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Frank Buglioni seeing Steve Collins’s hypnotherapist ahead of Chudinov clash

Londoner Frank Buglioni is leaving no stone unturned as he aims to spring one of the upsets of the year at the weekend. ‘The Wise Guy’ is a 5/1 underdog in some places going into his WBA super middleweight world title fight with Fedor Chudinov which will be shown exclusively live on Boxnation.

Fighting on home turf at the SSE Wembley Arena, Buglioni has a trick or two up his sleeve. The power-puncher has benefited from the fight being postponed two months after Chudinov broke his nose in sparring, allowing him to calibrate his preparations even further, with the Enfield man telling Boxnation that “this is a top, top fight so we’ve pulled out all the stops. I feel fantastic.”

Trained by Paschal Collins at the Celtic Warriors Gym, the 26 year old has also been able to enlist the help of another famous underdog – Paschal’s brother Steve.

Steve Collins, of course, won super middleweight honours 20 years ago when he shocked the then-undefeated Chris Eubank, and ‘The Celtic Warrior’ has been relaying experience to Buglioni, with the Englishman explaining that “Steve knows full well about being the underdog. His knowledge been has really helped in this camp.”

Indeed Collins hit the headlines back in 1995 when it emerged that he was receiving hypnotherapy ahead of the Eubank fight, convincing him that it was impossible not to win, and thoroughly spooking out his opponent.

Now in 2015, hypnotherapy could effect another super middleweight world title fight with Buglioni revealing that “I am actually using the same psychologist (Anthony Heary) that Steve used for the Eubank and Benn fights. I’ve used him for the last two camps and it’s made the world of difference. I probably should’ve used him earlier.”

“I’m seeing him a couple of times a week and sessions can last anything from an hour to an hour and a half. It’s the equivalent of doing a ten round spar without the physical.”

Ahead of the bout, Buglioni and his trainer are supremely confident that they will be victorious and will be able to bring the belt back to Blanchardstown, regardless what the odds say, as “It doesn’t really matter what anyone thinks outside of myself and Chudinov.”

“It’s going to be the fighter who sticks to his game plan and remains focused who will come out victorious.”

“I’ve come on in leaps and bounds. I’m relishing the opportunity and I’ve never felt more confident.”

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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