Scotty Cardle believes the pressure of boxing live on Sky Sports in the Betfair ‘True Brit’ show on Saturday night will bring out the best in him.
Cardle steps up to eight round action for the first time on the undercard of Carl Froch’s IBF World super middleweight title defence against Yusaf Mack at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, with the lightweight talent facing Mexican Miguel Aguilar.
The 23 year old is aiming to impress the packed Arena and fans watching on Sky Sports HD1 and on Sky 3D, with the Lytham fighter ready to look at boxing for titles at the start of 2013.
“There’s added pressure boxing live on Sky Sports but that’s a good thing,” said Cardle. “I’ve always coped well with pressure and I think it will help me perform to my best on Saturday.
“We’ve talked about title fights but I have to take it one fight at a time. The step up in rounds will mean people will start looking at me and deciding whether I am ready for title shots, but there’s no rush for me as the progression is looking good.
“I feel ten-round fit in the gym and now it’s a case of switching on mentally to stepping-up in rounds and class of opponent.
“Training to step up to eight rounds has been the best I have felt as a pro. I have stepped my training up as I have stepped up the rounds. I’m training for 10 rounds really so I am prepared fully for an eight-round fight.
“I have only done two full six-rounders but I always knew it would be a quick step up, it is what myself, my trainer Joe Gallagher and promoter Eddie Hearn want, so it is definitely the right time. I have to take my time in picking my fights and picking strategies for lots of fights but my training for Saturday’s fight has been 100 per cent and it has been the same for every fight.
“One thing I said at the very start was that I didn’t want any easy fights because I wanted to be learning every single time. The first two fights I had were journeymen and I learnt a lot, especially about the pro style. I have stepped up with every fight since then and I have picked up on little things each time, which is helping me as I go further down the line. With each step up I am getting more comfortable and more relaxed with the pro game.”
Last time out for Cardle, he faced his toughest opponent to date in Frenchman Karim Aliliche, who brought five wins from eight fights to the ring on the undercard of Kell Brook’s World title eliminator clash with Hector Saldivia in Sheffield last month.
Cardle followed a learning curve in Belfast in September – where he cut a frustrated figure against Francis Maina – with a confidence boosting first round win over Luis Garcia in Blackpool, and against Aliliche he learnt even more against an opponent that was hard to track down.
“There was no footage of him so I didn’t really know what I was going in for,” said Cardle. “I prepared as best as I could and I prepared for the very best opponent and I think that worked because he was a very tough kid who could take a shot. He came back with a few counter shots that I had to be aware of as well so I am happy with how it went.
“I am learning every time I fight. Obviously you will have little switch offs every now and again and you can easily be caught by them, so I have to stay switched on, especially for this one. I have been watching my opponent and I know I need to stay switched on for him because it is a step up.
“I went the distance in Sheffield and I think I needed those full six rounds just to test my fitness. When I am facing six rounds I train for eight and now I am fighting eight rounds I am training for 10. I know deep down that I am better than him but I definitely needed that full six rounder just to keep my confidence going.”
Cardle boxes again on December 8 in Betfair’s ‘Christmas Cracker’ and he has a clear picture of where he wants to be when the season draws to a close next summer.
“The plan is to do eight rounds Saturday and I have a potential opponent lined up for December at the Olympia in London,” said Cardle. I obviously take each fight as it comes but that is another fight I am looking forward to. It will be my last fight of the year and hopefully I can end unbeaten.
“I want to be 9-0 by the end of the year. I want to keep stepping up and hopefully get the chance to fight for a title early next year. That is my early target for 2013, an area title or an English title. But that all depends on my performances and my results so it is down to me t get that and achieve those goals that I want.
Cardle has drawn praise on Sky Sports fight nights and Ringside but on Saturday he boxes live on Sky Sports for the first time. Stablemate and former Team GB teammate Kal Yafai also boxes live on Sky Sports in Nottingham and made his live bow on the Sheffield card, and Cardle hopes to impress like the Birmingham talent did in Sheffield.
“Kal impressed a lot of people that night and that is the power of Matchroom Sport and the power of Sky Sports,” said Cardle. “Kal got the live exposure that night and made the most of it. It is something I want and I believe Saturday’s fight is the first one on the live broadcast so I am looking forward to having that exposure.”
Tickets for Betfair’s ‘True Brit’ are on sale now priced £80, £120 and £200 from the Capital FM Arena Box Office on 0843 373 3000 and at www.capitalfmarena.com
Betfair’s “True Brit,” presented by Matchroom Boxing, will be distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3:00 PM/ET – 12:00 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network and Avail-TVN for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
“True Brit” will also be available to view via Fight Now TV, America’s only 24-hour combat sports and entertainment channel, on Cablevision channel 464 as part of the iO Gold package.
