Exclusive Interview: James Hare.

British welterweight fighter James Hare (30-1-1 (16 KO’s) will fight David Barnes (15-0-0 (8 KO’s) on Friday the twelfth of November. Hare’s only defeat came against Cosme Rivera who went on to earn mandatory challenger status for the IBF welterweight title by stopping Canadian standout Hercules Kyvelos. Hare’s performance was deemed to be under par that night, but there is no shame in losing to a fighter like Rivera who has beaten several top names on the American scene and been more than competitive with former world champion Diosbelys Hurtado. Hare’s comeback trail has seen him notch routine wins, but victory against Barnes would make his return complete and Hare is not taking the fight lightly by any means. Saddoboxing.com was fortunate enough to be able to talk exclusively to James as he made his final preparations before the big night.

SaddoBoxing: You are fighting David Barnes for the British title on Friday how are you feeling?

James Hare: Just like all the other times really. But erm, shitting it (laughter). I’m always nervous before fights, you know, but when that changes then there’s something wrong, you know what I mean? It’d be time to call it a day then, so I just feel like I felt for all the other fights, I’ve trained hard and I’m just looking forward to it.

SB: So it’s a healthy kind of adrenaline rush?

JH: Yeah that’s right, that’s right.

SB: How was training?

JH: Yeah, yeah it’s been good, obviously we were training to box on the first of October but then there were one or two complications so we had to ease off for a week or so and we’ve been hard at it for the last six or seven weeks. So we’re in as good a shape as can be and we’re ready for it.

SB: What do you think of David Barnes?

JH: I think he’s a classy southpaw boxer and obviously carries a little bit of a punch as well so I’ve got to be on me guard and I’ll be looking to fight each round as it comes and try and break him down.

SB: What is your game plan for the fight?

JH: Just to take each round as it comes and just try to win each round as it comes and just try to hit him more times than he hit’s me (laughter) just as simple as that.

SB: You are a lot more experienced than him; will experience be a big factor in the fight?

JH: Well that remains to be seen. David’s a classy boxer, I think he’s more experienced beyond his years and obviously he’ll either prove that on Friday or it’ll be a factor. There’s a lot of anticipation about it so we’ll just have to wait and see.

SB: Do you have a prediction for the fight?

JH: No, no. I’ve never been one for predicting I’m a little bit boring that way I’m afraid. There’s no point changing now, I’m just going to go out there and try and do my best each round by round and hopefully I’ll come away with a good victory.

SB: You’ve already had the Commonwealth title and the WBF title, so how important is winning the British title to you?

JH: Well it means everything you ask any British boxer. One of their goals will be to challenge or fight for the British title so, yeah it means a great deal, I mean it’s just a shame I haven’t been able to box for it sooner but it’s just how my career, you know, that’s just the path it went down, you know, it’s just one of them things.

SB: Where do you want to go should you win the British title?

JH: Well that all depends on different promotions and opportunities. We can either run with the British title or bearing in mind I come through it and prove myself then obviously other doors might open you know, I’ve never been beaten by a European before I think I’m fairly highly rated in Europe and that is an avenue but it all does depend on the promoters and opportunities and dates with sky and everything.

SB: At one time there was a lot of talk about you fighting IBO titleholder Jawaid Khaliq, are you still interested in that fight?

JH: Yeah that’s right. It is unlikely obviously we’re in the same stable to a degree, you know, we’re both promoted by the same manager, but I’m sure I’ll be in line for the guy who’s fortunate enough to beat him (Khaliq), but that’s all future is that.

SB: You’ve only got one loss on your record and that was to Cosme Rivera. How damaging was that loss?

JH: Well I mean you just put it down to experience, yeah I were gutted at the time but I got beat for a reason, the kid were a good kid, and I wasn’t at me best that night as well, you know, so that didn’t help matters. You learn from it, I’ve had two good wins since and hopefully I can make it a third on Friday.

SB: Would you ever want a rematch with Rivera?

JH: Yeah it would be nice to see what kind of a shot I could give him on a good day. I think he’s a good fighter all round any way whatever day you get him on. It just remains to be seen, he’s since won an eliminator for the IBF so he’s up there with the big fellas at the minute so we’ll just have to wait have to wait and see.

SB: At some stage of your career you’re going to want to get in with the big names of the division like Spinks, Judah, Margarito and Cintron, how do you think you’d fair against those guys?

JH: Well I mean, any one of those guys are top class aren’t they? I’m just thinking (about the fight on) the twelfth and just thinking about that to start with but I’d like to think I’d be able to cause them a few problems you know?

SB: When you’ve retired from boxing, how do you want to be remembered?

JH: Well to be honest anybody in boxing circles, you know, referees or people within boxing, if they talk about James Hare then I’d be happy, as long as they remembered me as a stand up guy who could fight and who were a good boxer. That’d do me, you know what I mean? I’d be happy with that, and anything above that would be a bonus.

SB: Well that’s about all my questions is there anything else you’d like to add?

JH: Well no to be honest mate I think you’ve covered everything, like I say I’m just eagerly looking forward to the twelfth and fingers crossed I can do the business.

SB: Best of luck on Friday.

JH: Cheers.

Saddoboxing.com would like to thanks James Hare for his time and wish him the best of luck on Friday night.

Live coverage of the fight will be provided by Sky sports.