Nine years as a professional boxer has led to the point where Roarke Knapp’s dream bouts are becoming a reality.
“This is what I’ve always wanted, to fight big fights, to fight overseas,” said the popular athlete after signing to fight Bakary Samaké for the WBC Silver title at junior middleweight, which will take place in the heart of Paris on Friday night.
If being careful what you wish for is typically a throwaway remark, it is very real for the South African who faces a young and hungry opponent who will be buoyed by a massive home crowd. Samaké can fight too, his perfect 17-0 record indicating a fighter at ease under the bright lights.
Yet it is also true that his opposition hasn’t always measured up. Like every fine prospect, his early record has been carefully padded and engineered to ensure a seamless run to the big league.
Knapp had a similar start, although he had wobbles along the way. Six years ago he was stunned – and stopped – by Brandon Thysse, who was running hot, but he gained revenge in their rematch, winning a thriller on points.
And then, 10 months ago, he forgot to read the script and was flattened by Jorge Garcia Perez for the IBO title. It briefly shattered him, although the truism, first uttered by Tyson Fury, that you are bound to get wet if you go for a swim was never more apt. Knapp gambled and lost.
The big question is whether he has learned the lessons from those defeats. Brian Mitchell, the celebrated former world champion, was brought in to help with his defence and Knapp himself swears he has worked out what he did wrong and has remedied these faults.
He had a seamless camp and his weight looks bang on, so physically he ought to match up to Samaké just fine. Boxers have been known to freeze amid the big occasion – remember Vuyani Bungu against Naseem Hamed all those years ago? – but Knapp is confident that what drives him (chiefly his young family) will compensate for any nerves.
Samaké has good ring IQ and technical skill and an excellent engine that will sustain him through the rounds. Knapp will thus have to bring his pressure game, his proclivity for body punching and a cool, calm head to have any chance of winning on Friday.
The judges are unlikely to do him any favours, so his output will have to be outstanding. Even then, he will have to catch the eye with everything he delivers if he is to stage a successful raid on Paris.
TV: SuperSport Action (DStv ch 210) from 7pm.
