European and Commonwealth super-bantamweight champion Kid Galahad admits that seeing close friend and stable-mate Kell Brook win the IBF world welterweight title last month in America has made him even more motivated to bring a world title of his own back to the Wincobank gym in Sheffield.
This Saturday night (September 20) at the Ponds Forge Arena, Galahad faces unbeaten Brazilian puncher Adeilson Dos Santos for the vacant IBF Youth super-bantamweight title. But next year he hopes to replicate Brook’s success and strike gold.
“I was there with Kell and it was an unbelievable experience,” said Galahad, 17-0 (9 KOs). “It was great seeing a good friend win a world title – something he’d always dreamed about since he was a little kid. And to do it in that kind of fashion made it even more special. Nobody outside his inner circle thought he could do it. He proved them all wrong. He did a proper job on Shawn Porter.
“Just being there and being around the whole scene motivated me even more and made me want to hurry up and become a world champion. It really did give me some extra motivation to succeed and bring another world title to the Wincobank.
“You’ve got to get the opportunities and you’ve got to keep winning, but I’d love to one day do what Kell has done and fight for a world title in America. If that’s where the big fights are, I’m ready for them.”
That’s not to say Galahad is overlooking this Saturday’s opponent, however. Quite the opposite, in fact. The Sheffield stylist has studied Dos Santos, 14-0 (10 KOs), and knows exactly what kind of problems he will pose if he’s not on his A-game.
“It will be a technical fight,” said the 24-year-old. “I’ve seen a fight or two of his and he seems technically quite good. He looks like someone who has a good amateur pedigree and knows what he’s doing in there. He’s sharp, he’s tall, he’s rangy and he looks like he can punch a bit.
“I’m fully expecting a tough fight. He will probably turn out to be the best opponent I’ve faced so far in my career, so I have to be ready and on my game. I will do whatever I’ve got to do to be victorious.”
In addition to his savvy skills and clever boxing brain, Galahad is hoping the support of his home crowd will also motivate him to put on a career-best performance come Saturday night.
“You can’t go wrong when you’re fighting in your hometown in front of your people,” he said. “That alone lifts me to another level. Everybody comes out and shows their support and I really thrive on it. I love it.”
*** Kid Galahad collides with power-punching Brazilian Adeilson Dos Santos in a battle of unbeaten super-bantamweights this Saturday night (September 20) in Sheffield, live on Channel 5 in the UK and on SporTV in Brazil and on FightNetwork in Canada and is sponsored by MaxiNutrition.***
The exciting undercard will also see another IBF title up for grabs when Adam Etches fights Samir Santos Barbosa for the IBF International Middleweight title.
Popular Sheffield fighter Scott Jenkins will also be in action along with local fighters Atif Shafiq, Sam O’Maison, Callum Hancock, Jordan Gill of Chatteris and Tyson Fury’s brother Young Fury.
The packed crowd will also see highly regarded featherweight prospect Yusuf Safa from Bexleyheath in action.
Limited tickets for the Hennessy Sports promoted event at Ponds Forge, Sheffield, priced at £35 general admission and £100 ringside are still available to purchase by calling the SIV ticket box office on
0114 223 3777.
Tickets are also available from www.sivtickets.com or in person at the Sheffield City Hall, Crucible Theatre and Motorpoint Arena Sheffield.
