By Jack Hatton
Super-lightweight Tom Farrell (Record: 18-3-0) isn’t getting carried away about the doors that might open for him if he succeeds at the Boxxer tournament in Liverpool on November 6.
The new event, at the M&S Bank Arena, is a unique format in partnership in Sky.
It’s an eight-man, one night tournament with rising talents and ex-champions in 3×3 minute rounds to make for an exciting night of fast-paced explosive boxing.
In the new partnership, Sky and Boxxer will go to every major city in the UK to give grassroots boxers a chance to compete on the biggest stage in the country.
Farrell, who last fought against fellow contender Sean Dodd at the same venue (by technical decision), has his mind completely focused on a fight-by-fight basis.
“I need to get the three wins on the night.
“I’m sure when I win and win in style, Sky and Boxxer will be looking to do something with me in the future on bigger shows.
“I’ve got to take each round and each fight as it comes.”
It’s been nearly 2 years since I was 10 stone & fighting in the @mandsbankarena. Less than 3 weeks to wait now and I’m in great shape. Can’t wait to be back on @skysportsboxing in the @boxxer series 6/11/21#letsgochamp #teamfazza pic.twitter.com/eDyCq4KpQo
— Tom Farrell (@TomFarrell89) October 17, 2021
Training has been a blast from the past for the 31-year-old who compares the training routine to his amateur days.
Unlike other camps, spending weeks on end preparing for one opponent and to a particular style and game plan.
This unique format throws all traditional training camps away with an array of styles and opponents to try and prepare for in a fast-paced environment.
But the Huyton-born fighter is feeling fresh ahead of the event and his confident he’s trained right.
“I feel fit, and I feel sharp to go over three rounds.
“It’s about getting different sparring partners in, have rounds with one, have a bit of a break and three rounds with a totally different one.”
‘Fazza’ is relishing the opportunity to fight again in the M&S Bank Arena, despite him being able to soak up the crowd and fighting there several times in his professional career.
As a former champion, some critics would say his opportunity has been and gone, but Farrell is keen to prove any doubters wrong.
“I haven’t had this long, elongated career where I’ve had all these miles on the clock.
“I still feel young, I still feel fresh, Masher (Sean Dodd) was 35 when he fought me and that was two years ago!
“I’m hoping people do think that he’s finished, passed his best and I know they’ll get a shock on fight night.”
