IT’S meant a few more sleepless nights but fatherhood has only stiffened Illawarra middleweight Mark Lucas’ word championship resolve.
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Lucas hasn’t fought since the arrival of six-month old daughter Evie but he’s been deep in preparations for his March 4 bout with seasoned campaigner Samuel Colomban for the OPBF middleweight strap.
“It's a big break for me but it’s gone pretty quickly with the birth of my daughter,” Lucas said.
“It’s just a new motivation. I’ve never known joy like it and it certainly pushes me in training and makes me want to do well. It’s given me new energy that’s for sure. It’s keeping me really busy but it’s a good busy.”
Colomban has spent most of his career campaigning at welterweight but will provide the biggest test of Lucas’s young 7-0 career at middleweight.
Having spent two years in the pro game, Lucas is confident he can be just the second man, after WBO No. 1 contender Jeff Horn, to stop the tough Cameroonian.
“Sam Colomban is a good fighter, he’s been around a long time, he’s experienced and he’s got a good record,” Lucas said.
“He’s only been stopped by Jeff Horn who’s fighting [Manny] Pacquiao next but I’m going to go out and be the second person to stop him. At middleweight I’ll be too strong and the way I’m boxing I’m confident I can stop him.
“I’m easily the strongest I’ve ever felt, I’m boxing better than I’ve ever boxed and I’m just feeling a lot more comfortable as a pro. It’s been two years now and I’m really settled and finding my rhythm.”