Pikire: I’m married to violence in the ring

Sam Pikire with Yours Truly…the exciting fighter is back on June 10

SAM Pikire – the fighter who has dubbed himself “Big Ego” – strode towards this writer, wiped the bullet sweat from his brow and declared: “I’m married to violence – and I don’t intend to get divorced any time yet.”

Whether the Longbridge junior-lightweight achieves the lofty heights he predicts remain to be seen. One thing, however, is beyond doubt: verbal gems like the one printed above make Pikire a reporter’s dream.

They come like boxing combinations…glorious soundbite after soundbite.

The powerfully built 30-year-old has his fourth pro outing on Tommy Owens’ June 10 “Summer Brawls II” show at Planet Ice, Solihull, on June 10.

To date, he’s boxed four rounders and suffered something of a setback in his second fight, losing on points to Stu Greener.

The defeat has done nothing to knock Pikire’s sky-high confidence.

At Sunday’s press conference at Birmingham’s Eastside gym, he told me: “I’m on a journey. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they were making the bricks every day.

“Be there on June 10 because I’m going to make a statement. I’m bringing the old school boxing back. In these hard times I want to give the fans their money’s worth.”

Pikire – now a full-time pro – puts his lone loss down to the scale. “It was a super-feather against a super-lightweight,” he shrugged. “But I’d sold over 100 tickets – I wasn’t going to let all those people down.”

He’s a fighter with an interesting cover story. The dad-of-three was born in Zimbabwe and moved here when he was 12. That background has spawned another nickname, The African Ridgeback.

In a previous interview, he explained: “The ridgeback is an ancient dog that used to hunt lions. You wouldn’t think a dog could take on a lion and nobody thinks I can do what I do. But when it’s time to go, I will hunt you down. I’m unique.

“I turned pro late, but my style was always a professional style.”

Listing the attributes that will propel him to the top, he said: “Unique head movement. For the weight I fight at, I’m very strong and I’ve got a slick boxing IQ.

“I know when to mix it up to keep the crowds entertained, as well as staying safe and boxing. A good fighter lands good shots, a great fighter - like me - creates and lands them.

“The difference between me and these boxers is that when they fight their friends asks them, ‘oh did you win, mate?’ Do you know what they ask me? ‘So what round did you get him?’

 “I can go as far as challenging for a world title. Of course, as a fighter I know everyone say that because they like to stay positive, but I’m a realist.”

Make no mistake, the Ego has well and truly landed.