A Easy Plan: Chris Jenkins is plotting a giant upset in Newcastle

FEW British boxers have been as busy and in-demand as Chris Jenkins lately and there’s good motive for that, too.

The Welsh welterweight, whether or not in victory or defeat, all the time offers a great account of himself and, maybe extra importantly, invariably offers the identical reply every time his providers are requested: “Sure, no downside. When, the place, and the way a lot?”

This fight-all-comers method has taken Jenkins to a 23-6-3 (8) skilled report and it resulted in him boxing thrice final yr, a rarity for many established execs lately. It has additionally delivered one other huge combat for the 34-year-old this Saturday (March 18) in Newcastle when he takes on Cyrus Pattinson, a Geordie prospect of whom huge issues are anticipated.

“The whole lot is bang-on,” Jenkins instructed Boxing Information. “I’m somewhat bit forward with the burden, which is all the time a bonus, and I had a great spar yesterday with a lad from Plymouth, who’s 7-0 and a top quality southpaw operator. No disrespect to Cyrus, however I believe he’s higher than Cyrus.”

Whereas Jenkins has now been a professional for 11 years, Pattinson finds himself on the different finish of the expertise scale. Although a embellished beginner, the 28-year-old southpaw is simply 5-0 (3) as a professional having turned over in June 2021. He’s, nevertheless, transferring at a quick tempo and in search of out challenges unusually taxing for a person of his restricted expertise.

“I haven’t adopted any of it,” Jenkins mentioned of Pattinson’s professional profession. “That’s no disrespect to Cyrus. He’s solely had 5 fights and I used to be trying on the boys on the high.

“After I discovered I used to be combating him, I needed to look him up as a result of I didn’t know who he was. I didn’t understand how closely backed by Matchroom he’s. He’s like the subsequent huge star for them within the North East.

“Joe Cordina, who’s from Cardiff, spoke very extremely of him to me, however he additionally mentioned I’ve the instruments to beat him. I’ve watched a little bit of him because the combat was made and the whole lot he does he does rather well.

“It’s a step up for him however he’ll be hoping he’s catching me on the proper time. Boxing is all about timing, isn’t it? Whether or not I’m the identical fighter I used to be two or three years in the past, I don’t know. However I’ve acquired expertise over him and I’m placing within the graft within the gymnasium. I’ve acquired the perfect coach within the UK in Gary Lockett and if he didn’t assume I had it in me anymore, he would inform me.

“Bodily, although, I really feel nice. I’m in there with these kids having powerful spars and I do know they’re not getting the higher of me. I perceive sure facets of my recreation might need slowed down, however what I do with that information is attempt to discover a optimistic and I do know that my expertise is a bonus now and an actual asset at this stage in my profession.”

Conscious of the potential for the combat since Christmas, Jenkins claims he has had between eight and 10 weeks to organize for it and can, because of this, be greater than prepared for no matter Pattinson gives him on the evening. He’s additionally decided, he says, to proper the wrongs of what he feels was an unfair choice loss towards Tyrone McKenna final August, which has solely added additional motivation forward of this subsequent take a look at in Newcastle.

“It left a bitter style in my mouth, certain, however I simply needed to get again on the horse as they are saying,” Jenkins defined. “Throughout the combat I assumed I used to be profitable. Going into the final spherical, Gary (Lockett, coach) mentioned to me, ‘Watch out this spherical, you’ve acquired it. It’s yours. You’ve performed the whole lot.’

“Some rounds had been shut however the rounds I gained I assumed I gained huge. But it surely’s boxing, isn’t it? I am going into individuals’s backyards and stuff like this occurs. It’s life. I didn’t win, no, however what makes me blissful is that the followers went dwelling blissful. They had been coming as much as me afterwards and telling me what a great combat it was. The principle factor is that Tyrone and myself went dwelling wholesome to our households.

“I went away for a pleasant vacation with the spouse and the children after the combat earlier than getting again within the gymnasium. I hoped to combat earlier than Christmas however that didn’t come off. Then we acquired information of this combat.”

Again once more, after final yr boxing McKenna, Florian Marku and Julius Indongo, Jenkins thinks he is aware of why. “I’m a born entertainer,” he mentioned. “I may make fights quite a bit simpler for myself by utilizing my boxing capacity extra however whenever you get that burst in your stomach you simply go for it. I believe that’s going to occur on this combat as nicely.”

As for this upcoming combat towards Pattinson, Jenkins is below no illusions as to the scale of the duty, nor does he argue the actual fact he might be an underdog going into it. Even so, till it’s confirmed in any other case, he feels has sufficient left within the tank, and sufficient expertise from an 11-year professional profession, to present one other unbeaten prospect the take a look at he each wants and would in all probability quite delay.

“Gary sees me within the gymnasium on daily basis, greater than anybody else, and if he had any considerations concerning this combat or my profession, he would inform me,” Jenkins mentioned. “He is sort of a father determine to me. He’s extra of a father determine to me than a coach.

“I’m up towards it, I do know that, however life’s a problem and I simply love challenges. We’ll take it a spherical at a time, see what’s working and what isn’t, and Gary Lockett will information me. Hopefully, together with his steerage, I can get the win. It’s actually so simple as that.”