Ibrahim Balla: “I think Australian fighters are scared to have a loss on their record”

 
IBRAHIM Balla is planning to make the jump from prospect to contender on Saturday night.

 
The former Olympian and two-division Australian titleholder will begin his inevitable rise towards world level with a WBO affiliated regional title fight against regarded Filipino prospect Neil John Tabanao in regional Victoria.

 
Balla, 25, will headline an eight fight card at Bendigo Stadium put together by emerging promotional entity Hosking Promotions, who recently acquired the Melburnian, who will fight outside of Melbourne for the first time.

 
Having recently returned from a team trip to Vegas alongside his promoter Lynden Hosking, brother Qamil Balla and stablemates Cherneka ‘Neekz’ Johnson as well as Shannon O’Connell, Balla is eager to prove his worth.

 
“I went to Las Vegas to watch the Canelo versus Khan fight,” said Balla to Aus-Boxing. “I was there for a week and got to train in the Roy Jones Jr’s gym. The trip was really to soak in the atmosphere of a big fight,”

 
“What I took out of it was they are just people. They’re no better than me; I can definitely step up to that level.”

 
“I have belief in myself that I can achieve that – it got me thinking – ‘why can’t this be me in the spotlight?'”

 
“I had a few rounds sparring at the gym, which was great. I found the competition just has a little more depth over there than what we have back home.”

 
In Tabanao (12-1, 8 KOs), Balla is facing a battle-hardened prospect who has lost only once in thirteen outings, dropping a razor-thin decision to former world title challenger and fellow countryman Randy Braga last year.

 
Balla (9-0, 6 KOs) isn’t underestimating the task at hand and understands the capabilities of his opponent.

 
“No fight is ever easy,” said Balla on Tabanao. “I’m treating this a world title fight. I’ve been training hard and I’ve prepared mentally and physically. This guy is a tough competitor, I’m not taking him lightly at all.”

 
The regional title tilt will be only Balla’s second fight at featherweight, having campaigned for the bulk of his professional career at super bantamweight, where he picked up state and national title honours.

 
When asked on his ability to fight in multiple weight classes, Balla admitted the move up to featherweight has been beneficial to his career, while adding that an eventual world rating is a further incentive to stay put.

 
Having proudly reigned as an unchallenged Australian champion in two divisions, Balla has proved he is the best in the country. The challenge now is to take that next step and solidify his place as one of our leading new faces.

 
“I’m comfortable now fighting at featherweight,” he explained. “And I’m definitely happy now fighting at this weight. So from here I’m hoping to win this WBO regional title and work my way up to the number one spot,”

 
“I hope this puts me in the top fifteen in the world in the WBO. I took pride in becoming the Australian champion – I really see this now a step up from that – and you will start seeing me taking on the world’s best.”

 
“I think Australian fighters are scared to have a loss on their record,” he continued.

 
“Whoever they put in front of me, it doesn’t matter. There are good fighters but in the end it’s just business.”

 
Balla’s promotional team have plans to bring their charge back into the Melbourne market after securing a maiden regional title and an eventual world rating. But before any of this, Balla plans to put on a show in Bendigo.

 
“I’m expecting it to be a really exciting night for the people down in Bendigo,” he concluded. “It looks like an awesome stadium to fight in. I’m hoping to convert the Bendigo people and get them following me,”

 
“Lynden Hosking has been awesome. He was the reason for me getting over to Las Vegas and also providing me this opportunity to fight in Bendigo.”

 
“He has been a great supporter and I’m grateful he has gotten behind me.”

 
 
Photo: Louie Abigail/Photography by Rockfingrz