Tyrone Nurse promises vintage display against Jack Catterall
by Simon Crawford
Tyrone Nurse has vowed to put on a vintage performance when he defends his British super-lightweight title against Jack Catterall next month.
By his own admission, Huddersfield stylist Nurse (35-2-2, 7KOs) has been below-par in his last two outings - drawing with Joe Hughes and outpointing Andy Keates back in May.
But he insists a chance to win the coveted Lonsdale belt outright against unbeaten Catterall on October 21 in Leeds has got him fully motivated.
"Let's be honest, I've been s**t in my last two fights and no-one knows that better than I do," the 27-year-old told sportinglife.com.
"I've just been doing enough to scrape by and win. I guess that's boxing ... that when you've been in it for so long you need that motivation to bring the best of you.
"But I've not been as excited as this for a fight since I won the British title [against Chris Jenkins in November 2015] and I want to put on a performance like the old Tyrone who is a tough fight for anyone out there.
"I don't have a fear factor as such, it's excitement and probably all boils down to nerves. You can turn nerves into one of two things - fear or excitement.
"For me it's excitement, so I'm looking forward to it and I can't wait to get in there. I'll go in there as the underdog no doubt, but I was the same against Chris Jenkins and I stood him on his head."
Chorley southpaw Catterall is unbeaten in 18 fights and is highly ranked by the WBO after winning their inter-continental title.
Nurse knows the stakes are high in one of the most eagerly-anticipated domestic clashes of the year.
"It's a great fight for the fans, it's an interesting fight - very intriguing," he said.
"You have unbeaten Catterall, a big puncher, a southpaw and just about ranked No 1 in the world by the WBO. I'm British champion, a tough ask for anyone and I have a chance to finally win the British belt outright.
"It's exciting times because when I beat Jack then I will move up the world rankings and there looks like being plenty of opportunities with Terence Crawford vacating (his world titles).
"But obviously my focus is on Jack. I've done a lot of sparring in his gym against former world champion Argenis Mendez, but never against Jack himself.
"But of course I've seen his fights on TV and he's seen mine. It is what it is, it's unavoidable that you hear things about people as boxing is such a small circle.
"He's a southpaw but I'm a switch-hitter myself so I understand it. You need southpaw sparring just to feel comfortable with it otherwise your head could certainly be scrambled by it early on.
"But I'm feeling like the old Tyrone, in the gym and in sparring. The better and bigger the fight, then the best you will see of me so I'm very confident."
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