Qamil Balla on rebuilding momentum: “I’ll do it on my terms”

NO opponent has threatened to halt the momentum of Qamil Balla’s professional career quite like his recent run of injuries.

With his misdiagnosed Thoracic outlet syndrome now behind him, Balla (9-0-1, 3 KOs) will have his second fight in four months in what will be the most active spell of his career in just over three years.

The former Australian light welterweight titleholder faces well-travelled Indonesian veteran Musa Letding in a ten round non-title fight at the Melbourne Park Function Centre for Hosking Promotions on Saturday night.

In boxing, timing is often the most underrated element of an athlete’s progression. And at the moment, Balla is in the midst of a perfect storm both personally and professionally, having celebrated the birth of his second child.

“Personally it’s been a great year, I just had another baby last week.” said Balla in an interview with Aus-Boxing. “It’s great because I pretty much have things with my family life under control and I can now put my concentration back in my sport. I’m just wrapped because I can get this last fight in by the end of the year with my baby having been born.”

“I’ll be two fights in, by the end of this year, that’s two fights ahead of the game for next year. That’s when I plan to make my big move.”

“I’m happy now – I’ve adjusted to it well – I take my son for runs with me in the mornings. I have figured out training times as well as my time to spend with the family. At the start it was hard, but now I have got the hang of it.”

Balla, 27, has a resume that in many ways speaks for itself, having handled reigning OPBF welterweight champion Jack Brubaker his lone career blemish. And perhaps it is for that reason the former amateur starlet doesn’t feel the need to talk trash to elevate himself above his rivals.

“I want to put on a show and I want to show everyone that I’m a superior athlete,” he explained. “I’m hoping to get some good rounds in that will get me ready for next year. It doesn’t matter who it is, I’m not going to call anyone out. I’ll do it on my terms.”

Given the likelihood of Balla campaigning at lightweight for the immediate future, the topic of divisional leader George Kambosos Jr. was an inevitable talking point. As the aforementioned explains, the Melburnian will always choose against speaking negatively about other fighters. However, he doesn’t agree with Kambosos’ claims of being the best fighter in Australia.

“That’s a massive call,” he conceded. “Everyone from Zac Dunn, Jeff Horn through to Blake Caparello would have something to say about that.”

“It’s definitely not Kambosos, but that’s his game though.”

“He likes to talk – I’m pretty happy about it though – he’s drawing attention to the sport. I can’t lie, its good. He’s speaking it up, he’s dividing people and it’s bringing attention back to boxing. He’s found his niche and he’s going for it. It’s a show, you either play the good guy or the bad guy.”

With the lightweight division lacking any major names aside from George Kambosos and the recently defeated Brandon Ogilvie, it appears as if Balla is only a handful of fights away from moving onto international opponents on the regional circuit.

To his credit, Balla admits that venturing overseas is pointless if he hasn’t faced the best Australia has to offer first.

“It’s kind of pointless going overseas when you haven’t conquered your hometown,” he added. “That’s the way I look at it. I believe in Australia, it doesn’t matter if you win, lose or draw we are pretty much nipping at the heels of the big guys overseas anyway.”

“If we fight each other here we should only benefit from it and get better, then take it overseas. If we develop and win over there, then we can come back and fight our own fighters again and make something out of that here. I really don’t see the big fuss of fighters saying, ‘I lost to this guy or I lost to that guy’ and everyone trying to protect their records.”

For all the bravado that he may lack in terms of trash talk, Balla has plans to make up for it in the ring, starting with Musa Letding on Saturday night.

“I want to work my way to a world title shot and there is no stopping me next year,” Balla concluded. “My family situation is great, my shoulder is good and I can focus my mind on the sport. That’s all I’m going to do all next year, just train my arse off and fight my arse off.”

“I can tell you come Saturday night it will be real entertaining. You’re going to see some real fast hands and big punches when I’m in there.”

To secure your tickets to Hosking Promotions ‘Punches at the Park II’, please click here.

Photo: Louie Abigail/Photography by Rockfingrz