Ibrahim Balla talks layoffs, returning to training and Roberto Lerio

 
UNDEFEATED former Olympian Ibrahim Balla is hoping Friday night’s Australian title fight will be the first of many championship contests.

 
Balla, 24, will challenge former two division national titlist Roberto Lerio, 29, at The Melbourne Pavilion.

 
After a ten month layoff, Balla (7-0, 5 KOs) will have his second fight in as many months in what he hopes will begin an active spell for his fledgling professional career.

 
“I had a break last year,” said Balla in an interview with Aus-Boxing. “I then got back into training and the body is feeling good now.”

 
“I had a fight in June against the tough Alvin Bais. That was a good win, a second round knockout,”

 
“It’s put me in a good position for the Australian title now.”

 
For this camp, Balla has worked extensively with former IBO super featherweight champion Will Tomlinson, who like Balla trains under the guidance of respected Melbourne-based trainer Lim Jeka at The Gym in Yarraville.

 
“Will Tomlinson has been my main sparring partner,” continued Balla. “It’s been really good working with him, Will has a similar style to Lerio,”

 
“He is an ex-world champion so it’s been a really good prep for me,”

 
Although Balla campaigns in a division that often ignores the national title as a stepping board, Balla insists that fighting for the Australian title is something that he will do with great pride, just like his older brother Qamil.

 
“It’s a great opportunity to fight for the Australian title,” explained Balla. “To win it would be amazing. A lot of top Australian fighters and former world champions have held it and it is a big step up for me,”

 
“To win the Australian title is a big thing, it’s a big honour and something I respect. I hope to follow in my brother’s footsteps. He won the Australian title.”

 
“Having two brothers winning the Australian title would be huge; it’s not something you get to see everyday.”

 
Lerio (16-21-1, 6 KOs) has fought the best lighter weight fighters for the best part of a near decade, losing to only the best fighters in his division, including Kye MacKenzie, Corey McConnell, Fred Mundraby and many others.

 
“I am going to expect a tough fight,” quipped Balla. “He’s been in there with a lot of top fighters and I give him credit for that. He will be a tough opponent.”

 
“This was a fight that I was ready for last year, but it was put off. I had things I had to deal with in the last camp.”

 
“My grandmother passed away on the day of my birthday. It was a pretty tough emotional ride for me then. So my trainer said it probably wasn’t the best thing being in there at that time.”

 
“I can tell you now, I’m ready.”

 
“You’re going to see Ibrahim Balla at his best,” he exclaimed. “I will box when I need to box and I’ll bang when I need to bang,”

 
“I’m feeling good, I’m confident and I look forward to getting to work on Friday night.”

 
Balla’s trainer Lim Jeka – a former Australian champion himself – is happy with the work that his young charge has put in and despite the initial break, Jeka is happy with their progress.

 
“The layoff did him really good, he’s come back fresh,” added Jeka.

 
“He’s come back into the gym fresh off a good win. He’s looking sensational. Smart, intelligent, picking his shots. You’re going to see a good homebred boxer/puncher come out of Australia.”

 
Jeka has lamented the lack of regular fights for his fighters, but admits that the landscape for developing fighters is different in Australia and therefore, he must adjust their training to suit.

 
“As a trainer and in a perfect world early in their career you would love to see them have six to eight fights a year in their early stages.”

 
“But the reality is in Australia there aren’t many opportunities. So if we can get an average of four to six fights a year we’re going alright.”

 
“Hopefully we get through this fight. We look forward to fighting better opponents; stronger opponents each fight. I feel we can start testing him at that level and keep moving him up.”

 
 
Photo: Louie Abigail/Photography by Rockfingrz