By Ashley Thorpe

Rendall Munroe's hard-fought sixth European super-bantamweight title defence was a cracker.  The Sardinian challenger, Simone Maludrottu, gave almost as well as he got with the cleaner punches landed on the break, although he threw less.  There were more than a couple of rounds that were close to call, certainly more than two of the judges scorecards of 116-112 suggested.  But the champion deserved the nod, showing sheer determination as he piled on the pressure against the ropes and the two men fought at an incredible pace through the 12 rounds.

After the fight, I walked into the dressing room expecting jubilant raucous.  Yet there was no entourage, there was no crowd of hangers-on, just a select few friends including his trainer.  The European champion was quietly having stitches applied to a cut suffered midway through the fight.

Aside from the cut, there was barely any evidence, in face or body that the man was involved in a gruelling match that had ended just a few minutes ago.  Rendall accepted my handshake with a smile and affably offered to answer a few questions.

krikya360.com: Well, first off, thanks for a fantastic fight it was an absolutely epic battle.  You fought 12 very hard rounds at a phenomenal pace; both of you were taking some very hard clean shots in that fight.  Do you feel like you're in the best condition you've ever been in?

Rendall Munroe:  “Yeah, like I say my trainer Jason Shinfield put me through my paces while we were training, when we were doing bag work and pad work and I were doing 15-20 rounds at the time.  When it comes to me doing roadwork I do 15 miles 10 miles every other day so obviously I'm ready to do the rounds - I was always ready to do 'em.”

krikya360.com: Do you feel now with this latest title defence behind you that you're ready for the world stage?

RM: “I don't look too far in front, that's what my team are there for.  Obviously with Mike Shinfield, Jason Shinfield and [Frank] Maloney what they say is what I do really.  Like I say, I’ve always enjoyed the game, I'm doing it as a hobby I still go work and I'm back in work on Tuesday.”

krikya360.com: So for you you're still intending to stay at this European level for a while or is there anyone in particular on the world scene that you'd fancy?

RM: “I'd like to become a world champion; if they [the Shinfields and Maloney] say I'm ready to become a world champion then I'm ready to become a world champion.  They're in the game, they've been in the game for a long time they know what's out there for me and they know what's best for me so whatever they say's good enough.  I believe I'm good enough to be taking on world title fights.  If they think I'm good enough then that's the route we’ll go.”

krikya360.com: There's been talk recently about Jason Booth.  Frank Maloney said he doesn't want to make a fight between you two happen, but is that a fight that you could possibly see happening or that you would want to happen in the future?

RM: “I can't see it happening myself, me and Jason go back a long way.  When I first turned pro we used to train together, we used to spar together, we still train together now.  So to me it's a senseless fight really.  And as we're in the same promotion group it don't do well as a business point of view from Maloney's side does it?”

krikya360.com: You've wanted to fight Bernard Dunne for a while now.  In the space of this last year he's gained and lost a world title.  Being as he's coming off the back of a three round knockout loss, could you see the both of you meeting at some point?

RM: “I don't say I've always wanted to meet him, he's the one who's been calling me out telling me about this telling me about that and I says that if he wants the fight I'm here for the fight, we'll do the fight.  But obviously when Maloney's offering X amount of money and to go to Ireland and fight and he turns it down, I don't need to say no more do I, it all speaks for itself.  Like I've always said I don't disrespect no one in the game, we're all in it for the same thing.

I weren't doing the calling out, ‘I'm gonna do Bernard Dunne this, I'm gonna do Bernard Dunne that’.  No, it was the other way around.  I said I'm the champion; he can come here and fight.  When he was the champion Maloney said we’d go to Ireland and fight, they didn't wanna know about me they wanted to know about Martinez.

I said I don't disrespect no-one.  At the end of the day it's down to Maloney, I don't do the calling out like I said I'm a respectful guy in the game.  I respect people and I respect boxers out there.  I ain't in it for the money, I'm in it for the joy.  I go back work on Tuesday emptying bins in the rain, in the wind, know what I mean, that's me - I'm enjoying it.”

krikya360.com: Rendall, thanks very much for your time.