andy burrows : SFUK interviews

Andy Burrows 23 november 2000

Interview with Andy prior to his fight with John Kavanagh in Belfast this weekend. Irish correspondant SFUKU gets down to business.

SFUKU: Andy, this is your first Pro' fight, how do you plan to approach it differently to your amateur bouts?

Andy Burrows: I really dont intend to approach this fight any diffrently, just have to keep my head ,try tobe relaxed and to do my own thing yetnot forgetting that I will have by all accounts a very dangerous opponent in the ring with me, you must never underestimate anyone if you do you are on a looser straight away.

SFUKU: Have you trained any differently for this fight than for your previous bouts?

AB I have had to alter my training slightly,obviously the addition of head strikes you have to modify your training or pay the price,also this is a singles match so mental preparation is paramount wheras before you would just train universialy . So my training has had to be more structured geared to facing one person rather than in the trials where you may have anything up to four bouts.

SFUKU: John is known to be predominantly a grappler, and you are known as a good striker, how do you intend to neutralise Johns grappling ability, or do you plan on engaging him on the ground?

AB: In this style of fighting you can never predict what will happen so saying that I will strike a grappler or face himat his own game could all change the minute you set foot in the ring .I will just stick to my strengths that is not to say that I cant grapple it just means that I will do y best in what ever situation I find myself in either standing up or on the mat

SFUKU: John has to be considered the favourite for this fight, if only because he is better known, how do you think this affects you coming into the fight?

AB: John being the favourite dosent bother me at all in a way it shift the pressure on to him because I really have nothing to lose. I will not think about the ability of my opponent being the big favourite because I might even begin to believe it myself . This is what would make me weak .I treat all opponents the same way

SFUKU: On the other hand you must be a crowd favourite, with you fighting at home and after your showmanship at the Irish Trials, so you think you can use this to your advantage?

AB: A crowd favourite you say ? I just hope so,the crowd has their part to play aswell they have come to see a good fight and who am Ito dissapoint them .I have never been in a fight that anyone can consider boring so hopefully the crowd will enjoy what they see. As for showmanhip I was just enjoying myself I think that if you dont enjoy it dont do it that is for everything not just fighting hopefully you will see more you never know ?

SFUKU: How do you see the fight going?

AB: If form is anything to go by then we are both coming of wins so confidence will be high and with confidence comes abality and if we can do what we are capable of then it will be very exciting I dont like to make predictions so we will just have to wait and see.

SFUKU: Good Luck

AB: Thanks a lot

Postscript : John went on to beat Andy Burrows in the firt round of their fight by armbar.

Fight report by Rob Byrne:

Fight scheduled for 2 X 5 min rounds. Fight began with both fighters wanting to engage early. Kavanagh threw a couple of jabs with Burrows replying by trying a high kick and a punch of his own. Immediately kavanagh shot in for the double leg taking Burrows down and ending up in side control. It was immediately very apparent that Burrows did not want to engage Kavanagh on the ground and had been working on how to close up while under the mount. Due to this tactic, kavanagh set about attacking different areas while traversing from side to full mount. The fight was stood up once, so Kavanagh immediately took Burrows down again with the double leg. After a couple of leg lock attempts, Kavanagh again took the mount. After working to control the left arm and nearing the end of the first round, kavanagh sunk on the arm bar which left Burrows no choice but to tap out.