Josh King targets domestic dust-up with Will Tomlinson

 
ONLY weeks removed from going down in the biggest fight of his life, Josh King hasn’t wasted anytime in signalling his future intentions. A fight with fellow Aussie, Will Tomlinson.

 
The 30-year-old Townsville native arrived back in Australia last Tuesday after a gallant effort against Scotland’s Burns, almost going the distance with the former world champion.

 
However, King was stopped by a crippling body shot from the seasoned by the former two-division titleholder in the eleventh round in front of a large parochial crowd at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England.

 
King (now 20-4, 9 KOs) says that although he lost the fight, he feels as though his first experience on the big stage internationally and will hold him in good stead moving forward.

 
“Yeah I guess I’m not a guy who will make excuses,” said King in an exclusive interview with Aus-Boxing. “Ricky is a fantastic fighter and used all his skill and big fight experience to get the win,”

 
“He certainly showed why he is still a force to be reckoned with in the lightweight division, and I feel after being in there with him that it will only help my career moving forward. It was a great experience.”

 
When asked what it was about Burns that really stood out, King said that it was the little things he did inside the ring that definitely showed his experience.

 
“What stood out for me was the little things Ricky did,” he explained. “You will probably see if you watch the replay that we tried to get close to him and fight him on the inside,”

 
“Just the way he maneuvered his way out of clinches – and little punches he got into my hips and back – he just never stopped punching,”

 
“You might not think those little ones hurt, but when they accumulate over a period of time, they take their toll. The next day I could barely walk,”

 
What must be considered here is that King had a one month preparation to get up for his fight with Burns. A fighter who fought the likes of Michael Katsidis, Terrence Crawford, Omar Figueroa and Kevin Mitchell.

 
To go eleven rounds with someone as hardened and as seasoned as Burns was a great effort in itself. King said it is that fact that has given him a lot of confidence.

 
“Yeah with a ten week preparation, who knows?,” he added. “I think I certainly would have taken him the distance worst case scenario,”

 
“I gave it my all for eleven rounds on a pretty limited time to prepare myself for someone of that class, so that is certainly a huge positive.”

 
King said he is taking a well-earned break over the Christmas and New Year period after fighting internationally three times in 2015.

 
King then made it known what his intentions were in 2016. A much-wanted fight with Will Tomlinson.

 
“Will Tomlinson is a guy I have wanted for a while now,” admitted King. “I think it’s a great domestic fight, and I’m super confident that’s a fight I can win. It’s a great match up I reckon,”

 
“We are two Aussies who don’t take a backward step and who like throwing punches. It’s a great fight for Australian boxing in my opinion.”

 
“I have heard recently that there could be a fight between Will and Billy Dib. If that goes ahead, I certainly have no problems fighting the winner of that one,” King concluded.

 
“I feel I am ready to take on the best domestically and internationally,”

 
“I have a taste for it now and anyone willing to step up, pick up your phone and call.”

 
 
Words: Dan Smart/Follow Dan on Twitter @dansmart76
Photo: Sandra Mu/Getty Images