2:00pm Saturday 21st February 2009
By Gary York
MICHAEL Jennings admits he’s ‘100 per cent focused’ on causing one of the great shocks in British boxing history in the early hours of tomorrow morning.
The Chorley fighter is the massive underdog for his WBO welterweight title bout against Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
But the 31-year-old insists he won’t be daunted by his opponent - regarded as among the best pound for pound boxers in the world - or an intimidating NYC crowd.
“Madison Square Garden is the place to be - I only dreamed of boxing there when I was a young kid at Chorley Amateur Boxing Club,” said Jennings.
“It’s a cool arena, but it won’t daunt me. It’s a lot like the MEN Arena, and I’ve boxed there many times, as well as the Millennium Stadium.
“I won’t let the crowd or the occasion affect me. When I’m walking out to my entrance music, I will just get on with it - 100 per cent focused.”
Jennings, a drummer in punk band The Shoks, is to enter the ring to British electic rock outfit The Prodigy.
And the Chorley Lurcher has revealed that, in his dressing room ahead of the bout, music will play a big part in his pre-fight routine.
He added: “I need to get my head screwed on - tuned it - and music helps. It doesn’t have to be heavy music.
“I’ll go through everything - Stone Roses, Coldplay, Nirvana, or a bit of hip-hop. Anything to get my going.”
Meanwhile, Setanta Sports will show the fight on Setanta Sports 2 at about 3am on Sunday morning.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/trade_directory/