Less is more for boxer May
Nathaniel May’s improved “refuelling” habits are beginning to pay dividends for the Bunbury boxer, according to his trainer Peter Stokes.
Stokes says the 19-year-old is reaping the benefit after cutting down on the snacks and fast food, allowing him to drop a division to his more natural featherweight.
Certainly May’s body shape looks a lot tighter. And if his one-round demolition of Anshori Anhar Pitulay last November is a guide then his punching power could shake up a few at 57.2kg.
“Basically it’s an ongoing battle … but he’s really tightened up on his nutrition before his last two fights,” Stokes said.
May headlines Stokes’ card at the Eaton Recreation Centre in Bunbury this Saturday night, where will fight for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Youth featherweight title.
May (nine wins, one loss) previously held the same belt at super-featherweight and will be expected to see off 20-year-old Filipino Lloyd Jardeliza (6-1-3).
Stokes says “Cheeky” May is having to take on Asian opponents because Aussie fighters are ducking him, including Waylon Law, the only fighter to beat him in a six-round war which could have gone either way.
“Nathaniel doesn’t want to fight Indonesians all the time, or Filipinos, only the higher quality ones. But Australian boys won’t fight him,” Stokes said.
“The No.1 in Australia, Will Young, who’s got the Australian belt, he won’t fight him.
“Waylon Law won’t fight him again. He pulled out (of a rematch) with an injury. We said he could still fight us but he never came back to us.
“I’ve told his promoter Ty (Colman) we need to get him over east. There are no Fox Sports shows here in WA. Fox Sports want him, they said don’t be put off by the decision against Law, when he got rorted.”
Stokes, never shy to talk up his fighter, has previously taken May to Los Angeles to train at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym, where he sparred with England’s WBA super-bantamweight ‘regular’ world champion Scott Quigg.
“Scotty said to me this guy’s unbelievable,” Stokes said. “We’re probably going over to spar with him early July at his gym in Manchester.”
Also appearing in Bunbury on Saturday is another young WA prospect, Brandon Ogilvie (9-1), who fights for the WBO Asia Pacific Youth super-featherweight belt which May used to hold.
Ogilvie meets Benjie Suganob (9-3-1), who is having his first pro fight outside the Philippines.
Unbeaten light-middleweight Sam Hogan (8-0) fights for the first time since suffering a nasty cut when claiming a split-decision win over Ryan Heck in October.
And Stokes’ 21-year-old cruiserweight Daniel McGlashan will look to extend his 4-0 record.
In total there are five boxing fights and two MMA bouts scheduled, with Stokes expecting to sell all 1000 tickets.
