Stuart Hall Diary: Sun, sea and a sense of excitement in Monte Carlo

I flew over to Nice on Monday before heading across the coast to Monte Carlo, and I hate to rub it in to everyone back at home, but the weather is glorious. I have to take it fairly easy in the last few days before the fight, so it’s been a case of a few gentle walks along the seafront and a bit of lazing by the pool. I’ve run into one problem though – I’ve only packed two pairs of shorts!

I’ve done a bit in the gym in the hotel, and I did a little bit of work on the pads in one of the rooms. Essentially though, the preparation is over and it’s just about waiting for fight night now.

When I flew into Nice Airport, there was a giant poster advertising the fight next the baggage carousel. That got the juices flowing, and the marketing of Saturday night’s bill out here is superb. I’m told it’s a sell out so the atmosphere should be great.

The fight’s in one of the main casinos here in Monte Carlo, and there’s another massive poster outside with my name in huge letters. I couldn’t resist having a photo taken next to it, and it’s great to be looking forward to such a high-profile occasion. Ultimately, though, I’ll only be able to enjoy it if I win.

*****

THERE’S a press conference scheduled over here later today, and that’ll be my first real chance to look into Randy Caballero’s eyes and see what he’s made of.

Bizarrely, we’ve both been put up in the same hotel and we’ve seen each other a few times when we’ve been doing our stuff. I saw him on the treadmill the other day, and he’s seen me working out, but we’ve kept ourselves to ourselves so far.

I’m not someone who goes in for all the trash talking, but I like to get face-to-face with an opponent just to get a sense of where they’re coming from.

I expect he’ll be a typical gobby American, full of this and that that he’s going to do to me, but that won’t worry me at all. I can dish out the verbals if I have to, but I prefer to let my fists do the talking – and they’ll be shouting from the rooftops come the weekend.

*****

I RECKON I’ll have about 50 or 60 fans over in total, and I know a few of them are planning to spend the weekend in style.

A group of lads I know from Darlo are hiring three helicopters to fly them to the venue on Saturday night. Talk about going up in the world!

I got a text from one of my best mates last night and he was saying how he can’t believe that he’s going to be in Monaco watching me become a two-time world champion.

It’s things like that that make it all sink in. I’ve never hidden the fact that I’d rather be fighting at home, but there’s something a bit special about winning a world title in Monte Carlo and I’m pleased some of my hardcore fans are going to enjoy sharing it with me.