“It has no effect on me I’m not even thinking about the fight in October yet I have to deal with what’s in front of me first.”

Photo Credit: Laszlo Geczo Photography