Johnny Fisher is prepared to enter the trenches with “underdog” Alen Babic

UNEW heavyweight champ Johnny Fisher thinks his built-in fight mentality will be different if he steps into the ring with Alen Babic.

The two went head-to-head in an open press conference for their July 6 feud at the Copper Box Arena (often referred to by participants as the “Copper Bosh” in reference to Fisher’s catchphrase).

Giving entertaining performances, albeit compared to the usual early suspects, was part of Fisher’s appeal. Putting a pole on his squat opponent from Zagreb shouldn’t be a problem, either.

“[I’ve] We definitely have the power, we’ve seen that before,” asserted Fisher, 11-0 (10 KOs).

“But when we go to the canals, that’s what I believe I got inside myself. You can train as much as you want in the gym. You have to have that inside of you. That’s the mindset you’re born with, no matter what background you come from. And I have that idea.”

While promoter Eddie Hearn talks world-class fun in this division, Fisher, 25, has shown a variety of fighting qualities that suggest he’s more than just a ticket seller.

Hearn is expecting a 7,000-strong crowd to see the latest in Johnny’s career. If he keeps winning, more nights against bigger opponents are sure to come. In the short term, firing Babic and ignoring the haters are the only two things on the punching prospect’s mind.

“If you’re in boxing you care about what people think or say, you’re not in the right game because there will be people saying, look at Tyson Fury, look at Anthony Joshua, look at the top level, look at Oleksandr Usyk.

“You will get criticism from all quarters. The important thing is that you have a team around you and believe in yourself. And confidence is something I will never lack,” added the ‘Romford Bull’.

While Babic (12-1, 11 KOs) may not be the slickest operator on the circuit, if Fisher has hidden flaws at this level—especially in the areas of heart, resolve, or toughness—the Croatian (below) will do his best to they found them.

The two have been close in the past, exchanging words, if not punches. As Babic stepped up in class against Shawndell Terell Winters at the Matchroom HQ Garden during the first Covid-restricted show of 2020, his latest opponent had some comments to share.

“I remember when I was tested for the first time. It was my third time [sic, fourth] confront Shawndell. You [Fisher] you were there and you were telling me, ‘you can’t do this’, it’s a 50-50 fight,” Babic growled.

“So I was there. I’m at least five years into this test and stuff. And I know what it brings. That’s why I say yes to this fight. I feel like it is a gift from God to me.”

Not many would describe a fight with Johnny Fisher as a gift from a higher power, but Babic may need a little touch of divine intervention to revive his career right now.

A six-round thrashing by North East tough man Steve Robinson no doubt helped build confidence in a man who is used to getting inside and blasting through opponents. That approach didn’t work in Poland when Babic was burned in the round by Lukasz Rozanski.

Rozanski’s first-round clash with Lawrence Okolie’s bridgeweight boxer made everyone’s standards align. If ‘The Savage’ is caught clean by Fisher on July 6, he may soon start suffering from other things going on.

Babic emphasized that he does better when nothing much is expected of him. It carries the tag of a barroom brawler while the audience waits more and more for him to arrive before he can fit the 33-year-old’s attitude.

It was only then that the attitude changed and he was suddenly so respected that the burden of expectation was lifted from his thin shoulders.

“I want everyone to know that I am the underdog in this fight. F**k favorites. I am a humble person. I was the favorite in one fight. It was the worst fight of my life. It almost destroyed me. I was depressed for a year. It almost threw everything away, said Babic.

“Therefore, I am the underdog in this fight. Big underdog,” he muttered – seemingly talking to himself as much as anyone there.