ABU DHABI — It’s not unusual for a fighter to imagine the moment of ultimate glory as they head into the biggest night of their career.
What will it feel like when their hand is raised, or when the championship belt is strapped around their waist?
Manchester super-featherweight Zelfa Barrett has a very specific visualisation in mind as he prepares to take on the unbeaten Shavkat Rakhimov for the vacant IBF crown in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night, one of three world title fights on an Etihad Arena bill topped by WBA light-heavyweight king Dmitry Bivol’s showdown with Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez.
“I remember there was a poster around with all the champions in Manchester on it,” Barrett told The Sporting News. “I could go on it now because I’m European champion. My Uncle Pat was on there, Stephen Foster Sr, Stephen Foster Jr, Ricky Hatton, Tyson Fury, Anthony Crolla, Terry Flanagan.
“So I want to go on there as a world champion. I want someone to remake that poster with my face there too, because I’m a world champion. There’s something in our water, man, it breeds champions.”
WATCH: Bivol vs. Ramirez live on DAZN
If there’s something in the water of his famously inclement home city, it’s also been easy to spot something in the genes this week in Abu Dhabi’s desert climate.
Pat Barrett, Zelfa’s uncle, is a former British and European light-welterweight champion who challenged for the WBO welterweight crown against Manning Galloway in 1992. He now trains his nephew, who counts ex-Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Lyndon Arthur as both a gym-mate and a cousin.
“Yeah, it is an advantage. They can say little things and give you little bits of advice but what gets me through fight week is my 29 fights,” the younger Barrett (28-1, 16 KOs) explained. “I’ve been around the game, I’ve sparred every man and his dog, different styles.
“As long as there’s a ring there, it doesn’t matter where you are. My experience in boxing helps me out. He’s not bringing something that I’ve never been around.”
Barrett landed this potentially life-changing opportunity after the IBF elected to strip Joe Cordina of its title, the Welshman having been mandated to fight Rakhimov before suffering a broken hand in training that required surgery.
The 29-year-old feels his chances are being underplayed and has shrugged off his underdog status, noting he has as many career knockouts as Rakhimov (16-0-1, 13 KOs) has wins.
“Real boxing people that understand boxing would say it’s a 50/50 fight,” Barrett said, incidentally an assessment that Cordina agrees with.
“People who don’t really know boxing, who watch clips… watch the fights, don’t watch clips, clips are just the best bits. Look at the style, look at the speed, look at the power.”
Last weekend, veteran featherweight Kiko Martinez showcased his enduring power by demolishing Jordan Gill inside four rounds to become a five-time European champion. Barrett takes confidence from the fact he claimed decision win over Martinez in February last year, a triumph that was overshadowed by a couple of absurdly wide 118-111 cards.
Since then, ‘La Sensacion’ has gone on to shock Kid Galahad and win a second world title, lose the IBF 126lbs belt to Josh Warrington but break the Leeds man’s jaw for his troubles and rout Gill.
“I won that fight and it got brushed under the carpet because of how the decision,” Barrett said. “I made it… I wouldn’t say comfortable, but I won by two rounds. A lot of people get in the ring with him and they’re getting damaged and hurt. He didn’t damage me.
“I believe that I was a deflated Zelfa Barrett then. I’ve got a nutritionist here with me now. My last two fights have been my best two fights with my nutritionist.
“Going back to the fight with Kiko, I look yellow. My eyes are grey. I was doing it wrong, drying out wrong and I still won. I was doing that my whole career, I thought it was normal.
“But Kiko’s a great fighter, man. He’s a credit to the sport, European champion again now, and a former world champion. He went out and knocked out Kid Galahad after I beat him, so I must have been doing something right.”
Rakhimov is a highly rated stalwart of Freddie Roach’s Wildcard Gym but Barrett believes his come-forward style, albeit from a southpaw stance, will prove to be to his liking. Both men have already signed to fight Cordina if victorious.
It would be a huge fight for British boxing in either Cardiff or Manchester if Barrett gets the job done, certainly worthy of plastering posters all around the city.
“The carrot for me is the belt. Anything from there is a blessing,” Barrett added. “Joe is a cool guy and I see him as a friend outside of boxing. But it is what it is and on Saturday night I will be champion, world champion.”
Hits: 0
