Duke of Hazard: Luke Watkins is back in the spotlight and ready to ruin another unbeaten record

IT was onerous throughout all the hoopla that surrounded Tommy Fury vs Jake Paul not to spare a thought for the home cruiserweights who would sacrifice an arm for a fraction of the consideration these two novices acquired in the month of February.

One such cruiserweight is Luke “The Duke” Watkins, whose professional profession has been one thing of a slow-burner, thanks in no small half to the reality he calls Swindon, hardly a boxing hotbed, his hometown. Nevertheless, Watkins, now the English cruiserweight champion, says he can be more than pleased to entertain a combat in opposition to both Fury or Paul if they need to be taken critically anytime quickly.

“I would beat Tommy’s arse and Jake Paul’s arse on the same night,” Watkins instructed Boxing News. “I can’t even think about that type of thing, it would be so easy. I would beat the hell out of them both. It just comes down to experience. These two might have a bit of salt but I’ve got the full fat, the salt and pepper, and the extra seasoning. Over time they will get it, if they stick at it, but right now they don’t have what it takes. There are levels to this game and experience is so important.”

Despite insisting that neither man can be a match for him, Watkins speaks with no envy when commenting on Fury and Paul. Instead, although it could be simple for a fellow cruiserweight to bemoan their relative lack of alternative, Watkins is full of admiration for Fury and Paul, not a lot for his or her boxing means however moderately their means to capitalise on luck and privilege.

“It is what it is,” he stated. “They put bums on seats and when you put bums on seats you can make money. Good luck to them both. If you’re envious, it’s a bit of a victim mentality. I always try to think about what they were both born into. Tommy is the younger brother of the world heavyweight champion which automatically brings him some form of platform. That has allowed him to become a celebrity of sorts in the UK, and the same goes for Jake Paul, who has also had certain opportunities. It’s all just circumstantial. Some people are born poor in Third World countries, whereas we can consider ourselves lucky to have been born in England. You’ve just got to let them do their thing and concentrate on your own path.”

As for Watkins’ personal path, the subsequent step alongside it should see him face Jordan Thompson, 14-0 (11), in Cardiff on April 22. It is, he admits, a combat and a showcase he has been craving, yet another important than ever now that he has turned 33 and finds himself once more in title competition.

“I wouldn’t say this is the fight I’ve been waiting for – because I don’t wait for things – but it’s the one I’ve been hoping for,” Watkins stated. “Now it’s here and I have to take advantage of it. Jordan is a Matchroom boy and they’re backing him, which is good for me. It gives us that limelight and that platform.”

Unbeaten however untested, Thompson has constructed his 14-fight record primarily by stopping journeymen. In his most up-to-date combat, nevertheless, and his stiffest take a look at to date, he was taken the full 10 rounds by Vasil Ducar, a wild man from the Czech Republic acquainted to UK followers.

“I do my due diligence,” Watkins stated of his subsequent opponent. “You at all times keep watch over what is occurring in your division, however he (Thompson) wasn’t somebody I saved shut tabs on. However, I’ll go back and watch extra of him and get to know his strengths and weaknesses. He’s a competitor. He’s 14-0 and he’s acquired the perception of an unbeaten fighter. I’ve been in his place. I do know what it felt like after I was in his footwear. I’ve to respect that and additionally go on the market and do what I’ve acquired to do.

“I see what Matchroom are trying to do. They’re backing him and see me as the outsider stepping in to give him a good test. They are asking the question: ‘Can Jordan get past Luke?’ They know I am a good fighter and they want to know if their man can beat me. The thing is, I’ve got my own career, my own belief, and my own aspirations. I won’t allow their plan to materialise.”

Never one to anticipate something to be given to him, Watkins, 16-2 (11), is a cruiserweight accustomed to working in the shadows and doing his finest work to little or no fanfare. Last trip, as an example, back in July, he snared the English cruiserweight belt with a sixth-round stoppage of Ian Martell, an opponent beforehand unbeaten, in a combat solely these in attendance at the Civic Hall in Grays may have seen.

“It was good,” Watkins stated. “He started strong, which I expected. You’ve got to give respect to an unbeaten opponent and take them seriously. He was coming in there undefeated and hungry and wanting to be a champion. There was no doubt he believed in himself. However, I’m more experienced, so once the fight settled, I just started picking him apart with the jab. I got into gear two and then that was it. I broke him down and finished the fight.”

Touching on the lack of consideration, Watkins added: “The unfortunate geographical truth that falls on me is that I live in Swindon. They’re not thinking about me. They’re thinking about the guys in the big cities. My career slowed down due to that but I’ve stayed true to the game and to myself. I have always continued training and I have taken fights when they have been presented to me. Now I’m here ready to get back into the mix and get my career rolling again.”

To get his profession rolling once more Watkins will, on April 22, want to snap the unbeaten record of Jordan Thompson, simply as he did with Ian Martell final 12 months and simply as he did with Robin Dupre in 2017.

“I expect to see the best Jordan Thompson there has ever been,” he stated. “On the flipside, you’ll see the best version of me. I expect an entertaining fight and I expect to knock him out.”