Highland Boxing Academy prospect Matej Papp eyes intermediate title as stepping stone to future success
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MATEJ Papp sees this weekend’s intermediate title bout as the stepping stone to his future success.
The Highland Boxing Academy heavyweight goes one-on-one with Elgin’s Scott Edwards, someone he sparred with earlier in the season, in Insch on Sunday.
With hopes of stepping up to open class in the near future, a win for Papp would be the ideal preparation for his progression to the next level.
He is already a Northern District champion at heavyweight and has impressed coaches in his full debut season with the Carsegate Road club.
Former Aberdeen University fighter Papp has repaid the compliments, adding that there would be few clubs in Scotland that could match HBA for facilities and level of training.
Everything is geared up for him to bring back the gold tomorrow night, against an opponent that will be looking to cut short his continuing rise.
“He’s won the novice title too, so we’re going down the same path,” said Papp. “We’ll see what happens afterwards but I’m not looking beyond this fight. It’s really a stepping stone to the next one.
“I don’t see being Northern District champion as being any advantage going into this fight. My preparation hasn’t really stepped up – I’m already pretty fit anyway.
“But the coaches have given up so much of their own time and I’m feeling really good heading into this fight.
“He came for sparring a few months ago when he was a complete novice and I was at the same level. I’ve had great preparation for this fight – (heavyweights) Andy Gray and Kevin Mapplebeck have been very helpful sparring with me and given me some definite variations to prepare. I definitely didn’t think I’d get anything like that.”
Papp will be on the same card as the junior Northern Districts in Insch, after securing his progress two weeks ago. He beat East Lothian’s Daniel Boardman on a split-decision in Ravenscraig, judging the fight just right in the last round to take the vote of the judges.
His first full season with the Inverness club has been a successful one. Along with beating club-mate Mapplebeck in the final of the Northern Districts, he also made the final of the Novice Championships too.
The step-up to a club like HBA, after he left university last year, has undoubtedly helped his progression.
“It wasn’t anywhere near as intense as HBA,” said Papp. “There were so many new members each year and classes were massive, so trainers couldn’t concentrate on individual boxers much.
“It wasn’t a serious boxing club, more of a place for students to go and meet up.
“When I came back from university there wasn’t really any question about where I was going to go. Joining HBA has helped me massively.”
One of the biggest attributes Papp has, which has been hailed on numerous occasions by club head coach Liam Foy, is his physical condition.
Papp, who works as a support worker, has his own strength and conditioning programme outside of HBA, as well as incorporating aspects of strongman and bodybuilding training into his regime.
“I do a bit of everything and just enjoy trying different things,” added Papp. “I do my own strength and conditioning at the gym, go to boxing at night and then go to the sauna and for a swim to allow my body to recover.
“Boxing is my main passion and I only wish I started it at an earlier age. I picked it up in my first year at university; I was playing football and there was one day where I forgot my boots, so went to watch the boxers instead.
“My idol was Muhammad Ali, even though I wasn’t a boxer at the time, so from then on I fell in love with it.”
Edwards beat Duries fighter Mark Tait in his semi-final, to book his showdown with Papp this weekend.
After his narrow semi-final victory, Papp was challenged to raise his game for the final by Foy, who felt he had more to come.
Unsurprisingly, the HBA fighter is confident in his chances of success.
“Absolutely, I’m optimistic and you’ve got to have belief in yourself. That’s the least I can do,” he said. “If I do that, I don’t see why I can’t come away with the win.”
HBA are sending an eight-strong team to Insch this weekend for the Northern Districts.
Multiple-time title-winner Jake Macdonald heads the group, with Scotland cap Nicola Rattray also in the travelling squad.
The club will have the unusual distinction of two Lewis Urquharts boxing for them, with one of them brother to Ruari, who is also in the squad. Kion White, Ewan Murray and Ewan Gliniecki are also slated to travel.
