THOMAS ESSOMBA is a man on a mission. Having suffered six defeats, only a few would have given him a probability of successful a vital title in his career, however final May in Italy he did simply that. Ahead of his first title defence on Friday (February 9), the Sheffield-based Cameroonian spoke to Boxing News.
Interview by Shaun Brown
BN: On Friday night time you make the primary defence of your European bantamweight title in opposition to 2016 Olympian Ellie Konki. What have you learnt about him?
TE: I watched a copy of a video of him, and I do know that he’s a good boxer. He’s somebody we have to take very severely.
BN: When you received the title final May in Italy in opposition to Alessio Lorusso how did it really feel to listen to the phrases, “And the new…”?
TE: It felt nice. When I went to Italy to struggle because the away fighter, I keep in mind considering to myself I simply have to field, keep centered and work very onerous to win the European title. And I did. I used to be very centered on the struggle and my job. It felt nice to grow to be European champion.
BN: Having had six defeats in your career already, did you at all times imagine one thing as large as successful a European title was going to occur for you?
TE: After the loss to Marcel, I mentioned to my missus, “I think I have to give up boxing because I’m not sure I’m going to have an opportunity again,” as a result of on the time the British title was my aim. But I didn’t win the eliminator to struggle for the British, so I mentioned to my missus, “It’s better for me to give up,” and she or he mentioned to me, “Don’t think about that. Just calm down, we’ll go home and think about it later.” A few weeks later Sunny Edwards, who’s certainly one of my managers, referred to as me and mentioned, “Thomas, you’ve been offered a fight for the European title. It’s a good opportunity for you.” I didn’t have to assume twice; I agreed right away. That’s what occurred. I travelled to Italy as a result of I knew it could possibly be my final probability. I needed to win the title to have the chance to maintain combating. In my scenario it was troublesome for me to get a struggle. I did the job in Italy, and I bought the win.
BN: If you had stop boxing after the loss to Braithwaite, what would you have finished along with your life?
TE: I wouldn’t have had any regrets. I imagine in God, and I imagine every part occurs for some purpose. If it was my final struggle, I might have been grateful for what boxing gave to me and the alternatives it gave me. Maybe one thing else would have occurred or perhaps it will have been my life to take care of my household. In boxing you’re trying to get a higher life to take care of your loved ones.
BN: Has life been any completely different for you because you grew to become a European champion?
TE: It’s a good feeling. It’s a large achievement for me due to the place I got here from and to grow to be European champion is a large achievement. I don’t wish to say my life essentially modified however I can say I’m the primary Cameroonian man to grow to be European champion so my identify is now a part of the checklist of European champions. So, for me, it’s a large achievement. Everything else will come in its personal time.
BN: How did your loved ones in Cameroon react?
TE: My mum, my sister, my brother, all of them had been pleased. It’s a large factor due to the place I got here from. It was a lengthy journey. No promoter, no assist and to grow to be European champion, I believe, is a large factor. I imagine that I can have extra success if I maintain getting the alternatives. It’s the one factor I want. You can not grow to be world champion, for instance, if you don’t have assist. You want somebody that can assist you or a promoter to give you fights always. I wish to struggle the perfect; I wish to struggle all of the time and be busy. If you have the chance to struggle all of the time, I imagine I’ll grow to be a world champion.
BN: Have you considered avenging any of your losses?
TE: It’s a query you’d have to ask the those who beat me. Out of all my losses in the UK I actually imagine the one one I ever did lose was to Sunny Edwards. All of the opposite losses had been fights I imagine I received. With the Lee McGregor struggle, I imagine the stoppage was not a correct stoppage. I used to be doing effectively from starting to finish. I requested Lee for a rematch, and he by no means needed a rematch. I requested Tommy Ward, who I drew with, for a rematch. No-one needed a rematch. I’m prepared to present all of them a rematch at no matter degree I’m. If there’s good cash on the desk, I’ll give a rematch no drawback.
BN: What are your ambitions now then?
TE: This struggle is essential for me. Ellie Konki is somebody I have to take very severely. I can not leap earlier than passing him. I want to end him first, win that struggle, after which I imagine my workforce and other people round me have a good plan for the longer term. Konki is all I take into consideration proper now.
BN: Given the career you’ve had, the place you’ve come from, the defeats you’ve skilled, have you taken a possibility to take a seat down and give it some thought all?
TE: I at all times give it some thought. You can’t do one thing should you don’t assume. You have to take a look at the place you’ve come from and what you’re doing along with your life and what’s occurring along with your life. It helps you already know who you’re. For me, I do know the place I wish to go. What I have to do proper now’s keep centered as a result of I do know I don’t have too much time left in boxing. But the small time I have is time for me to do what I have to do as a result of I imagine everybody in this world has one thing they have to attain. I believe I’m on a mission and my intention is to attain what God has despatched me to do in this world. Whatever difficulties I have in my life I have to attain it. Nobody will cease me. I have losses, I have wins, I have a good life, I had a dangerous life, all of it made me who I’m right this moment.
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