Blake Caparello: “Winning this fight will open a lot of doors”

 
DON’T mistake Blake Caparello’s quiet demeanour for a lack of confidence.

 
On the eve of his high-stakes meeting with former two-time super middleweight title challenger Andre Dirrell at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, the Melburnian knows he is at the business end of his working vacation.

 
The 29-year-old has spent three weeks in New York fine tuning his tools ahead of his must-win clash.

 
“My trainer Sam Labruna decided to send me up earlier to finish off sparring over here,” said Caparello.

 
“We are working with Derrick Webster and a couple other southpaws that have good hand and foot speed. It’s been good to get up here three weeks earlier as it gave me a little bit more time to acclimatise as well,”

 
Caparello (22-1-1, 6 KOs) was originally scheduled to face Dirrell (24-2, 16 KOs) last October before an illness derailed the fight. Despite missing out the first time, Caparello says he had no hesitation signing again.

 
“No, not at all.” said Caparello on his willingness to sign for Dirrell for a second time. “My team has done all the hard work when it come down to the contracts, so we were well prepared this time for whatever happened.”

 
The defensively apt southpaw has clocked up more miles in recent years than most fighters. Having done multiple camps with world level fighters in both Canada and the US, Caparello admits no one trip is the same for his body.

 
“To be honest, each time I come over my body adapts differently,” he admitted. “I just try to keep it as basic as possible and keep to the same eating and sleeping routine that I do back home, which really helps.”

 
The fight against Dirrell is earmarked as an unofficial title eliminator. Given the two year journey Caparello has embarked on since falling in his first world title attempt, he is under no illusion as to how important a win will be.

 
“A win over Andre Dirrell is huge for my career,” Caparello explained.

 
“This fight is like a world title fight to me, obviously without the title. Winning this fight will open a lot of doors,”

 
“I’m just focusing on the job ahead.” he continued. “I’m not gonna give too much away about his weaknesses,”

 
“We know that Dirrell is a quick and slick boxer that loves to dictate pace. He makes you feel under pressure,”

 
Caparello’s winning mentality has been backed by his career-long trainer Sam Labruna, who believes that his fighter is more than ready to score a career-best win, live on American cable television.

 
“Blake is always improving and maturing as a fighter,” added Labruna. “He belongs on the big stage,”

 
“Dirrell is the perfect opponent, especially now that Blake is fighting in his correct weight division. If Dirrell’s team are looking for a front-running and intimidating game plan, they have picked the wrong opponent.”

 
 
Photo: Marty Camilleri/Marty’s Knockout Photography