He may not be a familiar name to most boxing fans, but Greg Vendetti hopes to change all that on Saturday.
The former plumber, who originally hails from Stoneham, Massachusetts, has received an unlikely world title shot against WBA Regular 154lbs champ Erislandy Lara and plans to make the most of that opportunity in their clash at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Lara may not have a leaky defence, but Vendetti believes the Cuban maestro’s skills have dulled with age and maybe he can take advantage.
“I think we’ve done all we can to prepare for this fight. Every box is checked. I’m in a position to do my best and I’m excited and confident for this opportunity,” said Vendetti (22-3-1, 12 KOs), who is promoted by Murphys Boxing.
“My trainer [Joe Ricciardi] has been saying for years that I have a good style to face Lara and once I got the call, I took it as a real sign. I’m really motivated to show everyone what I can do and put on my best performance.
“I look at it like this is just another human like me that I’m facing. He’s made of skin and bones and I’m sure he has his doubts about himself. Maybe about his age and about if I can get to him. I don’t get intimidated by anything in the ring. I’m just really excited to test myself against one of the best fighters of this generation.
“I just have to prepare the best and I can and perform the best I can. I can’t control anything else. Could this be my only title shot? Maybe, but thinking about that won’t change anything in the ring. I just have to give myself the best shot to win.
“It will be a little strange without fans,” he continued. “If anything, I think it will help me. It allows me to focus better. It doesn’t matter how much experience you have, the crowd can make you more aggressive than you want to be and influence the judges. If anything, it will help me, but it is what it is.
“I’ve approached this fight like I’m getting the best version of Lara that’s ever existed. I’m not taking him lightly at all. But if you look at his performances as of late, it’s not the same Lara you saw against Angulo and Canelo years ago. The agility is not there as much. It almost seems like he’s doing just enough to try to win these fights and not really going the extra mile to dominate.
“Pressure is the name of the game. I have to be active. I can’t run in and get blasted, but I’m going to try to push the pace as best I can and be as smart as I can. I’m predicting an exciting fight, at least on my end.”
The FOX PBC Fight Night broadcast featuring Lara-Vendetti begins at 8pm ET/5pm PT on Saturday in the US. All programming can be live streamed in English and Spanish on the new FOX Sports app. FOX Deportes offers delayed coverage of all FOX and FS1 programming beginning at 10:00pm ET.Main image: Greg Vendetti (left) decisions Alan Zavala. Photo: Joseph Kelley Photography/Murphys Boxing.