Ahead of the start of the 2015 European Games in Baku, Sports Mole caught up with the Team GB boxers ready to perform in Azerbaijan.
Light welterweight Sam Maxwell will open his tournament next week, and the Merseyside fighter revealed that he is "ready to perform" as he targets a medal and with it, qualification for the World Championships.
Here, we caught up with the 26-year-old in the Athletes' Village to talk Baku and boxing.
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First of all Sam, how have you found the Athletes' Village thus far?
"You can tell they have spent a lot of money on it. Everything is new, the weather is gorgeous and it is good seeing all of the athletes around similar to the Commonwealth Games, so it has been good."
Noise was reportedly a problem at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Any controversies in the Village here?
"We share with Ireland and Montenegro and I don't think all their athletes are here yet so it has been quiet. We have a whole floor just for the lads so it has been a good crack."
How are you feeling fitness-wise? Ready to hit the ground running?
"I have had a good year. I got a lot of experience from the World Series of Boxing. I boxed against France last week, I didn't get the decision, but I boxed well. My weight is fine, in training I have been hitting the pads well. I am feeling good."
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What about your goals for the tournament? Is it as simple as targeting the gold medal?
"I definitely want to medal. I need to qualify for the World Championships and you need to be top three for that so I need to be getting to the semi-finals and that is what I want to do. It is going to be tough, but if the draw is nice to me then I am confident I will be there."
What about the next few days, how are you going to get yourself mentally ready?
"The first few days [in Azerbaijan] I have not been thinking about boxing too much, I have just been enjoying the Village and things like that, but the next few days I will switch on and be ready to perform."
Matt Law
