Ricky Goodall Ready for Ringside

By: Derek Leblanc

When going into a fight, you want to keep on making a big step up in competition to prove yourself as a fighter. When you have a winning streak to go on top of that, it just adds the pressure. Ricky Goodall (5-1) will be trying to do both this weekend against Alex Garcia at Ringside: No Escape. Goodall seems more then edger to get things started.

“I feel better then I ever had,” says Goodall.

“We train a lot for this one with a lot of great guys. A lot of wrestling, a lot of ground work. This is my lowest weight class, which I am really pumped for that. I have never felt as good as I feel right now.”

While Goodall may feel good now, it has not been an easy training camp for the Halifax fighter. His trainers and teammates at Titan’s gym have broken him down. Besides the day to day combat, he has been put through a bigger strength and conditioning program and has even have to pull automobiles up and down hills.

The big advantage that Goodall has had for himself in this match is that he was able to focus full time for training. Most of the year he is managing the training with college and his job as a bouncer. The summer vacation seems to be helping out for him.

“I’ve been really focused for a few weeks now,” says Goodall.

“I only work a couple of days a week and the fights are on TV and I am sitting in the bar vibrating in my chair for this fight. I felt like I could have went the next day. That has only increased and things have only gotten better. My weight is where it needs to be. I have never had more time and focused. Everything is working out perfectly.”

While Goodall may be ready for this fight, he knows that his opponent will be ready as well. With this fight, there has been hype around Garcia. Garcia is coming in with a 3-0 record. He has surrendered all of those three fighters by the form of TKO.

Besides his record, he trains out of Tristar gym where he was brought in by UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre. Also after recently talking with sherdog.com’s Andy Conterill had high praises for Garcia. While Goodall knows the dangers he can bring into this fight, he is not afraid of him or his credentials.

“When we get in the cage, it’s only his ability’s against mine,” says Goodall.

“I am confident in my training partners. We have wrestlers who are just as good. We have jiu jistu guys who are world ranked and Maui Thai guys who are world ranked at our clubs. I have no questions in are ability’s and training camp. Just to say you may come from a club with well known fighters, everybody has their own camps and its only him when we get inside.”

It is not hard to tell Goodall is ready for Friday night. While Garcia may live and train out of Montreal, Goodall does have friends and family making it out to the event so he will be having a few fans in the crowd.

Win or lose though, Goodall will be going down swinging.