Stefy Bull is calling on Josh Wale to seize his chance to make more history.
Brampton’s Wale faces French southpaw Georges Ory at Gymnase Lassalle in Vesoul, France tonight with the vacant European bantamweight title on the line.
Winning the strap would cap off an incredible career turnaround from Wale who would add it to his collection of English and British titles and ensure he becomes the first Barnsley-born and bred European champion.
Bull has helped spearhead the career upturn alongside Josh’s dad and trainer Mick. He said: “Josh’s achievements are unbelievable. If he was to win the European title as well it would be the biggest achievement of my career and would mean as much to me as it would to Josh and Mick. They were doing it on their own for so long and just coming up short.
“I always felt Josh’s weight was bantamweight and he’s unbeaten at that weight in two years and picked up the English and British titles and defended the British twice with knockouts. He’s a beast at bantamweight.
“He has had nine defeats but they’ve been against the best in Europe. He’s been at this level for years. He was the nearly man but he’s turned it around through hard graft and some good management.”
Given that Wale has more knockout wins on his record than Ory has had professional contests, Bull feels the vastly more-experienced away fighter is a strong favourite. He added: “If this fight was in the UK, I would bet my house on it. There’s only one man who can lose this fight and that’s Josh because I believe he is levels above him. On paper he is a strong favourite. He is advancing and becoming like a fine wine with age.”
Wale and his team headed out to France on Wednesday with members of his family and support joining them later in the week. He has prepared with sparring former Commonwealth champion and southpaw Jason Cunningham after coming through a six-rounder with Rafael Castillo unscathed at the Metrodome earlier this month.
Wale said: “I never thought three or four years ago that my commitment to boxing was going to pay off. I only wanted to win and defend the British title but now I’m at European level and I feel like I have plenty left to give.
“I am a hard man to beat and I feel strong. There’s only one title above the European and that’s the world title. It would mean everything to win the European title and it’s fairytale stuff. I am already immensely proud of what I have done in my career but this would be another thing to add to the list.”
Wale will be backed by 35 supporters in France. He said: “I would have taken more but the fight being on a Friday made it difficult. It’s still amazing support to take to France. He’s the French champion and he is on French television for a reason. There’s no easy fights at this level but I’m confident.”
