Jennings vows to reach the big time (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Jennings vows to reach the big time

5:41pm Friday 6th March 2009 in

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MICHAEL Jennings is confident that his defeat to Miguel Cotto will not stop him returning to the big stage some day – and winning.

Many boxing pundits have suggested that the Chorley fighter’s fifth-round stoppage against Cotto, renowned as one of the biggest names in the sport, is likely to be his only fight of that magnitude.

Even if that proves to be the case, Jennings is proud to have been top of the bill at New York’s famous Madison Square Garden fighting for the WBO world title.

But the 31-year-old Chorley Lurcher still remains ambitious and, although his next fight is likely to be a for a British or European title rather than a world belt, he believes he has the ability to work his way back up to the top.

Taking inspiration from Ricky Hatton, who was knocked out by Floyd Mayweather but has recovered with two victories to earn a high-profile bout with Manny Pacquiao, Jennings said: “That’s my aim, to get back to that sort of level again.

“I definitely feel like I can compete at that level because it wasn’t like I was hammered by Cotto. I was in the fight.

“He wasn’t getting me with head shots, he just caught me with a really good body shot.

“When I got up my head was clear so I felt I could carry on but obviously the referee thought differently. I was disappointed it was stopped.

“After round five is usually when I get my breath and in all my fights I’ve not been winning them by one or two rounds, I’ve been winning them by 10 rounds.”

Jennings admits he was unable to understand the words of encouragement that Spanish-speaking Cotto, who remained complimentary about his opponent, offered to him after the fight.

It was the first time the Chorley welterweight, who has won 34 and lost just two of his professional bouts, had ever fought abroad and around 200 travelling fans were vastly outnumbered by supporters from Cotto’s native Puerto Rico.

But Jennings has targeted fighting in America again before his career is over, although he would be keen to avoid the flight problems that meant he only arrived in New York a week before the fight - days behind schedule.

He said: “The crowd were all booing me at Madison Square Garden and it was really hostile but that didn’t bother me. You have to be able to deal with that.

“I enjoyed the experience of fighting in America, but I think if I fought over there again I would get there earlier because it was only on the last day I got a proper night’s sleep.

“I was waking up at 3.30am because I normally wake up at 8.30am and there was the five-hour time difference.

“But I’d definitely like to fight over there again.”