Jimmy Sweeney and Ionel Levitchi clash for the vacant welterweight world title at BKB 33 on July 29th.
The fistic fireworks emanate from Indigo at the O2 in London, England and the pugilistic proceedings are set to broadcast on Fite TV.
Sweeney spoke to Dylan Bowker of Bare Knuckle News before the championship bout. Excerpts from the chat are below.
Jimmy Sweeney
When we last spoke you said your aim was to become a four-weight division, six-time BKB champion. What was your temperament when you got word of this bout offer that provides you a chance to do just that?
“Basically just after my last fight, as you know we had a few pullouts on the last show. We had a late replacement step in. No disrespect to that fighter (Kearon Thomas) but there was levels apart and it was over quite quick. Whenever it was, my last fight, then take a little break until November. But it was over so fast that I just asked for this fight in July.”
“I’ve asked for a world title challenge because as you know, I’m chasing world titles, so. But the guy that I’ve wanted to fight Marley Churcher who had just been beat on a world title shot, he couldn’t make the July show. So we got (Ionel) Levitchi. It’s a dangerous fight but a fight that I’m very confident I’m winning.”
BKB
Ionel Levitchi is the British lightweight champion, has a one hundred percent finishing rate in bare-knuckle boxing, and has his own multi-division title aspirations within BKB. What are your thoughts on Levitchi’s resume and noteworthy stylistic attributes overall?
“He’s a very short fighter, very compact. Very strong, very explosive. He’s one of those big fighters that if he hits you, it could be it. It could be lights out, do you know what I mean? I think he’s going to be very dangerous for the first two-three rounds. So that’s where he’s most dangerous. He’s going to come out there knowing if this goes into later rounds, he’s going to get his head boxed off. So he’s going to come out dangerous, he’s going to come out fast. So I’ve got to be prepared for that.”
“The first three rounds is going to be vital. Like I can’t lose concentration at all in close because if I do, he could put my lights out. That’s the kind of fighter he is, you know what I mean? He’s dangerous; I actually had seen in his last fight when he was dropped, he’s dangerous. When the guy’s coming back after being dropped, this is what he does; he’s explosive. So if I drop him, I can’t rush him. I have to box and get the job done smartly.”
BKB 33
So the strategy here is to collect intel and be comprehensively responsible the first few rounds before putting the foot on the gas in the mid to later rounds?
“Yeah, yeah, that’s the plan. The plan is just stick to my boxing for this one. Just stick to my boxing, don’t get careless. Don’t get caught with his overhand right because he’s a very dangerous lad. Then just gradually break him down and stop him in the mid to later rounds. But as I said, he’s one of those fighters where you have to be; your concentration level has to be a hundred every round. You can’t afford to lose concentration for a second because that second could be vital. That could be the end of that fight.”
“It’s going to be not just a physical fight but mental fight as well because your boxing IQ has to be there just to out-think him, outsmart him. My boxing IQ compared to his is going to be massive and you’ll see it on the night but just with his power, with his strength, like he could be dangerous. He catches you any second, it could be over.”
Jimmy Sweeney vs Ionel Levitchi
You mentioned not having anyone at Gold Team Gym that really mirrors Levitchi’s physical frame. Does that compound the importance of gathering that early intel and analyzing what Levitchi’s approach will be while in the vacuum of the fight?
“I’ll figure it out, lad. It’s like it doesn’t matter who I spar or what. I could go into this fight and after about ten seconds, I’ll have Levitchi figured out. So I don’t have to be like; the things I’m working on sparring with these guys are the things that’s going to be really effective with Levitchi because he’s meant for them.”
Jimmy Sweeney continued, “If I could hit these lads with what I’m trying to do and they’re a lot taller, I’m going to catch Levitchi with them. I honestly think it’s not going to go three or four rounds. I think he’s going to come walk into my shots and what I have planned. It’s gonna be lights out early for him.”
