May set for biggest test yet

Bunbury’s Nathaniel “Cheeky” May is preparing for his biggest fight yet when he competes on the under-card of the Jeff Horn world title fight next month.

May, who is now ranked seventh in the world, will take on unbeaten Brazilian Aelio Mesquita for the vacant IBF International Featherweight Title at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Brisbane on December 13.

The eyes of the boxing world will be on the fight card, when Horn defends his WBO World Welterweight Title against Gary Corcoran. Mesquite is 16-0 in fights since debuting in 2014, including 14 knockout victories.

The 26-year-old is set to be May’s best opponent yet, but this has not deterred the 22-year-old Australind-raised champion, who has an 18-1 record and holds the IBF Pan Pacific Featherweight Title.

May said he was ready for the hard-hitting Brazilian.

“It will push me a bit more,” he said.

“I want to change his fight record.

“He is a straight-forward boxer. He is a knockout boxer, but so am I.”

May said he was not going to be intimidated by the fight or the big audience watching it.

“It is about time I got on a big show,” he said.

“I want to show Australia what I have been doing and what Bunbury has to offer.”

May believes a win in this fight will take him a step closer to a world title fight.

“If they won’t give it to me, I will make it happen,” he said.

Trainer Pete Stokes said May was ready for the big fight.

“We tried to get the number seven and nine in the world when we were ranked 10th and none of them would fight him,” he said.

“This is the only guy that would take the fight.

“I think they see Cheeky as a high-risk fight.

“His angles and his speed are exceptional.”

Stokes said Mesquite was a tough and tidy boxer.

“He is very heavy handed,” he said.

“But I think with our speed and angles we will be in and out before he knows it.”

Stokes said May would not be overawed by the big occasion.

“We are ready for it,” he said.

“We have been in training camp for this fight for probably 10 weeks now.”