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BBC Sport Online: Boxing


Thursday, 5 April, 2001, 13:12 GMT 14:12 UK

Couch raring to go



Jane Couch (left) will fight at Wembley in May
Britain's top female boxer Jane Couch talks exclusively to BBC Sport Online about her next contest.

I'm finally fully fit and raring to go after five months out injured - my first injury in eight years of boxing.

I now know my next fight will be 31 May at Wembley Conference Centre.

I'm not sure who the opponent will be, but whoever it is I'll be ready for them.


Repetitive training can sometimes be monotonous - but that's what it takes to be a champion.
Jane Couch

The fight will probably be for one of my title belts, but I don't know what weight I'll be fighting at.

At the moment I qualify for lightweight, weighing in at about 10 stone, so I don't have to lose or gain many pounds for a welterweight or light-welterweight title fight.

Not knowing who my next opponent is or the weight I'll be fighting at doesn't bother me - I prefer to concentrate on my own fight.

People ask me if I'm under greater pressure before a fight, now that I'm a household name.

But I prepare for the ring now the way I have always done - with the goal of winning.

Coming back from injury means that I am training harder than ever, to build up my strength.

I train three hours a day, six days a week.

Every day training consists of skipping, circuit training and sparring.

Such repetitive training can sometimes be monotonous - but that's what it takes to be a champion.

I'll be taking a break from training on Saturday night to watch my mate Naseem fighting in Las Vegas.

I hope the whole country will get behind him - he has a tough fight on his hands.


I predict that Hamed will prove too powerful and knock the Mexican out in the first few rounds.
Jane Couch

Barrera is a great champion - but so is Naz. Pound for pound he's the hardest puncher in the world.

I predict that Hamed will prove too powerful and knock the Mexican out in the first few rounds.

While I'd love to be earning the money Naz makes, that's not what motivates me.

Boxing has given me a new life and allowed me to travel the world and box on the same billings as greats like Roy Jones Jnr and Prince Naseem.

My motivation is winning and I can't wait to get back into the ring.


Related to this story:
Couch on the mend (26 Mar 01 | Boxing)
Making it in the hardest game (19 Mar 01 | Boxing)
Couch handed US defeat (20 Aug 00 | Other Sports)

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