No single fight is ever the same. Even going into the 28th fight of my professional career, things are a little different.
The build-up shifts depending on the nature of the fight — whether that’s a pro debut at the O2, a first title defence or, say, a first trip to the US.
This one is about coming back home but, at the same time, I have to feel detached from home if that makes sense. It feels a little alien to think my home and family are only a few miles away but I have to stay removed and keep the focus for just a few more days on Jermaine Franklin and only him.
It can be tough but it’s a necessary part of this profession to get the job done. For this fight, it has been a straight-up relocation of our camp from Dallas to south west London — albeit with the sunshine and heat replaced by a little more rain.
I’ve set up my house with just my immediate team — my trainer, my strength and conditioning coach, my chef. At times in the past, the pre-fight house has been a bit hectic with a lot of people coming and going.
Now, it is just the core team there to replicate what we’ve been doing out in the States. I’ve been training at a gym about 15 to 20 minutes away and, as boring as it sounds, it’s pretty much just sleep, eat, train and that’s it.
The only escape from that isolation is getting out to speak to the media, like at Nobu Hotel yesterday, when it’s another chance to meet your opponent and look him in the eyes, and start to get the sense of the bubbling excitement for this fight.
This week, even with the fight just days away, the training has still been hard. I sparred for the last time at the end of last week but I’m still doing bag work, my trainer Derrick James is still pushing me to make sure that physically but also mentally I’m the best I can be.
And having my chef is key to that. In camp and now in London he’s ensuring I’m getting all the right nutrition at the right time, and I think it has been reflected in the way I look going into this fight.
It’s good to come home — this is my city — and I can’t wait to fight in front of the home fans
A lot of people have said I look bigger. Honestly, I couldn’t tell you my weight — I’ll find out like everyone else at the public weigh-in on Friday. Whatever my weight, it doesn’t matter but I feel strong and my body feels balanced.
That’s down to nutrition and sleep — two aspects that are far more important than many people think. I feel like slowly I’ve been getting stronger and stronger.
It’s good to come home — this is my city — and I can’t wait to fight in front of the home fans. It’s been a while. And it’s also good to be back at the O2.
The place has been a big part of my journey. It’s here I had my first professional fight — crazy to think that’s nearly 10 years ago now, but also where I won my first British, Commonwealth and world titles plus where I had my first world title defence. It’s mad to think it’s seven years since I was last fighting there.
Right now, I feel in the best shape I can possibly be in both body and mind. I’m ready to go the full 12 rounds if that’s what required but I feel I can get the job done before that final bell.
Of course, I’d like to get the job done early but really, when the end comes, it doesn’t matter. As standard an answer as it is, it’s just about the win whichever way it comes.
Between now and then, bar the public weigh-in, it is time to hide myself away. In reality, the physical work is done and I know what’s required of me. All that’s left is to tap into my team’s knowledge in our south-west London hideaway.
