SAM BANNEY TALKS DEAN MIKELJ, AUSTRALIAN TITLE AMBITIONS

By Aus-Boxing.com
A relatively late start to boxing hasn’t hindered the development of Sam Banney.
The Brisbane-based prospect, who shares a gym with welterweight starlet Jeff Horn as well as hulking amateur heavyweight Joe Goodall, plans to move one step closer to an Australian title fight on Saturday night.
Banney will face Dean Mikelj at Brisbane’s Fortitude Stadium in an all-Brisbane showdown with title implications.
Despite his smooth skill-set, boxing wasn’t always the number one priority for Banney.
“I didn’t start boxing until I was seventeen,” he said. “I fell in love with the sport, so I picked it up pretty easy. I had seven kickboxing fights – but I was always injured – it was Glenn Rushton who was on me about trying boxing.”
Aside from his lone career blemish – a surprise stoppage loss to Adrian Rodriguez last May – Banney has made a promising start to his career. The loss, which took place at middleweight, has served as a learning curve.
“I went down to middleweight to fight Adrian Rodriguez for the state title and it sort of zapped me a little,” he added. “So Glenn said ‘let’s work on putting on some muscle’ and keep me at super middleweight,”
‘I’m probably not quite developed as a super middleweight yet. In terms of size, I’m a little bit little,”
“I know eventually my body will change into a proper super middleweight.”
In Mikelj, 34, Banney is facing a more experienced opponent who has lost just twice in thirteen professional outings, with both of his defeats coming at the hands of OPBF middleweight champion Dwight Ritchie.
Banney (6-1, 4 KOs) knows he is making a big step-up in opposition and is embracing the challenge.
“Dean definitely has the best record of any opponent that I have faced to date,” he continued. “I’m really looking forward to the challenge. I expect a fair bit of pressure form him, he knows what my style is like,”
“To combat my style you need to walk up, so I’m prepared to boxing off the back foot,”
“But that’s the way I like it and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Banney is hopefuly that an impressive showing against Mikelj, a former Australian title challenger, will lead to an eventual opportunity to challenge reigning Australian super middleweight titleholder Faris Chevalier.
Chevalier has found it difficult in recent times to secure opponents, with Banney more than happy to step in.
“I really want to be Australian champion by the end of the year,” he explained. “That is my goal. It would just be awesome, I’ve been busting my arse for years now. To be champion of my country would be amazing.”
“I’d fight Faris at anytime – if I could get that fight at any stage – I say bring it on.”
Banney is one of many prospects in a stacked super middleweight division domestically. With an increasing number of fighters opting to take the regional route, Banney suggests that some are taking the easier option.
“I can’t really say that fighters don’t want to fight, but I’m starting to think that might be the case,” he concluded. “The super middleweight division is super competitive and there are a lot of good boys in there.”
“No one wants that loss on their record so fighters choose different routes.”
“They fight for regional titles without having to face certain fighters. I’m prepared to go through anyone,”
“That is what you need to do to be at the top. To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best.”