Galahad focused for IBF eliminator against Marrero
Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images
Galahad came up just short in a title challenge in 2019, and wants right back for another one this year.
Kid Galahad’s loss to Josh Warrington last June wasn’t on anyone’s Fight of the Year list when 2019 wrapped up. In all honesty, it was an ugly, unappealing fight that badly lacked in entertainment value.
But not every fight is going to be the best style matchup for fireworks, and most important to Galahad is how close he came to lifting the IBF featherweight title from Warrington that night, losing a split decision in Warrington’s hometown.
The 29-year-old Galahad (26-1, 15 KO) is getting another shot at another shot on Feb. 8, when he faces Claudio Marrero (24-3, 17 KO) in an IBF eliminator, and he says he’s ready and geared up for the bout.
“I am fully focused at the moment on Claudio Marrero, who is very dangerous, and I’m sure this will be a difficult fight for me to win,” Galahad said at a media workout. “He has great amateur pedigree as a former Olympian with the Dominican Republic, he’s only lost to high calibre boxers and he can punch.”
Galahad feels it’s important to look good, which could help sooner force another crack at that IBF belt. Warrington is known to be looking at possible unification later this year with WBO titleholder Shakur Stevenson, with Stevenson set to return first in March against Miguel Marriaga. But if the Warrington-Stevenson fight doesn’t happen for one reason or another, Galahad could force his way in as soon as this summer, provided he beats Marrero — and he stresses that he considers Marrero dangerous.
“I’ve got to do a number on this kid and get him out the way,” he said. “I have trained very hard for this fight and I will raise to the occasion, step up my game and be ready for whatever he brings to the table on Feb. 8. I’ve got to be 100 percent ready and I can’t afford to make any mistakes because if I do that could be the end of the night for me.”
Galahad also says he got right back to work after the fight with Warrington, which he felt he deserved to win, and he says the decision has given him some extra motivation not to leave it in the judges’ hands again.
“The day after my last fight I went back to the drawing board and straight back in the gym,” he said. “I don’t believe that I lost that fight but the judges saw it a different way, so next time I’ve got to make sure I don’t leave the decision to them.”