DEMPSEY Wale already has one eye on 2025 and feels he will head into the new year feeling the best he has in some time.
The 28-year-old Brampton lightweight is fully expecting to record his 13th straight professional win at the Metrodome tomorrow night (Saturday).
He faces Mexican Erick Omar Lopez over six rounds in what will be his fourth international contest on the bounce.
This year has been one of recovery for him after he sustained a shoulder injury last winter. He has been forced to rebuild slowly and feels he is now at full fitness.
Wale, the younger brother of former British champion Josh, was out for 11 months in total and though this will be his third fight since coming back in June, he feels he is only now fully back up to speed.
He said: “I wouldn’t say I rushed back, but we wanted to avoid having an operation and ease back into it.
“I finally feel like I am back to 100 per cent now. And that is an honest 100 per cent.
“I am not kidding myself or anyone else.
“I am ready to go.
“It was all I was thinking about in fights. ‘Can I throw the right hand?’
“And then the opportunity had gone.
“It’s good to have that peace of mind and it’s showing in sparring and in the gym.
“I’m on fire.
“Every fighter has to have the fights where they don’t enjoy them.
“They’re learning fights.
“It’s all experience that I didn’t have as an amateur.”
Dempsey only had two amateur fights before following in the footsteps of his elder brothers Gwyn and Josh into the paid ranks.
Lopez is a lot more seasoned with a record of 16 wins, 21 losses and two draws but is now in journeyman mode.
Dempsey added: “I have got to start using these fights to practice stuff other than just trying to steamroll everybody.
“It’s about using my ability.
“It’s not been the greatest year.
“I want to get in there and have ten round fights and that is what I feel I am ready for.
“There are a lot of kids that I would like to fight now. I will put in a nice clinical performance and set myself up for next year.
“I might treat myself to a day off but I want these Central Area and English champions.
“I want to be in the top ten in the country next year.”
JA Metcalfe has had to withdraw from the show after sustaining a broken jaw in sparring. The unbeaten Cudworth fighter had been due to make his ring return after three years out.
The show will be an unusual one as it will feature a brother and sister.
Sheffield’s Red Johnson, who boxed as an amateur for Barnsley Star ABC, will be joined on the bill by sister Bianca, who is making her professional debut.
