By John Hargate

On the undercard of Kevin Mitchell vs. Felix Lora, popular prospect and exciting big-hitter Frank Buglioni has his third professional contest against near-indestructible journeyman Ryan Clark, who despite being only 22 has 2(0)-49 record, with only two of those losses coming by way of stoppage.

 

Buglioni comes into the bout on the back of two first round stoppage wins. His trainer Mark Tibbs explained that Clark is a tough nut to crack. “John Dignum just boxed him, had four hard rounds with him. He’s a big, tough, orthodox fighter. He is very game but Frank’s got a job to do and he’ll do it. It don’t matter how game you are, you’ve got to have skill and you’ve got to prepare right. I believe that Frank has, that he’ll do a job on him and that he’ll look good doing it.”

 

Buglioni concurred. “I’ve seen a few of his fights. I was there for the fight with John Dignum. He looked very strong, very durable. Dignum outclassed him and boxed him at range, so I’ll be sure to go in there and do the same sort of thing. Keep him at the end of my jab.”

 

I asked Frank if he could keep the knockout streak going. “When I boxed Montieth, I didn’t actually go looking for a knockout, I wasn’t loading up on punches and I was just boxing at range. That when the power comes. I’ll be boxing exactly the same way and if the shots land, the shots land. This guy has got a high guard, he doesn’t really leave his chin there. He’s going to tuck it down so we’ll see what shots come. I’m not going to be chasing for a knockout, I’m just going to go out there and box nice and clever, and fingers crossed the knockout comes.”

 

“Frank has got a lot of power,” Mark Tibbs noted admiringly, “and he’s got better at delivering more power. I’ve worked with him from day one and the thing I found that he struggled with is that he relied on that power for everything. I’ve got him boxing and getting him ready for the long rounds. I’ve got him punishing them, and dissecting them at range and burying to the body.”

 

I asked Frank if it had been a hard decision to leave the amateur ranks. “I definitely think it was the right time for me to turn over. I feel quite mature now, fit and strong. My mind’s right as well. I’m focused, whereas a couple of years ago I was still chasing the Olympic dream. I’m 22 so still quite young, but I feel now is the time to really build into the pro game. I think in my heart of hearts the amateurs never really suited me as much as what the pros do. I definitely think I have the right style.”

 

Mark Tibbs explained that there was no need to push Frank towards titles too soon. “I’m pretty confident that he could fight tomorrow for the Southern Area title, but that then pushes him up a little bit more. I don’t want him to do that - at all. I’d be happy in three or four fights time to talk about a Southern Area title then. Even that’s still rushing it.”

 

“There’s no need to rush,” Mark continued. “He’s turned over at the right age, he’s twenty-two, he’s physically and mentally mature, but he’s still a baby in boxing terms. I’ve got him some good quality sparring lined up with George Groves again and with some top amateurs. We want to get some more sparring with Carl Froch, people like that. It brings him on immensely. Not too much hard sparring, but a bit here and there.”

 

“I get him sparring with people against who he can practice the routines we go over on the pads. I have to choose the level of sparring that he can do that with. It builds his confidence. Now and again I chuck him in with a good pro, so he’s a little bit out of his depth to see how he copes and deals with it. That’s the mental side of it. When it works - which it does a lot of the time - it really makes it worth while putting all the effort and the planning in.”

 

Mark told me Frank was a genuinely nice guy. “He’s got a very good following. He’s a very likeable person. There’s nothing phony or false about him. He’s got very good people behind him - his family - pointing him in the right direction. It’s a big help on its own. I’m doing the best I can with him and he’s coming along nicely.”