Wale ready for Callaghan challenge by James Howard Sep 3rd 2008

While Billy the Kid remains an iconic figure of the American Old West, a new 'Outlaw' has been quietly moulded into a reputable force to be unleashed on the British title scene in the next year. Since "Getting to know..." Brampton's Josh 'The Outlaw' Wale in February of this year, the super-bantamweight has steadily been gaining a reputation as a genuine hot prospect, and one whose progress you will be able to watch without the additional cost of the Pay Per View formula. The next outing for the enthusiastic 20-year-old is an intriguing step up as he faces off against the vastly experienced Marc Callaghan. Josh is eagerly anticipating the bout, "I'm looking forward to it, a better class of opponent and a step for me - and I'm ready for it. I'm in the best shape of my life." Josh hasn't been watching hours of tape of Callaghan, instead concentrating on getting himself in the best possible condition for the fight, "I have not seen too much of him, my Dad tends to do a lot of that side and he has seen quite a bit of him. I just tend to worry about what I'm going to do to him rather than what he is going to do to me. I know he's experienced, I know he's boxed for the English, British and Commonwealth titles and I've seen him a few times on Sky Sports. He's fought the best at British super-bantamweight and I have prepared accordingly." At Monday's press conference for the forthcoming Hayemaker show headlined by Ryan Rhodes, praise for Josh was high indeed, no less so than from Adam Booth who said, "We had heard great things about Josh from David Coldwell but when we saw him in sparring in Cyprus we were blown away by his strength and style, he's like a British version of Antonio Margarito, we plan to have him fighting for the British title within 12 months then push on beyond the domestic stage.” Antonio Margarito? High praise indeed. Wale appreciates the plaudits directed at him but can appear somewhat humbled by the level of praise, not daunted by what's ahead but more in realisation of the magnitude of what is being proposed. Since the retirement of Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao has generally been considered as the new top of the pops in terms of pound for pound rankings. Sparring with the likes of him, Juan Manuel Marquez, and other Golden Boy fighters in the upper echelons of world boxing are opportunities on offer as part of the Hayemaker/Golden Boy relationship and these are opportunities Wale relishes. My lasting memory of the previous time I spoke with Josh was his desire to provide a Lonsdale belt for his father, a task trainer Dave Coldwell feels is the least of the Wale's capabilities. Since that interview, Josh's journey has gained momentum as he defeated the ever durable Robin Deakin before following up the victory with a first round stoppage of Ayittey Mettle. The shift to Hayemaker Promotions was next on the cards for the swash buckling South Yorkshireman and Wale is obviously delighted with the emergence of the promotional outfit which has come at the right time for him. "Obviously I have been on small hall shows for my first seven years. When I first turned professional me and my Dad had a look a television deals, my brother Gwyn was a pro and he was eighteen he boxed live on Sky but we decided to do small hall shows and get a little bit of experience and get rid of any bad habits. “When I fought my last bout with Ayittey Mettle, I knocked him out in the first but we were really struggling for opponents. It's hard when you haven't got TV so me, Dave and my Dad were looking at all the options and then this just came along. "I went for a meeting with Dave Coldwell and he said 'I've got something big to tell you', he told me about the Hayemaker deal and said they had looked at videos and wanted to sign me. It was brilliant. I met David Haye and Adam Booth who told me their plan for me and where they wanted me to go and it was just brilliant. "Then I went out to the training camp in Cyprus. They mentioned it at the press conference on Monday, Booth was saying how well I did. He said how Dave had kept telling him about this kid and he was saying yeah, but that when he saw me he couldn't believe what he was seeing. It was really good hearing what they were saying.” And is the dream still of the Lonsdale belt above his Dad's fireplace still on? "Definitely, the dream is still on. First I have to take care of Callaghan, have a look at him then do a job on him. Mathew Marsh is boxing Rocky Dean for the British title; he's already beaten him twice. I'm ready, he's just babysitting it. I'd box him tomorrow. I don't want to sound big headed but whatever super-bantamweight they choose for me, I'm ready to face. “I'm on course to get that British title and from what Adam (Booth) was saying it could be like a stepping stone. I'm not going to get big headed though, you see so many lads talking all this and that and nowt comes of it, I'm just keeping my feet on the floor. Obviously it's great what everybody is saying about me but first I have to do the job in the ring." Everything has fallen in to place for the down to earth 'Outlaw', who has the following prediction for the year. "Hopefully this year is going to be massive. I have to do my part in the ring and with Hayemaker Promotions behind me now, they are young and ambitious -same as me, same as Dave Coldwell. And with My Dad too, I have an absolutely brilliant team and I am going to be a force to be reckoned with. Watch out super-bantamweights because this year is going to be big". The next stage of the journey starts on 20th September at Hillsborough Leisure Centre, Sheffield, at the inaugural Hayemaker Promotions event where a win for the exciting Wale would signal a statement of intent to the division.

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