Kennedy- ‘I have nothing to fear from Alen Babic’

Irish Heavyweight Niall Kennedy has landed a golden opportunity to jumpstart his career after securing an eight-round fight with Alen Babic on the Joshua Buatsi vs. Marko Calic undercard on Sunday, October 4, shown live on Sky Sports and DAZN. 

Kennedy’s hopes took a major blow last year when he suffered the first defeat of his career to American Devin Vargas at the MGM Springfield, with the referee stopping the fight in the fifth round after the Gorey boxer suffered a number of crucial blows.

The 36-year-old (13-1-1, 8 KOs) leaped at the chance to share the ring with ‘The Savage’, who’s stock in the Heavyweight division rose dramatically following his emphatic two-round destruction of Shawndell Winters on the final weekend of Matchroom Fight Camp.

Croatia’s Babic has warned that he alter ego will continue to cause havoc in the Heavyweight division and has set his sites on a showdown with his countryman Filip Hrgovic, but Kennedy, a garda in Wicklow, insists that he has nothing to fear when it comes to facing the former doorman. 

“He has gone about his business in his own way,” Kennedy told Seconds Out om Sunday. “He’s going about it loud alright! He likes talking. He’s a promoter’s dream. He’s doing well and he’s stopping his opponents. He’s getting rid of everyone very quickly, but he hasn’t fought a big man yet. 
 
“I’m not a massive Heavyweight but I’m a big man in comparison to what he’s fought so far. I think he thinks I’m turning up for a pay day. I’m actually looking at Alen Babic as a way to get to bigger paydays. 

?"I HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR FROM ALEN BABIC"@niallbaskennedy on being a Garda, his mental health battles, his amazing family & why he fancies subduing The Savage.

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— Seconds Out Boxing (@SecondsOutLive) September 20, 2020

 
“He presents an opportunity for me to showcase my skills in England. He is what he is, a loudmouth. You can’t argue with what he’s done so far, he’s been very good. I’m looking forward to it. I’m not going over there to make up the numbers. I’m going over there to sell myself. 
 
“It’s a fantastic chance for me to showcase what I can do. I’m not a fool, my last fight was a loss. Those close to me know why it was a loss and how it happened. A loss is a loss no less, and it’s on my record as an L. This is a great opportunity on a big stage to fix that. 
 
“It’s going to be a fun fight. He’s going to be in front of me. I don’t think I’m going to have to send a search party to look for him. He’s going to be in front of me for the whole of the fight and as long as it lasts.  I’ll be there. I won’t be found wanting.
 
“He’ll need to prove things to himself. He’ll have to go through the trenches that night and he’ll ask himself questions. I’ve already answered a lot of the questions that he’s in doubt of. I’ve been hit by big 18 stone Heavyweights. 
 
“I have nothing to fear from Alen Babic. I have no reason to fear anything. His ‘Savage’ persona has got everyone talking about him, so well done. His ‘Savage’ persona could skyrocket my career off the Richter Scale as well. Keep talking Mr Babic!”