Boxer Muhammad Ali insists revenge on his mind as he eyes up gold at the Youth Olympic Games.
Ali has already enjoyed a year to remember after winning silver at the AIBA Youth World Championships in Bulgaria back in April, following on from his national and Three Nations triumphs.
But runner’s-up prize was scant consolation to Ali with the 18-year-old adamant he could and should have beaten his American conqueror Shakur Stevenson.
However, the Bury Amateur Boxing Club star doesn’t have to wait long for his shot at redemption with both he and Stevenson out in Nanjing for the second summer Youth Olympic Games.
And Ali admits he won’t be able to rest easy until he has enacted revenge on Stevenson on his way to climbing the top step of the podium in China.
“I was buzzing when I found out I would be going to Nanjing because it shows that all the hard work in training has paid off and I am really looking forward to it,” said Ali, who will fight in the 52kg category in Nanjing.
“I won the nationals and then won the Three Nations to get selected for the worlds and then I had to get to the quarter-finals at least to get selected for the Youth Olympics.
“I won a silver which was great because I wanted to win a medal so to do that was great but I want to go one better in Nanjing.
“I lost to Shakur Stevenson at the worlds and he just got his tactics right, He was spoiling and holding and just was clever on the day.
“But I know I can beat him if I fight to my best and he will be in Nanjing as well so hopefully I can beat him on the way to the gold medal.”
With a World Championships and Youth Olympic Games under his belt in 2014, Ali is certainly becoming accustomed to starring on the international stage.
And the teenager is adamant that it is an honour any time he gets to box for his country.
“Whenever you represent Great Britain it is a privilege and I get such a buzz from it,” he added.
“I want to do it at a real Olympics further down the line and this is great to show that I am heading in the right direction and I can’t wait to get out there.”
© Sportsbeat 2014