Chris Kongo says he will capitalise on his opportunity against Luther Clay in emphatic fashion at Fight Camp on Saturday.
South London prospect Kongo (11-0, 6 KOs) challenges Bracknell’s Clay (13-1, 5 KOs) for his WBO Global Welterweight crown on the undercard of manager Dillian Whyte’s crucial WBC interim Heavyweight world title clash with Alexander Povetkin in the Matchroom Fight Camp finale.
And the unbeaten former GB amateur insists he is looking to halt his rival after waiting patiently for a title shot.
“I took the fight straight away,” said Kongo.
“I didn’t even have to think about it. I’ve been waiting for the opportunity and it’s here now, so I’m going to take it with both hands.
“It has been a long time coming. I’ve come up the hard way in the sport of boxing and there’s fire in my belly. I’m going to rip the belt from him. I’m not taking any chances.
“I’m not leaving it to the judges. We’re going to rip the belt off the champion. Guaranteed.”
The British rivals, who were scheduled to meet on March 28 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak are part of a thriving domestic Welterweight scene, which includes British and Commonwealth champion Chris Jenkins and Matchroom duo Conor Benn and Josh Kelly, to name a few.
And Congo, 27, believes victory over Clay, 24, who has a sole loss to Vazir Tamoyan in 2017, would propel him right into the British mix at 147lbs.
“I believe this is the moment Chris Kongo is going to be announced as one of the top Welterweights in the division.
“I need to prove that I am the number one Welterweight in the country. I know my level. That’s why I believe I can be at the top table.”
‘2 Slick,’ who is trained by former coach of James DeGale, Jim McDonnell and stands at 6’0” is expecting his opponent to force the pace, but believes his physical attributes will negate the threat and see him home.
“He’s going to try and bring the pressure because he thinks I’ll be rusty due to my time out of the ring. They’re going to be in for a big shock.
“They will try to put pressure on me and wait until the later rounds. It’s probably the worst thing they can do. We all know what kind of shape Jim McDonnell is going to have me in.
“We know he’s not going to try and out skill me or outbox me because he can’t do that. His greatest attributes are always coming from the front foot.
“If he wants to bring the pressure, trust me, we’re going to meet head on. I’m a big Welterweight. I’ll be ready for that.”
Clay vs. Kongo lands on a huge night of action that sees Dillian Whyte (27-1, 18 KOs) defend his Interim WBC Heavyweight World Title against Russia’s Alexander Povetkin (35-2-1, 24 KOs), Irish legend Katie Taylor (15-0, 6 KOs) puts her WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO and Ring Magazine Lightweight crowns on the line against Belgium’s Delfine Persoon (44-2, 18 KOs) in the biggest rematch in women’s boxing, Super-Middleweights Jack Cullen (18-2, 9 KOs) and Zak Chelli (7-1, 3 KOs) meet over eight rounds and Croatian Heavyweight contender Alen Babic (3-0, 3 KOs) steps up to face Shawndell Winters (13-3, 12 KOs) over eight rounds.
