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Norwich’s Sam Sexton turns to mind games ahead of showdown with Hughie Fury
Sam Sexton in training for his British heavyweight title defence. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2018
Norwich's Sam Sexton is using the powers of hypnotherapy as he heads into his crunch British heavyweight showdown with Hughie Fury on Saturday.
The pair meet at Bolton's Macron Stadium, with title-holder Sexton hoping to feel the benefit of his work with hypnotherapist Matthew Robinson from Boxnosis as he makes the first defence of the Lonsdale belt against a dangerous challenger, making his first appearance since his controversial loss to Joseph Parker last September.
Sexton believes that mind over matter will take him to victory over big-hitting Fury and continue his winning run using the technique that has stretched his last nine fights.
'It's nothing like you see in films with a swinging watch in front of your eyes and going into trance,' said Sexton.
'A lot of it involves focusing on key words, like power, strength, accuracy and making me believe that I'm more powerful and stronger that anyone else.
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'It involves lots of different mind techniques to improve whatever area of my game I want to work on. For example, one day I want to be faster, the next day stronger, the next day more endurance.
'One day I might be tired coming into the gym from a hard session the day before and my mind is saying I'm too tired, but I can overcome that and put in a personal best session.
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'It's about mental control and picking the information that I need to win the fight and not wasting my time on negative stuff in everyday life.
'I've been through a lot in the last few years and sometimes my mind hasn't been focused, but this has really helped me. It might not be for everyone but it works for me.'
'This is a massive fight for me against Fury, I've got my plans where I want to go, but I have to get past Fury first.'
Sexton's title defence is being shown exclusively live on Channel 5 on Saturday from 9pm – the undercard is live on 5Spike from 7.30pm. The card also features Reece Cartwright, the IBF Youth world middleweight champion, Peter McDonagh, in a 10-round international super-featherweight contest, and female sensation Savannah Marshall, double Olympian and 2012 World Amateur champion.
