“The only thing I can prosper in is chaos because I live in chaos every day.”
His first five fights have spanned the last 15 months and they have transformed him from the unknown Alen Babic into a man now known as ‘The Savage’.
Those five fights, all of which were finished in under a total of 10 rounds, have kicked off a cult following, which has its base in his native Croatia and is now spreading to Great Britain. Signed to Matchroom Boxing and managed by heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte, Babic is a promoter’s dream. He talks a great game, comes in swinging from the first bell (so far successfully) and is ready with knockout quotes once he is at the microphone post-fight. This weekend we can expect more of the same when the 29-year-old takes on another charismatic heavyweight in Tom Little.
As a fight, Babic vs Little will do nothing to alter the current heavyweight picture, but you are likely to get the thrills and spills that we have become accustomed to when Babic throws down. This week he spoke to Boxing Social from his home in Zagreb and was asked if he thought Saturday’s outcome against Little would be like his previous fight when he stopped Irishman Niall Kennedy in three rounds last month.
“That is what is beautiful about this boxing game,” his answer began.
“Everybody knows what I’m going to do. I’m going to throw 100 punches in the first round and I’m going for the knockout. Everybody knows that and they can’t do nothing about it. Niall Kennedy knew it, Shawndell Winters knew it and the guys before [too]. Tom Little said he is going to stand in there [and trade] with me and that is a very bad idea. I would like him to do that, believe me.
“As soon as ‘Savage’ throws he is not going to stand there because I never in my life back down. I never back down ever. If Tom Little does then it’s going to be a shock for me. I would like to see him try because it will be over in the first round because I have [a] knockout punch in each hand. He is going to go in there and slug with me and that is the worst [thing] you can do but he can’t help it. I’m just going to go in like it’s a street fight and I think he is going to accept it. That is my world, that is the world of the ‘Savage’.”
Babic says he is feeling better than ever. The confidence is put down to having two fully working ankles. Prior to the fight against Kennedy, he had the misfortune of spraining one but continued with preparations regardless.
“I was walking the mountains of Zagreb, Croatia one time a week. I walked downhill and I sprained my ankle. It was fucked. This time it feels better. I was good in the last fight, not perfect but now I am 103%.” (Yes, he said 103%.)
Babic rates Saturday’s opponent Little of a similar standard to Kennedy. The once teenage doorman told Boxing Social that, to date, American Shawndell Winters has been his most dangerous opponent. It reads like slim pickings but all Babic can do is knock down what has been put in front of him in these early stages of his career. He hopes to have one more fight by the end of the year, rounding off what he describes as having already been the best year of his life. And, in 2020, not many people will be able to say that.
“Listen, 2020 is a shit year for everybody. I have a lot of my friends losing jobs and my country is falling apart but it’s [the] best year for ‘Savage’ because I live in chaos. The only thing I can prosper in is chaos because I live in chaos every day,” said Babic. “It’s stupid to say but it is the best year of my life. I feel for those guys who are losing their jobs and everything and I try to give them at least two rounds of excitement so I can help like that. I don’t even notice things because I live in chaos my whole life. Just another day at the office for me.”
A look at Babic’s Instagram account (alenthesavagebabic) and you will see more and more Instagram Stories featuring his fans back home. Groups of Croatians in full voice showing their passionate support for one of their own. One day, when the Coronavirus has gone away or is at least under control, we will undoubtedly see them travel to British shores to support Babic. And he admits they are going to be a big factor in his career going forward.
“That is what I wait for,” he said. “I just do this to get the fans ready for the real thing because I think the fans are going to be a big factor in my game and then I’ll be much, much better. They’re going to push me to the limit with their support. They want to push ‘The Savage’ to places no man has ever walked.”
Another dramatic gladiatorial line. There will be more in the future and you are either going to love it or loathe it and that may depend on your level of interest in boxing. If you are a fan, then Babic wants to keep on delivering the goods for you.
“If the fans want to see me keep knocking guys out, I’m going to do it. I’m ready. I don’t want to wait until 2021 [for another fight] because it seems so far away,” he said. “I just want to keep as busy as I can for my fans. I just need my seven days of rest and I’m in. It is so peaceful after a fight though. I enjoy that, too. ‘The Savage’ is gone and it is just Alen Babic enjoying the fruits of labour.”
As one Sky Boxing favourite continues with his career, the end has arrived for the ‘White Rhino’ Dave Allen. The 28-year-old British heavyweight, who had built a popular name for himself and fought the likes of Whyte, Luis Ortiz and Tony Yoka. put out a statement on Sunday bidding farewell to a career that punched above its weight at times. Babic gave his reaction to the news.
“I wanted to fight Dave Allen. I saw us having a very good fight because both of us are very fan-friendly fighters,” he said. “I respect Dave Allen. I’m his fan actually and I still am. I respect everything he has done, and I just want to wish him the best of luck and to enjoy his retirement. I think he’s going to go back [to boxing]. In one or two years, he is going to be itching to go back and I am going to be waiting. For now, just enjoy retirement. He deserves it.”
Main image: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing.