May faces biggest test yet

Nathaniel “Cheeky” May is ready to step into the ring tonight night for his biggest battle to date.

The 22-year-old Bunbury boxer will take on the undefeated Aelio Mesquita on the under-card of the Battle of Brisbane 2, where WBO World Welterweight champion Jeff Horn will defend his title against Englishman Gary “The Hellraiser” Corcoran.

May will enter the Brisbane Convention Centre with an 18-1 record for the 12-round war and if he wins his prize will be the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Featherweight Title.

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The eyes of the world will be on the fight, with Horn becoming famous after he beat boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.

May told the Bunbury Herald he was feeling confident ahead of the fight.

“He (Mesquita) is not as tall as I thought,” he said.

“That is going to help. He is a straight-forward fighter so he is going to have difficulty taking my angles.”

May said his body felt good before the fight and he was now “ready to rumble”.

“I am fit and ready,” he said. I have trained hard for this.”

Trainer Pete Stokes said May was looking sharp and ready for the fight.

“We started our last session on the Gold Coast and he is looking awesome,” he said.

“We are getting looked after over here so well. It is amazing what they are doing.

“Nathaniel has been sparring at the Matrix Gym on the Gold Coast and is now finishing Dundee Boxing and Fitness Gym and the East Side Boxing Club.”

Stokes said May was on track to make fight weight and was looking as fit as ever.

The long-time coach said May had been working on height variation with his punches.

“We are looking at taking him down on the different levels,” he said.

“We have done a lot more defensive training as well.

“He (Mesquita) has a lot longer reach.”

Stokes said May had fought in front of big crowds before and would not be daunted by the task ahead.

“If anything I think Mesquita will be daunted by the Australian crowd,” he said.