THE ABSOLUTE GREATEST
This week is the 70th birthday of the greatest sport’s man of all time, Muhammad Ali.
It is indeed our privilege to have had him as a role model and inspiration in our lifetime.
Muhammad Ali was the third of three ground breaking and brilliant, black heavyweight world champions. Ali followed Joe Louis, and Joe Louis followed Jack Johnson. These three unforgettable heavyweights, who in their time and in their own distinct ways, made huge impact worldwide.
Jack Johnson was the first black heavyweight champion, and it took 22 years before the second black heavyweight champion, the ‘Brown Bomber’ Joe Louis. These two outstanding fighters paved the way for Muhammad Ali.
Muhammad broke the mould for heavyweights, and fought much more like Sugar Ray Robinson, “floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee”.
I was mesmerised when watching Ali when I was a youngster, and you couldn’t help but notice his massive confidence and self-belief.
He could inspire anyone and everyone.
When I told my father I wanted to be a boxer. He got me videos of Sugar Ray Robinson, Willie Pep, Henry Armstrong and the man himself, Ali. He said I needed to watch the very best, and I did just that.
To be the best you have to learn from the best and many of these great fighters inspired Ali himself.
He was more than just a fighter. He represented many of those who had little representation during the civil rights struggles of America in the 1960’s.
Ali also stood his ground for his religious beliefs, choosing provocatively and bravely, not to go to war for America. He famously said “why would I kill people who look like me for the man who calls me a nigga at home”.
It took a very strong man to make that stand, and in the end it was proven to be the right move, as the nation turned against the government and the unjust war in Vietnam.
Muhammad Ali who is known as “the Greatest” was born Cassius Marcellus Clay on January 17th 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. He has fifty six victories in sixty one bouts with thirty seven KO’s.
Muhammad Ali had memorable fights with Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Sonny Liston. The ‘Thriller in Manila’, ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’ and ‘The Fight of the Century’ will forever be remembered.
Joe Frazier, Ali’s nemesis recently died at the age of 67. They will forever be linked together.
Muhammad Ali trained at Gleason’s gym in Brooklyn, New York City where I base my training camp. It is continuously inspiring to train at a gym where Ali once put in the hard work that helped him become the legend he is today.
Ali is loved all over the world. Kids who were not born whilst he was fighting are still inspired by him. He was the most special of talents, and a wonderful human being with a big and generous heart.
The heavyweight division is in a disgraceful state at the minute. Our current heavyweight ‘champions’ would not have been good enough to have been Ali’s sparring partner, let alone rival.
Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali – you are the absolute greatest.
2011 ‘COUNTED OUT’
This has been a massive and momentous year for our World.
American, British and French forces launched a furious air assault on Libya on March 19th. On October 20th after eight months of a brutal civil war, Gaddafi was captured near his birthplace, Sirte, and was murdered.
He was 69 years old. He had been running Libya for some 42 years.
London on April 29th, the Royal Family celebrated Prince William getting married to Kate Middleton.
A roaring and ecstatic crowd of 500,000 were present. 2 billion people worldwide were estimated to be watching.
The last time we had witnessed such jubilation was 30 years ago, when his parents, Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married.
A world away from that celebration was the summer riots across England, which saw lawlessness and anarchy explode after a peaceful protest in Tottenham over the police killing of Mark Duggan.
Over the next few days, the rioting spread. By August 15th, 3,100 people were arrested. I watched the news develop as I was on holiday in Cuba at the time, as the poor images of my hometown instantly filled TV screens around the world.
Again, a striking similarity to 30 years ago; in 1981, there were serious riots across many major cities in England. They were perceived as ‘race riots’ between different local communities. That was not my experience at all; it was much more about inner city deprivation and a distrust of the police and authority.
The four main centres of trouble were Brixton in London, Handsworth in Birmingham, Chapeltown in Leeds and Toxteth in Liverpool. Local unemployment amongst the youth in these blighted areas of the UK stood at some 50%. The press demonised the rioters and the Tories called for “a tough crackdown on these criminals”.
Not much appears to have changed in 30 years.
For 18 days Egyptian’s gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square to demonstrate against President Mubarak’s 30 year dictatorial rule. He was finally forced to relinquish power on February 11th, 8 days before I beat Lenny Daws for the British title at Wembley Arena.
Japan had its strongest earthquake since records began. The 8.9 magnitude quake hit the north-coast in March, and led to a tsunami that eventually took 18,000 lives.
Even the most modern and sophisticated of nations cannot stand in the way of nature.
June 26th saw South Sudan born, the world’s latest nation; achieving independence from Sudan in a long negotiated peace deal. It is the newest African country since Eritrea, which separated from Ethiopia in 1993. I have many friends from Eritrea, but none yet from South Sudan.
My cousin Tyrone Theophane died on 11th September 5 years ago of a rare heart condition. On September 17th, the day he was born. The ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement began with demonstrations in Zuccotti Park in Manhattan, New York City.
7 days later in Saudi Arabia, women win the right to vote but not to drive. Progress – well, sort of?
On October 31st the world’s population officially reached 7 billion.
Europe appeared broken and in danger of financial chaos as southern European countries were blamed for the turmoil that gripped the region. The Prime Minister of Greece, George Papandreou, was forced out of office as the Greeks faced slashed salaries, tax rises, public sector sackings and protests.
By November, Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi finally accepted 17 years of power was over, stepping down.
On November 7th, Doctor Conrad Murray, who treated Michael Jackson with the hypnotic drug, ‘propofol’, shortly before the singer died was sentenced to 4 years in jail after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
Al-Jazeera has been the most popular broadcaster amongst Arabs for a while now, but it’s also the most controversial. The sudden resignation of its head for the last 8 years came as a shock. Wadah Khanfar, their Palestinian born Director General, has trodden on many toes, especially this year. Al-Jazeera cheer leads the Arab Spring. Rebels in Yemen, Libya, Tunisia and Egypt treated the correspondents as comrades in arms.
Governments were not as welcoming to Al-Jazeera.
Many famous and infamous people died in 2011, some peacefully, some violently. They all left their mark on our world; some positive and some less so.
Joe Frazier will always be associated with the great Muhammad Ali; he passed away at the age of 67 on November 7th.
Sir Henry Cooper who also fought Muhammad Ali, died at the age of 76 on May 1st.
Elizabeth Taylor was as famous for her movies as she was for her marriages. She died on March 23rd at the age of 79.
Osama bin Laden was funded and given weapons by the US President George Bush Sr., during Afghanistan’s war with Russia. Not that many years later, the new US President, George Bush Jr. targets Iraq then Afghanistan. Saddam Hussein was consequently removed and killed.
On May 1st, the ‘architect’ of 9/11, Osama bin Laden was killed by US forces in Pakistan.
This year has seen the Arab Spring in the Middle East, and an increasingly desperate financial situation gripping America and Europe grab the headlines.
It is great to see so many Arabs at long last fighting for their democratic rights to elect a government of their choice, and have a say in the way their countries are run.
Western Democracy is not at all perfect as we have seen in Italy, Greece and the United Kingdom this year with corruption, bad decision making and a lack of leadership gripping all countries, but it is still democracy.
In America, Barack Obama is perhaps being blamed for the mistakes George Bush Jr. made when in power, and the legacy of the implosion of the American financial markets. Fortunately for him, he should still win the election next year, as the Republicans are a shambles, and are struggling to find a suitable opponent to put up against him.
Obama came at a very tough time indeed, and always faced an uphill battle, this coupled with the history of race relations in America, has made it even tougher.
European leaders have been jostling each other for power, as usual. Germany, Britain and France have been trying to find a solution to the problems gripping the European Union. Ireland, Italy, Spain and Greece were facing another recession as they badly managed their bank accounts.
In the end, David Cameron vetoed Angela Merkel and Nicholas Sarkozy’s idea of strengthening Europe’s ties, which has left Britain on the outside looking in. Switzerland and Norway are outside of the European Union and have strong economies, but they are relatively small and without influence. Britain must have that influence; the problem is that Britain will not now have a say, and that could hit Cameron’s precious love for the Banks and the City of London.
It is strange that the Banks in Wall Street and the City of London are the main cause for our current financial situation, but the US and UK Governments still choose to protect them.
They, the Banks, act as if they are in the Wild West, with their reckless actions. Germany and France want to hold more control over the Banks, but Cameron wants none of that, as London has most to lose.
The Unions are striking left, right and centre against the rising cost of an ageing population, both in terms of pensions and less jobs, as we are all living longer. The UK government wants to make us all work longer for less money.
The students are unhappy with rising fees. The poor and women are being targeted more by the Government. I am fortunately, a little too young to remember Margaret Thatcher’s government in detail, but this sounds all too familiar.
As a man who makes a living from fighting. I always back the unions in their fight against the ‘unjust’ cuts to public services.
It might be different if everyone was targeted the same, but it feels as if the rich are not taxed the same as ordinary people. There are just too many loop holes enabling the wealthy to pay less tax than the average worker.
If we are going to go down, let’s go down swinging – it’s the only way to go.
Realistically, 2012 will be one tough year as the cuts take their toll.
But I’m an optimist, and this recession is nothing new to me. Nothing comes easy, but when the opportunity presents itself, and it will, we must all be ready, able and willing to contribute.
2011 – THE YEAR OF THE BRAVE BRITISH FOREIGN LEGION
Despite this year’s setbacks at world title level, British boxing is set very well and currently on the right track. Despite only having one world champion in Nathan Cleverly left standing, some 10 British fighters have fought unsuccessfully for world titles in 2011 – still, a feat to be proud of.
This means we are getting the opportunities to be involved in big fights, and I want to take a moment to applaud every single one of my fellow British fighters for stepping up and giving it their all.
This is why we all started boxing in the first place – our dreams were all about one day being involved in these mega fights.
Frank Warren recently commented that “anyone can get a boxer a world title fight, the real skill is getting it in the right place at the right time – when your boxer has the chance of actually winning and holding on to it”.
I’m not sure I would agree with that, we dream every night of fighting for a world title. If the fight can be sanctioned, and a decent deal struck, it’s nearly impossible to overlook, and I know most boxers would agree with me. We live with the constant risk our sport presents, just for a shot at the world title.
My most satisfying victory so far happened in 2008 against former world champion, DeMarcus Corley. Just a few months earlier, I had seen him lose to WBC world number one, Devon Alexander, at Madison Square Gardens.
Three fights before facing me, DeMarcus was challenging for the WBC world title against Junior Witter. Just after I beat DeMarcus, he fought IBF world number one Randall Bailey in a rematch. I watched DeMarcus in huge fights against Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto and Zab Judah; so that was a massive win for me, as he was still ‘up there’, campaigning and competitive on the world scene when I beat him.
Being in big fights are what boxers want, this is why we work so hard. To be the best we can be, and maximise our earnings in this dangerous and all too short career. We are in the boxing industry, but in the business of entertainment, and as we have brutally witnessed and learned, no career lasts forever.
We learn to live with the setbacks no matter how much they hurt, and believe me, every defeat hurts like hell.
Nothing can make the loneliness and desolation of defeat go away until you get back to winning ways.
This life we have chosen demands unfathomable and consistent self-belief. Every time we step through those ropes we are putting our health, potential wealth and reputations on the line, and I really do mean on the line. Getting back up from a knockdown is so tough, getting up from a loss takes total commitment and drive, getting back up from a knockout loss must be nearly overwhelming. I’ve not personally experienced that, and have no intention of allowing myself to experience it.
I’m convinced that 2012 will be another big year for British boxing, kicking off with Dereck Chisora fighting Vitali Klitschko for the WBC heavyweight title. A very tough gig, and if I’m not wrong, Dereck is with Frank Warren.
Kell Brook looks ready and primed for ‘live’ world rated contenders now. The winners of Mike Jones v Randall Bailey or Victor Ortiz v Andre Berto must be on his radar.
Amir Khan ducks no-one and consequently, is always in big fights stateside, and Amir has my ultimate respect for his ‘lion hearted’ approach. He’s rightly focussed on his rematch with Lamont Peterson now.
Speaking of ultimate respect, Carl Froch, like Amir, ducks absolutely no-one and again, like Amir, he will fight anyone, anywhere. In my eyes, Carl must be British ‘Fighter of the Year’, closely followed by Amir. They are both true British world class fighters, and worthy world champions despite their recent defeats.
WBO light heavyweight champion, Nathan Cleverly, wants big fights with the best of his division; Bernard Hopkins, Jean Pascal, Tavoris Cloud and Chad Dawson. Nathan knows he must travel, but the theory and the practice are massively different. He needs to check his visas and pack his suit case, just like Khan and Froch have done, as that is the easiest if not only way to get the big fights he needs. Expecting the world’s best to come to Wales, is hugely optimistic with little precedence, and more importantly, this can be misconstrued as mere posturing and unrealistic.
Think Carl Froch and Amir Khan.
Ricky Burns has been on a major roll this year, and I can definitely see him being named as the WBO lightweight world champion, as I seriously doubt whether Marquez will defend against him, as he is looking for the mega fights.
I really like Ricky Burn’s professional and ‘duck no-one’ attitude. He wants to fight the very best – win or lose, but he will always give his all in his fights, so a loss will be no shame at all.
Ricky Burns has my respect.
John Murray lost twice this year in very tough bouts to world class opponents, and there was no shame at all in his world title challenge, as he gave it his all.
Kevin Mitchell was blown away when he stepped up to world level against Michael Katsidis, but he bravely came back with a win over his domestic rival John Murray. My guess is that a natural and obvious fight with Ricky Burns would be relatively easy to make, as both are with Frank Warren.
James DeGale, George Groves, Martin Murray, Matthew Macklin, Darren Barker and Gavin Rees are just a few British fighters who could be involved in some very attractive fights in 2012.
Delvin Rodriguez’s ten round draw with Pawel Wolak in July was voted Sports Illustrated ‘Fight of the Year’. The 31 year-old scored an emphatic win in the return in December.
I beat world number three, Delvin Rodriguez, in July 2010, in a fight that could have gone either way.
World number two, Danny Garcia’s world title challenge to Erik Morales, has been postponed due to Morales undergoing gall bladder surgery recently. Garcia has beaten Nate Campbell, Kendal Holt and we fought in a bout that could have gone either way.
Manny Pacquiao didn’t look spectacular in his two victories in 2011. He won against Sugar Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez, but many thought he clearly lost to Marquez. Mosley showed if you don’t stand in front of Pacman, and can use movement, he struggles badly.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. had one outing in 2011 and that was a quick disposal of the over hyped ‘Vicious’ Victor Ortiz. ‘Money’ Mayweather looked in sizzling form, and consequently got win number forty two.
Wladimir Klitschko disposed of David Haye in a rather dull twelve round affair. The heavyweight division is looking rather bleak at this moment in time. I grew up watching ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson in the mid-eighties, so it is very sad to see how far the division has sunk.
Joe Frazier’s death was a sad passing for all connected to boxing. He will be forever linked with Muhammad Ali, and he was a great servant to the game. He will be sorely missed.
Bernard Hopkins became the oldest world champion in boxing history after he schooled Jean Pascal in Canada. He would later fight Chad Dawson; with that fight becoming a circus, as Hopkins dislocated his shoulder in the bout. It would eventually be ruled a ‘no contest’.
Sergio Martinez continued to make waves with victories over British hopeful Darren Barker, and Serhiy Dzinziruk. Matthew Macklin is next on ‘Maravilla’s’ list. Sergio has beaten British fighters Richard Williams, Adrian Stone and Darren Barker. Macklin will probably be added to that list.
Two Super Six early drop outs made comebacks on December 30th in the USA. Jermaine ‘Bad Intentions’ Taylor took two years out of the game. He is now looking to campaign in the middleweight division, which he previously had great success in, with two wins against Bernard Hopkins, beating ‘Winky’ Wright and Cory Spinks. Depending on his real hunger and desire, he could get a fight with Sergio Martinez, who is also promoted by Lou DiBella.
Andre Dirrell is perhaps the most talented American amateur I have seen since Roy Jones Jr. He came back after his disqualification win against Arthur Abraham last year. There are big fights available for him in the thriving 168lb division. Dirrell vs. Ward would be a ‘pick em’ fight in my eyes.
Oscar De La Hoya admitted to having serious personal problems. De La Hoya entered a rehabilitation centre for drug and alcohol abuse. He spoke openly and courageously of his drug and alcohol issues, he admitted that he had harboured thoughts of suicide, and said he had been unfaithful to his wife.
De la Hoya was seen all over the middle pages of the New York Post a couple years back wearing stockings and women’s underwear. Oscar was perceived to be the clean cut ‘role model’ ex-boxer, the virtual Golden Boy, but who knows what demons lurk behind a glittering smile and a polished persona.
No one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. We are all human, let’s never forget that. Oscar has the toughest comeback in the world to face.
Andre Ward has seriously hit the big time now. He is seen as one of the best ‘Pound for Pound’ fighters now. He won the Super Six tournament in December with a lopsided win over Britain’s number one fighter, Carl Froch. He also beat Arthur Abraham, in a fight he made look relatively easy.
The future is very bright for Andre. I remember fighting on the same show as him in Saint Lucia. It was a classy Showtime promotion. I just knew he would go far. It’s so pleasing to see him achieve his true potential; as so many fighters don’t have that burning hunger and desire to consistently and tirelessly work hard, as that is what it always takes to reach the top.
Fighting on the bill in Saint Lucia has probably been the most memorable event in my eight year career, so far.
2011 has been a very good year for boxing, and I’ve had an excellent year with three British title wins. One more British title defence and I will own a Lonsdale belt outright and forever be known as a British champion.
This is my focus right now.
In 2012, I am aiming to again face the likes of world number two, Danny Garcia, and world number three, Delvin Rodriguez, after I win my Lonsdale belt outright. I am sure working with Hatton Promotions will take me beyond the level of opponents I fought in 2011.
The New Year brings new goals, new hopes and new dreams.
The Brits will come again in 2012, and as long as we are all stay hungry and are prepared to travel to the champion’s backyard – we should look forward with confidence and relish.
THE LONDON UNDERGROUND
As the time of goodwill and celebration draws ever nearer, we all look forward to sharing memorable moments; the giving and receiving of heartfelt presents, a time of happiness and joy despite the gruesome economy, the general feeling of despondency, and the continuing conflicts across our planet.
In many neighbourhoods of London – our world’s only true international city along with New York, but perhaps the most cosmopolitan and tolerant city on the planet – we still have the most difficult ‘community’ challenges that it is high time we collectively look to resolve.
In the neighbourhood I’m from in west London, there are many young people still not achieving their potential. The causes are well documented, but perhaps not yet clearly understood, and definitely not widely accepted. Be it because of a feeling of isolation, a lack of support from the community at large, low self-esteem, lack of ambition or perhaps, just absolutely nothing to do; and the solution cannot possibly come from even more government cuts.
A life without hope is no life at all worth waking up for. Otherwise life can start to become all too expendable and not valued. These are dangerous and desperate circumstances, and all too prevalent and real in my neighbourhood. We are not unique in any developed society, but we have a tremendous opportunity to ‘change the game’ and vitally the outcome in London.
Last week there was a shooting incident that took place on the increasingly tough and local Mozart Estate. This was sadly not a rare occurrence.
Desperate times indeed.
The police were called at around 4pm to reports of shots fired in the Third Avenue area, which is in my W10 district of west London. They found a young man who had received multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to a central London hospital. He received three gunshot wounds, two to the chest and one to the stomach and remains in a stable but critical condition in hospital.
Just a few days before Christmas! Goodwill to all men is no longer a universal message that we all understand or practice.
A cordon was put in place by the police that has now been removed, but not before redefining the Christmas season for the adults and children who had to witness the scene.
No arrests have yet been made and police enquiries continue. This has become a regular occurrence in my neighbourhood; with the Mozart estate and the Kilburn estates consumed in a war which stems back over ten years. Yet most of the youngsters have no idea why this situation kicked off all those years ago.
Nobody cares anymore. If society doesn’t care, the gangs become relevant and oxygenated.
The Kilburn and Mozart Estates are right next to each other, which ‘makes’ them neighbours, a lot like Israel and Palestine. Similar locations, similar people, similar desires, but a total breakdown in communication accentuates the differences and forgets the similarities.
They just cannot live in harmony, otherwise they feel they will have nothing else to belong to or feel part of.
Desperate times indeed.
There have been many back and forth incidents which have seen a young man get killed locally, in Scrubs Lane in 2008. Then in retaliation, another young man was also killed outside the local KFC in 2010. There have been many kidnappings and violent incidents which show no signs of slowing down.
Even in Her Majesty’s Prison’s, the gangs are violently and relentlessly attacking each other.
Desperate times indeed.
What makes a young teenager carry a gun, sell drugs or commit robbery? What are the police and government doing to help the situation?
Do we need deterrents and punishment? Of course, but they need to make a tangible positive difference. Currently, it’s not working. In fact, just ‘locking people up’ doesn’t cease the flow of available volunteers who don’t fear incarceration.
Prisoners quickly become the heroes and ‘role models’ and galvanise the next generation of disaffected youth to take the wrong route.
When those same criminals come out of jail, they go back into the same situation, in the same environment, as that is all they know. Even if they wanted a job, the majority of local companies will never consider hiring an ex-felon.
There are no progressive arrangements for rehabilitation or for positively connecting back into the community, or even just a support network that cares and connects.
Desperate times indeed.
This is not just about my neighbourhood alone, as we have seen this with our servicemen returning from risking their lives for our nation in Afghanistan and Iraq, and they experience equal neglect. The disproportionate and tragic number of suicides and wrecked relationships our servicemen experience, perhaps point to this being a failure in a society that has become a little too complacent, selfish and less inclusive.
Desperate times indeed.
We all understand and accept (in the main), the need for austerity measures in these uncertain and difficult times, but unthinking and uncaring universal government cuts will only feed rising crime rates. Drug distribution does not naturally recognise a recession, if anything it will make drug users purchase even more as they look to escape from the desperately hard life of struggling in an inner city.
With spiralling costs and income being cut, it’s a huge struggle for hard working people with decent jobs, let alone the poorest people with only a bleak future in the tough confines of the inner city.
Whilst feeling naturally comfortable recently in my training camp in New York City. Brooklyn served to remind me so much of my local environment in London. With all the hustling and the ‘hard knocks’ life going on around me, it kept me hungry and focused on constantly continuing to try to make something of my life.
It also served to remind me that my surroundings and environment in London were not unique.
I have walked in many of these kids and young adults’ shoes. Where we saw no hope and the only realistic way to make money is to commit crimes, sell drugs and disobey our helpless parents.
Many people die, go to jail or just end up ‘down and out’, but it is that “Get rich or Die tryin” attitude, which 50 Cent exploded into the Hip-Hop scene talking about.
Many danced and sang along, unfortunately, very few really understood or cared.
Many of us from poor disadvantaged backgrounds understand that view point. Far too many of us have no visible alternative, and consequently, live by this motto.
Desperate times indeed.
I put the same dedication and focus into my boxing that many drug dealers put into their street hustle. What you put in, is what you get out. I have something inside me that drives me more than most boxers. I came from a desperately poor environment, I got expelled, and I went to prison. I was seen as a ‘no hope’ prospect.
Seeing my mother remain positive, work relentlessly and watch her pennies whilst raising my brother and I, has energised me and put a ‘towering inferno’ of a fire in my belly to be the very best I can be.
Being expelled from school didn’t stop me from finishing my education. I went to college and passed my GNVQ in Leisure and Tourism, and then I completed a BTEC Media course.
I am also a qualified personal fitness trainer, strength conditioner, nutritionist and dietician. If I didn’t turn professional, I would have definitely went to University; as my teachers encouraged and begged me to go, as they saw me cruise through my studies where others in my class struggled.
Even though I went to prison, it has not been enough to make me give up and perhaps take the more predictable and obvious route. I’m still fixated on being the best that I can be – and make my mum even prouder.
Too many people think because they are born in a poor and disadvantaged environment, means that you will fail and have no chance of achieving anything.
I’m living proof that you can achieve anything you want to, if you work as hard and as consistently as you can; the opportunity will eventually materialise and you will be hungry and ready to take it.
Maybe it is much harder for those of us from disadvantaged backgrounds to deliver, but so what? To work hard against the odds, achieve your dreams and fulfil your desires is what life is all about.
It is called living! And we all deserve that at the very least.
It hurts me to see so many talented and decent kids end up in jail, but this is the world we currently live in, and I unfortunately cannot see this situation changing for now.
Desperate times indeed.
All Stars Boxing Gym has been situated on the Harrow Road in west London, for nearly thirty years, and it has saved so many and brought so much happiness and hope to so many kids, teenagers and adults lives.
We need more places like this.
All Stars founder, Mr Akay has rightly been awarded an MBE amongst many other awards. This man, I’m privileged and honoured to call my mentor, is a shining example that if you want to achieve something – work hard, believe and it will come to fruition.
Impossible is just a word. Making the impossible, possible is the real beauty and reward of life.
Let’s all commit to work hard and harmoniously together to ensure that 2012 delivers ‘Peace and Prosperity’ for all those who share our fabulous city of London.
SURVIVOR
Nothing is guaranteed in life and certainly not in boxing. You can be the most talented amateur boxer in the world and that does not guarantee you will make it as a professional.
The two codes are scored totally different and to a certain extent are two different sports.
Amateur star Ricardo Williams beat my friend Ajose Olusegun in the quarter finals of 2000 Olympics in Sydney. He was seen in the eyes of many American boxing ‘experts’ as more talented than Floyd Mayweather Jr. He received an unprecedented signing on fee of over a million dollars from top promoter, Lou DiBella. Lou currently has Sergio Martinez, Andre Berto, Ajose Olusegun and Matthew Macklin under his promotional outfit.
Williams ended up going to jail for dealing in narcotics. He is now on the comeback trial.
Frankie Gavin was seen as the best prospect for twenty years in British boxing by many UK ‘experts’. I haven’t been as impressed by him in the fights I have watched, but he was a highly talented and top class amateur. He is the only British fighter to win a gold medal at the World Amateur Championships, ever.
When Frankie Gavin turned professional he was seen as the next ‘Amir Khan’, but that has not happened as yet, and I personally doubt it ever will. I think he can probably win a British title and maybe even a European title, but I don’t know if he has what it takes to make it onto the world scene. Only time will tell!
I first saw Michael Grant in the 2005 ABA tournament. He was so skilful and talented I thought he would be a star of the future.
Jamie Cox, who was highly respected and a very dangerous puncher and was pencilled to meet Amir, but Amir withdrew from the tournament. If Amir had lost in that tournament it would have been a huge blow to his stock. Jamie Cox got to the final and so did Michael Grant. Michael won the final and was ABA champion.
He was ranked above Amir Khan at the time, but the selectors chose to go with Khan instead. Michael tried in vain to get a box off with Amir to prove he was number one. Amir would go on to win a silver medal in the Olympics, but he so desperately wanted to win the prestigious national amateur tournament.
Michael has not lived up to his potential, and he has now been a professional for over six years.
Talent is just one thing needed to succeed in the professional game. Hard work, perseverance, self-belief, heart and a ‘never say die’ attitude is what brings you to the top of the game.
As an amateur, you tend to be part of a team and represent your club as much as you represent yourself. It’s a part-time activity at best. The training and tactics are all about giving all you can for three rounds. The head-guards and scoring system make for a more frantic approach. This is even more accentuated when it comes to tournaments, as you will not know who you will be facing from fight to fight.
When I turned professional no promoter would give me a chance as I was not a successful amateur, but my belief in myself and my hard work has brought me to where I am now.
The professional game was very different and has suited me so much more. It demands a high level of discipline and focus. It is so much more about thinking things through and strategy. The full time nature of the sport means you have to be fully committed and there are no short cuts. The 8, 10 and 12 rounds distances leave no hiding place for stamina or fitness. The single-mindedness necessary to compete at the top finds many good boxers out.
I found becoming a professional gave me what I was searching for; the opportunity to be the person solely responsible for whether I achieved or failed. There could be no-one to blame but me. This was liberating and exciting.
London promoters Jonathan Feld, Derek Williams and Miranda Carter gave me the opportunity to hone my skills on their shows without too much pressure. I will be eternally grateful to them. From those humble beginnings, I took my time to learn the fight game, and eventually when I was ready I stepped up to championship level.
Just because you may start out on small hall shows doesn’t mean that they will define you or your career. You need to have a realistic plan, and know where you want to go, and what you want to achieve. You have to be optimistic and believe in yourself, especially when many do not believe in you.
I have beaten a former world champion in DeMarcus Corley, IBF world number three in Delvin Rodriguez and dropped a razor thin decision to WBC world number two Danny Garcia. All of my biggest results have come in America.
I have taken 12 months out to win the Lonsdale belt outright; as a British born fighter it is really important to me.
I beat British champion Lenny Daws, then my first defence was against former European champion Jason Cook, followed by my recent second defence against Southern Area champion, Ben Murphy; as English champion, Nigel Wright failed his brain scan the week of the fight.
As I look forward to 2012, I am doing my usual annual plan and goals; ideally, my third defence will be at the Porchester Hall in London (my local venue), against someone like former British, Commonwealth and European champion Alex Arthur, failing that I would like to return the favour and give Lenny Daws a shot at my British crown.
After I win the Lonsdale belt outright, I want to get back to the world scene, where I was in 2010, fighting the likes of Danny Garcia and Delvin Rodriguez. I made those fights happen without the backing of a promoter, so with Ricky Hatton backing me, anything is possible and a shot at Erik Morales, Timothy Bradley or Lamont Peterson is what I will be focusing on.
I have always had doubters in my career. Not many apart from my family and friends believed I would get to where I am now, and of course, me.
If you are still in any doubt about me or my capabilities, please do not be shocked when I do the unthinkable.
There was a time when you didn’t quite believe in yourself, when someone somewhere took the time to believe in you. Who are you believing in today? As we approach Christmas, we can all make the time for someone else that needs believing in.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
The media dust has started to settle since my British title defence against the surprisingly game and resilient Ben Murphy last weekend. I’m learning to live with the high expectations that all champions carry into the ring. Just ask Amir Khan or Carl Froch. Everyone and anyone who ‘steps through those ropes’ is ultra-fired up and unlike the champion, have it all to gain and nothing to lose.
I’ve ‘walked in their shoes’ for most of my career and excelled from being the underdog and therefore benefitted from the lack of media scrutiny.
Delvin Rodriguez is ranked third in the WBA and fourth in the WBC. Danny Garcia is number two in the world, in the eyes of both the WBC and IBF. These are two fighters who I recently shared a ring with. I lost a split decision to one and the other I won a majority decision. Both fights took place in America.
Erik Morales is now due to defend his WBC world title against Danny Garcia, and Delvin Rodriguez, who challenged for a world title in 2009, and lost by a split decision, is on course to fight Saul Alvarez, or one of the other 154lb world champions.
I received some rather sharp criticism for perhaps not appearing to be strong enough to hold my own with Ben Murphy, but Delvin is a 154lb fighter, and we met at 148lbs, and I handled him with no problem, and even hurt him and could have got a stoppage if we had another round to go.
This is what makes boxing so fascinating and compelling. Muhammad Ali had the fights of his life with Joe Frazier every time they met, but knocked out George Foreman, who in turn crushed Joe Frazier twice in next to no time. Where’s the logic in that? Welcome to the fight game. Nothing must ever be taken for granted. Winning is the only and ultimate measure of success.
The last two years have been very rewarding for me, and I now look forward to 2012 with relish, as the next step after my third defence of the British title is all about moving inexorably towards a world title challenge.
My team have advised me to shift my mind-set from that of the perennial underdog, to a champion’s mind-set. I have to admit that I have found this really challenging, because coming from my background, with little support and consequently, the cards always stacked against me, I have the natural ‘fire in my belly’ to achieve the unexpected.
Being the betting favourite and the defending champion has proved to be intellectually and emotionally, seriously demanding.
Floyd Mayweather has managed to create an atmosphere where so many are willing to turn up or buy his ‘pay per view’ fights just to see him exposed. It gives him that extra motivation despite being the number one ‘pound for pound’ fighter on the planet.
Muhammad Ali would heap extra pressure on himself in the early days by predicting the round his opponents would fall.
This was all about providing the feeling of having to perform beyond the expectations of both the media and the fans, and they both delivered.
In 2010 I fought current world number two Danny Garcia in Texas, then in June I went to Munich in Germany to pick up the IBO international title. Five weeks later saw me take on world title challenger, USBA champion and IBF world number three, Delvin Rodriguez. In September 2010 I was ranked fourth in the world by the IBF.
A fight with world IBF number one Randall Bailey fell through in the autumn, but then I personally managed to make a deal to fight British champion Lenny Daws.
February of this year saw me fight Lenny Daws at Wembley Arena. I knew Lenny liked to go at a very fast pace, so I matched his pace, and when he could no longer keep it up, I took over. I dropped him twice in the ninth round and went onto win. I thought I could stop Lenny, but I rushed my work in the ninth so had to settle for a points win.
In July at Wembley Arena again, I fought former European champion Jason Cook. I knew he was a fast starter, and looks for the knock out; so the plan was to box him for the first six rounds and take over going down the stretch. I told the fight commentator, Al Bernstein, that I believed I would stop Jason and I was proved to be right.
Nigel Wright was supposed to be next, and I also believed I could stop him late on. As it turned out, after my meticulous preparation, I had to settle for a very late substitute, Southern Area champion, Ben Murphy.
Ben seemed like a fighter who jumps on his opponents and goes all out to overwhelm them with punches. Consequently, (with no time to put it into practice) my plan was to use a classic ‘rope a dope’ tactic, and just allow him to let loose on me, whilst I used the ring, the ropes and a high tight guard to stay out of danger. We thought that by round four, Ben would be running ‘out of steam’, but he was still extremely active in the sixth.
I had no option but to change tactics and started to let my hands go and force him backwards. He started to weaken and become a little ragged. I turned up the volume and stayed in front of him. It made for explosive action, but I had it all to lose and time was running out. We were now in the home straight and he was visibly tiring, I now threw caution to the winds and started loading up combinations to head and body.
My fitness and strength, yes, strength, now started to come into play, and he wilted badly. I knew he was ahead on points, but I also knew (at long last) I had him. I got the late stoppage that I knew I could get. It was in retrospect a very risky tactic, but I never for a moment lost my self-belief. The aim was to go for the knock out win, and I succeeded.
Despite his all-out attack, and ‘no prisoners’ approach, mentally, I was still executing my plan. In no way was I expecting to have to wait until the 11th round, but the champion’s mentality was very much ‘alive and kicking’.
My tactics in my fights with Garcia, Rodriguez, Daws, Cook and Murphy have been spot on. Rodriguez appeared to have a stamina problem, so constant pressure was the key. Garcia is a solid counter puncher, so I boxed him and used movement. I fought Lenny at his own game, and out did him in the stamina department. Cook starts incredibly fast, but fades, so I was patient with him, and Murphy was Ali’s innovative 1974 ‘rope a dope’ tactic, and I brought it alive again in 2011.
Tactics are an integral and very important part of winning championship fights. On occasion, many will not understand what a fighter is doing in the ring, but as long as the fighter and his team know, that is all that matters. You must never be tempted to play to the gallery, but have ultimate faith in yourself and your team’s game plan.
Early next year will see me defend my British title for the third (and final) time, and a win will see me keep the Lonsdale belt forever. As a youngster, this was not on my agenda, but growing up in London and seeing the likes of Lloyd Honeyghan fight at domestic level for the Lonsdale belt, has made it a must for myself. We all need local role models.
I was fighting out of the USA, and ranked world number four, when I accepted the fight with Lenny for the British title. Moving back from New York has seen me slide down the world rankings since winning the title, but I’m British and it felt seriously important to me to be the champion of my home and country. When the Lonsdale belt was wrapped around my waist, nothing I had tasted before had felt so good and so pleasing. I promised myself I would win it for keeps, so I decided to take a year out of my world title ambitions to capture the belt, and we are well on target.
Plan your work and work your plan.
This Saturday night, WBA world champion, Andre Ward put on a master class performance in his Super Six final clash with WBC champion, Carl Froch.
Carl looked confused and bemused as he struggled to cope with Ward’s tactics, speed, skill, and all round ring general-ship.
For ten rounds Andre cruised through the fight. He was out-boxing, out-foxing and out-fighting Carl.
Carl had his two best rounds in the eleventh and twelfth rounds, but Andre had taken his foot off the pedal by then.
Andre is now the undisputed number one 168lb fighter in the world, and I would have him closing in on the ‘pound for pound’ top five; Floyd Mayweather Jr., Sergio Martinez and Manny Pacquiao are in the top three of the ‘pound for pound’ list but they are all well into their thirties. Andre Ward is only twenty seven and could be the future of boxing. He can fight, box and he has the much sort after, ‘X factor’. A fight with IBF king, Lucian Bute, may well be high on the agenda, but Lucian will have to eventually come out of Canada to make that fight happen. I believe both Froch and Ward would see off Bute, as he has enjoyed the comforts of home far too much, and I’m not sure he is as good as the ‘experts’ would have you believe.
Bernard Hopkins was in attendance of the Super Six final and I’m sure he would happily fight either man.
Both fighters have options and the right offer would encourage a move up to 175lbs, and would not be an issue for either of them. Tavoris Cloud, Chad Dawson and Jean Pascal would be mouth-watering fights for either of them.
Carl Froch vs Nathan Cleverly would be a great domestic dust up. If Nathan wants the big fights he will have to forget about hosting them in Britain, and ‘bite the bullet’ in going stateside, like Carl Froch and Amir Khan have done with much inherent risk but great credit.
Carl, in my eyes, is the best fighter to come out of Britain since Ricky Hatton. Carl has fought the best fighters in the world since becoming world champion, and has had the courage to fight them in their backyard. He has fought Jean Pascal, Jermaine Taylor, Arthur Abraham, Andre Dirrell, Mikkel Kessler, Glen Johnson and Andre Ward. I can’t remember a British fighter ever fighting that top class level of fighter on such a consistent and back to back basis.
Carl is definitely one of Britain’s most successful fighters ever – period. He deserves to be inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame when he eventually hangs up his gloves. I am not a natural Carl Froch fan, as we share differing fighting philosophies, but I respect and admire his courage and self-belief, and importantly what he has achieved. He is a real warrior.
Amir Khan lost rather controversially last weekend and has been doing the rounds on radio and TV stations around the UK.
Amir should have won, but as I mentioned earlier never underestimate the hungry hometown underdog. He was clearly the better boxer but perhaps Lamont Peterson wanted it more on the night and gave it his all.
Lamont has agreed to a rematch. Perhaps Amir, or/and his team had their eyes on stepping up and Mayweather. No one can afford to look beyond his opponent, even if he is a late replacement or an un-fancied underdog!
For a smart and articulate champion, he was starting to sound like a sore loser. He is clearly better than that. He continuously pushed Peterson, again and again, and the referee warned him loads of times.
Amir needs to move on and bounce back even bigger and better. Golden Boy Promotions can get him a rematch, and he can surely rectify the decision with his fists.
I lost a wafer thin decision to WBC 140lbs world number two, Danny Garcia in February 2010. Many boxing fans thought I won, and I still receive emails to this day saying I need to get a rematch with him, or that I should be fighting Erik Morales on January 28th instead of him. Bad decisions happen in all sports (and especially recently in boxing), but you just need to stay focused, and direct your anger into your next fight.
I picked up the IBO International title, beat world number three, Delvin Rodriguez, and picked up the British title, all within a year of being on the wrong end of a tough split decision against Danny Garcia.
Never get carried away with the expectations of others, as only you can answer for your performance.
MURPHY’S LAW – “IF ANYTHING CAN GO WRONG, IT WILL”
FIGHT DIARY
Friday 9th December 2011
It’s the day before the fight and the weigh-in is at 3pm in County Durham.
Frank Maloney spoke to my team today and asked if we had fully signed with Hatton Promotions yet? He said that as he was interested in signing me “as we have been a pleasure to work with and very professional”. Nice feedback.
Frank gets a very mixed press in boxing circles but he has promoted and managed some of the very best, including Lennox Lewis.
Frank was fine throughout this promotion, and he worked very hard on getting a replacement in a very short space of time. I did have the opportunity to sign up with Frank a few years ago, but I have to say I’m very excited and looking forward to working with Hatton Promotions.
Mark Harnell and his wife, who is my cousin Carla, mentioned Frank to me many years ago. Carla first heard of me when she saw me on a poster whilst she was in Eugene Maloney’s gym, he’s Frank’s brother. Her father and my father are first cousins.
I’ve worked with over ten promoters in my career to date, and this has been the most trying and difficult promotion I have ever appeared on and it is by some distance, the lowest pay day I’ll receive this year. It’s always the case, ‘Murphy’s law’.
I woke up this morning weighing 141.6lbs. I went for a gentle jog to Primrose Hill and back, which took thirty eight minutes. I stretched, had porridge with sliced bananas and honey for breakfast. I had a hot bath and weighed myself again. I was 138.4lbs. That was perfect. I could now drink my necessary fluids on the way to County Durham, and not be in any fear of coming in overweight.
It was a long and gruelling train ride and I got to County Durham around 2.30pm. Frank Maloney had a driver waiting for me to take me to the hotel. When I got there everyone was there already; Sky Sports, the British Boxing Board of Control officials, the media and the fighters.
At 3pm the weigh in started. Ben weighed 140lbs on the dot. I weighed 140.4lbs. I was surprised and embarrassed, as I am meticulous with my weight management regime. I couldn’t help feeling a little unprofessional. The fluid I drank during the train ride had tipped me over the weight limit.
Ben Murphy and his team (especially Johnny Eames) seemed delighted, and perhaps thought I was struggling to make the weight, which couldn’t be further from the truth. I went in the bathroom, and skipped for ten minutes, and came back to make the weight. I was 140lbs on the dot, but a little angry with myself.
I took my pre-fight medical and did some media interviews. I was now ‘back in the zone’.
I had brought some sushi and a protein drink with me, so I topped myself up and was feeling good.
Johnny Eames had made the trip with Ben. He came up to me saying “I knew our paths would cross again”. He must have jumped at the chance to take the fight, and had obviously told Ben that he could beat me and how he could beat me.
He was a lot more animated than usual; he really wanted to beat me, which is natural, as I had left his gym. It must be quite frustrating for him to see me rise and rise and win the British title. He was ‘ultra pumped-up’, and I would be a huge scalp for him, especially as I had beaten world class fighters and remained ‘upwardly mobile’. Boxing lends itself to grudge matches, but it’s usually between the boxers, rarely do the trainers get this ‘involved’.
Johnny even gave an interview saying he “knows how to beat me” and he wishes he “had more time” but he will “give Murphy the plan, and it’s up to him to execute it”.
Whilst I was at TKO gym, I worked more with Peter Swinney than Johnny, so if it was Peter who was saying that ‘he knew how to beat me’, I would take that much more seriously. Johnny is a little bitter, maybe because he twice offered me the opportunity to fight for the British title but and I turned it down. I am the British champion now. Since we split; I have fought world number two, Danny Garcia, world number three, Delvin Rodriguez, British champion, Lenny Daws, and former European champion, Jason Cook. Not bad at all.
I have vastly improved in the two and a half years since leaving Johnny, so I see little chance of an upset, as his views on my ability are based on what he saw during 2006 to 2009, and I am no longer that fighter. I am now world class and world champion potential.
My current trainer, Harry Keit had flown in from New York and was here, waiting for me and we caught up with one another, and enjoyed each other’s company. We went for a meal at an Italian restaurant with some fun Liverpudlians. I had some garlic bread, a prawn and rice dish, but I couldn’t finish my main course, which was a spaghetti and chicken dish, as I was way too full. We got back to the hotel 90 minutes later, and I went straight to my room as I was feeling very tired.
Promoter and ex-boxer Spencer Fearon called me on the drive to town with the Liverpudlians. He said how his fighter, Darren Hamilton had been offered the fight and wanted to take it, as the money would have been his most lucrative boxing cheque to date. Spencer said he knew I had had a terrific training camp in America, and I would be a real handful even with six weeks’ notice for the fight, let alone four days. So he declined, but Darren was happy his name was up there in the mix.
Ben’s manager, Mickey Helliet was very happy to be associated with such a big fight. Mickey had tried to sign me some ten years ago, when I was an amateur, after my fight with ABA champion Lee Beavis in the North West Division Finals.
Ben Murphy was a seven to one underdog, but he really thought he had a real chance of an upset. ‘Come forward’ fighters are usually made for me. That’s relatively straightforward work. I’ll need to focus on my movement and boxing for the first couple of rounds to see what he is made of; then start putting my punches together. I want to systematically break him down, and then really go to work on him.
He will obviously rush me at the start. This I know, but I’m expecting that. I’m the best he has ever fought. He will try and overwhelm me and go for broke. Theory is always easy, but I’ve learned the hard way that ‘no plan survives contact with the enemy’.
Adam Smith, who is the Head of Boxing at Sky Sports, is covering my fight, and they are really getting behind me, which feels great. He told me that I have the perfect platform to perform tomorrow.
Mark Harnell, husband of my cousin Carla, mentioned that “Frank Maloney will be getting loads of SKY dates next year”, and he would be “great to sign with”. I said I had a great deal with Ricky Hatton, who really understands and shares my ambition and it just doesn’t get much better than that.
I left the group after arriving back from the restaurant as my stomach was in some pain due to over eating, and I was totally exhausted.
Saturday 10 December 2011
I slept from 8pm to 11pm then watched television for a few hours. I went to bed just after 2am, and woke up at 7:30am which was breakfast time.
I went down to the restaurant where the lady from the front desk was still amused that when I said I had to ‘check in’ yesterday, it sounded as though I had said “I need a chicken”. Despite sharing a common English language in the UK, accents rule! We laughed together she was a nice woman, so it was all good fun. She asked about my boxing and we spoke briefly with much humility, about Nigel Wright’s manager, Gus Robinson who tragically committed suicide a few weeks ago.
I enjoyed a hearty breakfast. I had a bowl of porridge with honey, four slices of toast, a full plate of scrambled eggs, baked beans, mushrooms and three hash browns. I had three pots of Muller corner yogurts, and three glasses of orange juice to wash it all down. No more weight management, I really tucked in. I went back to my room full, and relaxed in bed for the remainder of the day.
I watched some current affairs and news on TV throughout the morning, and then in the afternoon, I watched four of my favourite fighters; Pernell Whitaker, Marvin Hagler, Miguel Cotto and Floyd Mayweather.
Ben Murphy is seriously hyped up for the fight, so for the first few rounds I need to box carefully and be smart, then start to break him down.
Ambrose Mendy commented that I am three fights away from a world title shot. That means a lot to me especially coming from him, as he guided Nigel Benn to the world title. I respect his point of view immensely. The first time I met him, I just listened intently as he spoke to me. I had seen him on TV as a little kid when he managed Nigel Benn, who was my favourite British fighter in the 1990s.
Promoter Miranda Carter, who I have worked with many times, advised me just to do what I normally do. She always matched me with aggressive come forward fighters like Ben, so I am more than used to being the ‘matador to the bull’. Looks like a relatively easy night’s work?
Sunday 11th December 2012
How wrong could I be? What a tough, tough fight! Ben gave everything and more. He was game, strong and unrelenting. You can never underestimate anyone, or worse still, judge them just by their record. Maybe there will now be a queue forming for me for my next title defence which is a voluntary one. One thing is for certain, under sustained pressure in a volatile atmosphere, I demonstrated that I have the skills, heart, determination and a ‘never say die spirit’ – a true champion.
I’m learning the hard way that it’s seriously tough being the champion, as every opponent is extra charged and hyper motivated. It’s like having a permanent target on your head. I kill myself in the gym, and take myself to the limit every day, and because of that, I’m always confident that I will come out on top.
Ben jumped on me for all of the first six rounds. I expected that for the first four rounds, but not at that sustained intensity. He was incredibly short and ducking really low and firing from all angles, this made him the most difficult of targets. I had prepared for a different kind of fight, even if I had prepared specifically for Ben, I might still have struggled as he was a non-stop, ‘Duracell bunny’ like, ‘threshing machine’.
In the third round, another series of dangerous but wild swings left me with a perforated left ear drum. I knew something was up, I was struggling with my balance, but there was no time to even think or analyse what had happened. It was only in my post fight medical that the perforation was confirmed leading to a 28 day suspension on medical grounds.
I spar and train with world class operators, who are solid and well-schooled technicians. The best fighters never just ‘steam in’ and throw all caution to the wind. This was taking me back to my long forgotten early days in the game. Ben’s near maniacal approach is very hard for anyone to prepare for, and with no hint of rudeness or disrespect, he has no real style or technique. He just throws everything at you, incessantly, with zero let up, at times it felt like ‘a bar room brawl’.
He was in fabulous shape for someone who took the fight at such short notice, and I have nothing but ultimate respect for him, as he just kept swinging and driving me back.
There were only two rounds to go, and I was clearly trailing on all three scorecards. My trainer, Harry Keit, told me that I had to knock him out, and now. I took his instructions seriously and went all out for the stoppage. I will never be like Ben, ‘all out’ for me means still avoiding all that’s thrown at me, but being far more assertive and aggressive.
It’s vital to have a voice you trust and listen to in your corner. Harry knows me well and is never over demonstrative or loud, but I follow his calm but clear instructions.
Many people don’t quite understand why it is so important to have a first class cut man on board, but having Mick Williamson in my corner gives me huge piece of mind. He was Ricky Hatton’s cut man, and Ricky would fly him all over the world in case of cuts. Mick has been in the business for 30 years and he is worth his weight in gold.
Mick said he was very proud of me, and that I dug really deep when it counted. That’s what champions are about. That kind of praise from Mick means a heck of a lot to me, as he has been part of many big world title fights, and he definitely knows what it takes to be a champion.
It was flattering to hear that Frank Maloney is interested in signing me, but I know that Ricky is the man to get me the chances I need and I’m very comfortable and pleased with his support and shared ambition.
I woke up to the shock that Amir Khan had lost his titles in Washington DC. It is very dangerous fighting a hungry challenger in his home town. I also thought it would be a routine defence against Nigel Wright in his hometown.
Ben Murphy proved when you have you have nothing to lose you can be very dangerous indeed. Lamont Peterson, whom I thought was a little overrated, and I believe I could beat, rose to the opportunity and won a little controversially, in his hometown.
Erik Morales is now fighting Danny Garcia, who I shared a razor close fight with in 2010. They will fight on 28th January 2012. I am sure I have a world title challenge around the corner, especially as Delvin Rodriguez, who was world number three when I beat him, challenged a year ago for the world title, losing a split decision and after a draw and win over Pawel Wolak this year, he is back in the top five and closing in on a shot with Saul Alvarez. He was supposed to fight Alvarez in September 2010 but after losing to me, he lost that shot.
Former world champion Steve Forbes, who has fought some of the world’s best has mentioned me, Amir Khan and Timothy Bradley as the three fighters in the 140lbs division he respects as fighters.
Erik Morales, Timothy Bradley and Lamont Peterson are the current world champions in my weight division and they are my target for 2012. I feel on my day I could pull out a win against any of them. The better the fighter, the better I fight.
Ben Murphy gave absolutely everything and deserves all the praise in the world. I honestly didn’t think I underestimated him, but he performed way above anyone’s expectation. Johnny Eames will not be a happy man, but Ben certainly should be. We spoke in the dressing room after the fight and he was a gracious gladiator who went out on his shield.
But, I’m still the champion.
The true test of a champion is not when he is winning easily or knocking an opponent out early, but how he deals with adversity. Despite having to dig really deep, I delivered.
I’m looking forward to 2012 with relish.
