Zelfa Barrett is firmly on the comeback trail.
The 32Red ambassador boxes for the second time in a month on Saturday night when he fights India’s Rajesh Kumar (16-6-1, 7 KOs) outdoors at the DIY Kitchens Stadium in Wakefield. For all the latest fight odds, visit our sportsbook.
In February, an out of sorts Barrett (32-3, 18 KOs) was outpointed by new WBA super featherweight champion, Jazza Dickens.
The loss triggered a chain reaction. Barrett quickly made the difficult decision to leave his uncle and long term trainer, Pat, and join former Ring Magazine Trainer of the Year, Joe Gallagher. He then decided to stop fighting the scales and move to lightweight.
The old “Brown Flash” nickname is gone and the changes have breathed now fire into Barrett’s career.
Last month he got back to winning ways with a third round knockout of Mexico’s Christian Bielma and was so keen to keep the momentum going that he got straight back to the gym.
Barrett told 32Red about his feelings ahead of this weekend’s fight and revealed that he is more confident than ever of accomplishing his lifelong dream and becoming a world champion.
“I feel good. I’m performing well in sparring. Things are going very good. The way I’ve been sparring, man, I’m like Sugar Ray Leonard.
“I feel a lot better after getting that win.I needed it out of my system but I feel good now. I have a sense of direction with where we’re going
“I was dead at the weight. I made lightweight the other day and I said, “How did I make super featherweight?”
“This Zelfa Barrett right now – I’ll be honest with you – I believe I will be a world champion at this weight. I don’t think these guys will beat me.
“I’m in a good position where I’ll get this fight out of the way next week, look good and hopefully get another knockout. After that, it’s just forward for me now. It’s just forward.
“I’m in a great position and I thank God I’m performing well. In sparring, I’m listening. Joe was over the moon with me after sparring today. I’m letting my hands go. I’m like Ray, literally.
“I’ve never really got that in sparring before because in-house sparring’s always been with people who aren’t my weight. That’s brought a different side to me. Whereas normally I’ve only got that when I’m sparring in camp for a fight, now, I’m sparring three times a week.
“Joe’s happy, man. He buzzes off my rhythm. He said, “You’re starting to become yourself now.”
“At first, I was just learning the way they wanted me to learn. Now I can grasp it and do the thing.
“I’m fighting a bit of a tough guy. Kumar’s just a strong kid, looks stocky, big hooks. I’ll take my time with him, peel him off with the jab, feint and – like last time – I’m not looking to get him out of there. I’m just going to put out a good professional performance but if it happens, it happens.
“The boxing world’s small. I’m making little ripples and people are seeing it. People who know boxing know that wasn’t me who boxed Jazza.
“This is why these people won’t take these fights. They’re not stupid.
“I know my future’s bright though. I know my level and I just thank God. We’re just being quiet at the moment. Just keep my head down, keep winning and then they can’t deny me no more.
“I’ve got this mindset now, I’m thinking, “Watch this.” I’ve got a point to prove to everyone.
“I’ve never been so confident in being a world champion. I can picture it, when I’m winning world title, I’ll go on my knees. I’ll be buzzing, I can just feel it. Hopefully ,someone will just slip and think, “Oh, he’s been beat before. We’ll take it, we’ll fight him.”
“Listen, I’m 31. I’m 32 next Wednesday but I’ve got like five years on the clock. I’m athletic. I don’t live a bad life. I’m healthy and the best thing is, only a small group knows.
“My skills pay my bills and I’m excited to show that when I’m back on the big stage and you guys see the new version of me. I’ll give myself a pat on the back.
“I’ve been in camp for six months. I got beat off, Jazza and a week later, I was in the gym with Joe, my new trainer.
“Imagine another six months? Imagine in October, even? I’m so excited. I’ve got this buzz, where I think, “Wow, just you watch.””
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