The Boxing Cast

I caught up with Liverpool’s former Prizefighter finalist Nick Quigley (11-2) about his retirement and a look back on his short but exciting career.

Adam Johnston: Looking back on your career are you satisfied with what you achieved?

Nick Quigley: I wish I could still be doing it and I could have achieved a lot more. I think the thing I gained most from my professional boxing career was the respect I got, because before I started I wasn’t the best of amateurs and I didn’t really do anything. My older brother and younger brother they were the respected ones boxing for England and I wasn’t really respected. I wasn’t looked down on but I made people look better but I knew I was a good fighter but never had the chance to prove it. Then I started boxing and had a few fights, still getting overlooked a bit but then I got into Prizefighter and had a good few performances and I gained everyone’s respect after that with how I fought. With the way I fought I showed heart and determination and after that the respect I got, it was amazing.

AJ: What was it like for you the Prizefighter experience?

NQ: It was amazing, it was one of the best experiences of my life. I loved it, I loved the build-up, I loved going into sky sports studios doing the shoots and the interviews and I thought it was brilliant. I just thought I’ve got nothing to lose, just the 0 on my record, lots of people are obsessed with that whereas I wasn’t and I just thought if I do well it’s a great way to get my name up there and luckily enough I did. It was unlucky though the way the draw fell I’d been out for 10 minutes and my opponent had been out for 40 minutes but I regret nothing about it. It was a great experience and as I said after that I was respected and pretty well known in boxing

AJ: So was Prizefighter the highlight of your career for you?

NQ: Yeah, I fought for the English tile didn’t I (against Erick Ochieng), looking back now I fought the wrong fight I should of tried to box him, I didn’t use my skills at all as I thought I’d just go in there and have a war with him. I was unlucky in being up against a fighter who likes fighting off the ropes and fighting under pressure because there are very few boxers who like that. That was one of my strong points, I had a good engine on me and kept going and could keep people on the ropes. Unfortunately I came up against a guy who liked being on the ropes and looking back I just fight the completely wrong fight and I do believe I could of beat him if I’d have fought a different fight. It just wasn’t meant to be that night.

AJ: Did you rate Erick before the fight?

NQ: I didn’t see much of him to be honest with you, I saw one fight where he got beat fairly early on in his career (Luke Robinson L pts4). I didn’t see much of him to be honest and I was just offered the fight and I said yeah. I just fought the wrong fight on the night but then again the people still love how I fought and how I showed heart and the grit and determination and never took a backwards step. Throughout the fight I kept hitting him with good body shots right to the end and that again got me respect off people.

AJ: It was 18 months between your last fight and the announcement of your retirement, what was going on in that time?

NQ: I was waiting for results to come back. I waited about a year before I found out I wasn’t allowed my license back but they did say “you can get a second opinion”. So I went in for another test and unfortunately it wasn’t the news I wanted and ended up just playing a massive waiting game. It never went my way in the end.

AJ: Do you mind talking about why you had to retire?

NQ: I don’t really to be honest as I don’t like people thinking I’m damaged goods, you know what I mean. There’s nothing wrong with me but if I had carried on then there is a good chance I could have done damage to my brain.

AJ: No-one fan or otherwise would want that to happen to you.

NQ: Yeah and me being me I would of gladly, well not gladly not willing to die but to give everything I had and I loved to fight. Unfortunately it’s the rule that I can’t, it’s the law of boxing and I’m not allowed to do it.

AJ: So you have thought about fighting again?

NQ: yeah I have thought about fighting in another country and I know some states in America you don’t even need a brain scan or a medical. I’ve thought about going out to Germany. I’ve just come back from L.A. and I was allowed to fight there, obviously my little brother (John) is over there and it made me realize how much I missed it. I was thinking I could come here and fight but again it’s a gamble. I think every boxer really is one punch away from brain damage, one punch and that’s it. With me I have more odds stacked against me. With what I know about my past scans it would all be on my own back and I’ve got to do right by my family. So at this moment in time I’m not thinking about coming back and it kills me thinking that.

AJ: it’s always a sad story when something like that happens but at least it’s not worse.

NQ: I was in a deep depression at first but I’m getting out of it now and I’m feeling better with myself.

AJ: Did you see anyone about your depression?

NQ: No, I should of done but what they put you on just makes you worse, I just got talked out of it as they say you should talk to people. I sort of just got out of it myself and I had some good friends and talking to them it helped but some people don’t have that and some people just can’t hack it. Luckily I had mate around me who were bothered and were talking to me and that. I was lucky but I should of really went to see someone. I didn’t but luckily enough I’m managing to get out of it now.

AJ: That great to hear that you’re feeling happier and coming out of it. With what you have said will you be staying involved in the sport in some way?

NQ: I’m still in the gym and still train with the lads but it kills me sometime watching them and I really miss the sparring. I’m still in the gym and give advice when I think I can give advice and I’ve though about getting my seconds license so I can work corners. I’m happy now with retiring from boxing, I’ve gained everyone’s respect and anyone who has seen me fight I’ve got their respect. I’m looking at a new job at the moment not to do with boxing, on the oil rigs which I’m looking forward to as its really good money.

AJ: Thank you Nick for your time and doing this interview, good luck with your new career and for the future.

Adam Johnston: You have taken a few fights recently on short notice, is that something you are going to continue or are you going to try and get back into the title picture?

Bradley Pryce: Yeah I want to get a title but at the moment fights keep coming up at short notice and obviously I’m not having the time to prepare. I’m confident of getting in there with anyone short notice or not and that’s why I’ve been taking the fights as I know I can give as good as I get. So I’ve been putting the work in but last year I didn’t win a fight which was disappointing (Bradley did win against Michael Lomax in 2013) . So I’m back in the gym now, I’m training hard and hopefully I can open up the year with a win, so yeah hopefully it will be good now.

AJ: You Performed a lot better in some of those short notice fights than a lot of people thought you would, how do you feel you performed in those fight such as the (Sergey) Rabchenko and (Frankie) Gavin fights?

BP: Yeah I didn’t have time to prepare properly when I boxed both. The first (Rabchenko) fight was very close but the second he won it clearly but it was a short notice fight and it was for his title and I knew his best punch was the left hook to the body.  But like I said I didn’t have the time to prepare and I knew he’d use it but I hadn’t had any preparation but we took the fight and I think it would have been a different outcome if I had more notice.

The Frankie Gavin fight I lost over half a stone the day before the weigh in, obviously that left me drained as they wanted me as close to ten and a half stone as I could. I was coming down from close to eleven and a half stone so I got down to the eleven stone limit and it didn’t take that much out of me. I felt okay I the fight but it was short notice, it’s a lot of weight and obviously I wasn’t going to be 100%. He surprised me a lot with his movement and that, I was hoping he was going to come and have a slug fest. But obviously he used his head and out boxed me and that’s how he won using his skills and that. I’d of liked to have dragged him into a war but he boxed and stayed away and boxed to a points win. After a few rounds my trainer wasn’t happy I was cruising around he didn’t want me to be in there but I told him “he (Gavin) can’t punch”. None of his punches had an effect and I thought if I could catch him I could turn it around but he stayed away from me and boxed smart. But like I said there was no power there, nothing really troubled me but he boxed smart and boxed a clever fight.

AJ: You mentioned about having to lose a lot of weight for the Gavin fight, recently you have been fighting Welter to Middleweight are you planning to campaign at either of the weights?

BP: Ideally I’d fight at welterweight as that’s my natural weight and with the move to 10 stone 7ibs the gloves drop from 10 ounce to 8 ounce I think and that will help my power as well. Yeah I’d like to be welterweight ideally but who knows, I know that the guy from Liverpool what’s his name, the light middleweight?

AJ: Liam Smith?

BP: No, it’s Selkirk. That’s come up a few times but has been knocked back a few times, he pulled out twice due to injury, I meant to box him last title for the title but he pulled out due to injury the second time. I’m in training for March if it’s offered for that but other than that I’m looking for a fight at welterweight.

AJ: Looking at the rankings in Boxing news and you’re ranked 10 places above Selkirk so is that a fight in the right direction?

BP: Yeah, but he talks the talk but two times I was due to fight him but he pulled out due to injury and hopefully now they still want to make the fight. I’d like it now with fair notice that there’s the fight because then he would get the best of me. Like I said the way it is (now) it could be the week before and they will phone me saying “will you take the fight?” and expecting me not to be at my best. That’s how it’s working for me at the minute, nothings working in my favour but let’s do it now, if people want me to fight Selkirk then let’s do it now rather than wait until a few days before then call me in.

AJ: In your fights in the last few years you have been in with some highly regarded talents such as Chris Eubank Jr, Frankie Gavin, Billy Joe Saunders have any really impressed you once you got in the ring?

BP: I think boxing wise Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders, yeah they had good skills and boxing ability but I don’t think any of them have that power to move onto world level. They are good boxers but Eubank I didn’t rate him really and don’t think he’s going to go nowhere to be honest. He’s a middle and he boxed me, a welterweight and he didn’t have the power with me going up to middleweight. Yeah I like I said they were at short notice and this year I want to get my career back on track and obviously have a good year and be ready when the fights come. I took a lot of fights on short notice but I know if I come back with a win I’ll be back in the picture.

AJ: Have you got any fights scheduled so far for this year?

BP: Nothing really yet, I’ve only just been back in training now for just under two weeks so I’m just slowly building back up and I won’t take nothing now until I’m fully fit and that won’t be until the beginning of march. So obviously from the start of march I’ll be looking for a fight so ideally I’d be boxing on march the 1st as I’ll be up to full fitness by then. If a fight doesn’t come up I’ll keep training until I find something, I’m up for fighting anyone ideally a minimum of 8 rounds. I don’t really want to get in with a four rounder just for the sake of it.

AJ: So you’re aiming for the British title by the end of the year?

BP: Well yeah I don’t know if they will put him (Frankie Gavin is British champion at time of writing) in or in an eliminator. I think a lot of promoters realise I’m willing to fight at short notice especially with my last two fights so I expect a phone call to come up pretty soon but lie I said I’ll turn it down until march to make sure I’m 100% ready and I want to bounce back with a win and have a good 2014.

AJ: If your career ended today what would have been your career highlight?

BP: Probably winning the commonwealth title vs Ossie Duran I suppose, no one expected me to win it and that turned my career around. I think I kept that title for around 3 years and made 7 defence I think (Bradley lost his title in his seventh defence). Obviously I want to do that again and I think this year I can do that.

AJ: Thank you for your time Bradley and good luck in your next fight.

Adam Johnston: You have boxed for England in the 3 nations and got a silver medal and had a good amateur career, what made you turn pro?

Isaac Lowe: I got to the age of 18 and I was getting robbed in a lot of my amateur fights, they wouldn’t give me fair decisions. I always fought like a pro, so when I turned 18 I thought the time is right to turn pro. I thought I may as well do it and get paid instead of getting a plastic medal.

AJ: How do you feel your pro career is going so far?

IL: My pro career is going excellent so far, I’m 6-0 with 3 KO’s. I’m just working my way up, I’m a super bantamweight really and I’m boxing at featherweight and I’ve been hurting them so once I get my weight down and get into my proper weight division no-one will be able to stop me. I’m too big, I’m too strong, I can box, I can fight and I know all the tricks to win a fight.

AJ: You’ve looked good in your fights so far and have a fan friendly style.

IL: yeah that’s what I try to do, it’s important to get the W on your record. People work hard and spend £30, £40 they want to see some action, I’ve been a fan myself and you don’t want two people walking around a ring all night, you want them to get stuck in. I don’t just want to win the fight I want to provide great entertainment to.

AJ: I was impressed with your stoppage of Delroy Spencer, he loses frequently but doesn’t get stopped very often.

IL: Yeah well they didn’t want me to take it, I think it was only my third or fourth fight I can’t really remember (Third). I know you said he gets beat a lot but he very, very rarely gets stopped. Last time he got stopped before that was against Kal Yafai (Delroy was stopped on a TKO by Liam Hanrahan) in-between the Yafai and Lowe fights). Actually I never got out of first gear, I was just playing with him. I was just messing around and it shows just how much power I have got, when I let them bod shots go I don’t care who you are you’re not getting back up from them, you saw that on that night.

AJ: Which fight that you’ve had so far has been your hardest?

IL: The hardest up to now was when I boxed in Oldham, I boxed Pavels Senkovs. He was a tough kid but I gave away 6ibs in weight and he was a big puncher a very big puncher. On that night I had to show my boxing skills, it wasn’t just about going forward it was about using my boxing brain that night. It was about boxing him and out punching him and that’s what I done. I took a test and he caught me with two or three shots on the chin and it just shows you I’m tough as I came back and won every single round.  I’m now looking for title fights.

AJ: So is that your aim then for this year?

IL: Yeah I want a title fight, at my weight there is not many about (boxers) at my weight so after 29th of March I want the English and by the end of the year even pushing for British because once I’m at that level there is no-one out there who can match me.

AJ: Is there any news on your opponent for March 29th yet?

IL: No not yet, it won’t be long though. I can’t get fights at my weight at super bantam or featherweight. In my last fight I fought, I can’t remember his name.

AJ: Kristian Laight I think.

IL: Yeah Kristian he boxed Tom Stalker on his debut. He’s a welterweight you know what I mean he’s 9 stone 11, I’m giving away 8-9ibs maybe a little bit more it’s something you can’t be doing that all the time. I just want to box someone at my weight and who wants to test themselves against me because then at my weight I can show them what I can do. I’m fighting out of my comfort zone at the minute and if anyone wants to fight me then let’s do it now.

AJ: That’s a good attitude to have.

IL: Thanks, they’ve got me ranked 16th at super featherweight (boxing news) and I’ve only had 6 fights you know what I mean. I don’t know why they’ve moved me up the ranking, it must have been because of my last two fights, fighting at the heavier weight. They must think I’ve put weight on but I haven’t I only walk around at 9 stone 3, that’s my weight and once I get someone at my weight I can show you what I can do.

AJ: Hopefully you will get those fights at your weight.

IL: Yeah I’ve only had three fights at my weight and they were the three that I have stopped which shows you the difference when I have been at 9 stone or 9 stone 1, what I can do to people, I put them to sleep. So it just shows that when I do drop that weight, those last few pounds what I can do to people. So the proof is on paper there, it’s in black and white that half my fights haven’t been at 9 stone. There are people who stay undefeated to get a title fight, why don’t people just forget the 0 and test themselves against other people because if you’re going to be the best you’ve got to fight the best. I’m not here for business and money, I’m here to test myself against the best and get belts. I don’t want to be protected I want to fight the best and be the best, that’s the only way to do it is to fight the best and fight who the public wants you to fight. To get the big fights you have to fight anyone, anytime, anyplace and I’m willing to do that.

AJ: Your next fight will be in Blackpool again, you’ve had 5 of your fights there already. Is it somewhere you enjoy fighting?

IL: Blackpool is just like home to me, it’s only 30 miles down the road, it’s a lovely place to box it’s a great arena. It’s been good to me anyhow up to now, I‘ve always won there so yeah I love boxing in Blackpool it’s just like a second home, it’s a fantastic place.

AJ: Do you have many traveling fans come with you?

IL: Yeah I have a few traveling fans, I sell a few tickets and a few people come down to watch me from Blackpool. The public are just starting to back me, after a few more fights and I start getting up the ladder people will start to know me. The crowds will be there, the crowds won’t be the problem, once people see me on Youtube or see me live and people see me and how I fight you know what I mean. Ricky Hatton was a famous fighter I followed as an amateur, when I was growing up I watched him as he was always in great fights and gave the public what they want. So if I can do a bit like that. Mike Tyson I fight like that going forward, that how I where I got my boxing from. People got behind them for doing what they’ve done so it will come, it will take time. I’m flying out to France on Monday to train with Tyson Fury and try their training camp and it will be good to get the experience off them.

AJ: How did these training sessions with Tyson come about?

IL: I’ve known Tyson for many many years now, he’s always been a friend from the traveller’s background. We’ve always been close and he’s asked me a few times to go over with my trainer Bob Howard and that. And then the time was right, I was young and fancied a change, something different, experience. I thought it would be great to go out there and train with Tyson, get out there and learn a little bit from them and take it on board and I’ll be a ten times better fighter. It’s the experience I want, I want the big fights but I know it’s the experience I need.

AJ: Are you excited about Eddie Chambers joining the camp?

IL: That’s what I mean, going into camp with former world champions (Title challenger) and you see them punch the bag or see how they stand or on the pads and just take a little bit off each. They’ve been there and they’ve done it being former world champions. You’re training with the best and just take a bit off Eddie, Tyson and all the rest I will be better, I’ll be ten times the better boxer. So it will be good to get out there in the sunshine, nice and relaxing in training. You can get your head down, there is nowhere to go so it’s just box. By the 29th of March I don’t care who’s in front of me I’ll be beating them and I’m looking for a KO so they better be ready. Just look at him from Darlington who won the IBF title, Stuart Hall. I’ve watched him box many times and I’m not being big headed but I could beat Stuart Hall now with one hand and I’ve only had six fights. He the IBF world champion, put me in with Stuart Hall now and I’ll wipe the floor with him. So if he can get a shot and I’m glad it’s a British guy who won it, he’s a British lad. I’m happy he won it but it just shows you and I know for a guaranteed fact that if I was in the same ring with the same shoes I’d have him out within six rounds. I’m in a different league compared to him. He has the experience, he’s a world champion that’s been in the big fights. He’s got the experience of doing twelve rounder hasn’t he but I’ve done what? Six rounds but I can guarantee you, put me in the ring with him and I’ll have him out within six rounds, no more than six.

AJ: With all these training camps with Tyson, do you think it may lead to you fighting on Tyson’s undercards in the future?

IL: I’m hoping to, that’s part of the plan Tyson to get big fights and I’m fighting on the undercards. I want the public to see me, that’s part of it to get recognition and people to see you.  So that’s the plan, Tyson’s fighting on the 15th (February) and that’s too close for me, it’s a bit too early but I’m on the 29th of March and then when Tyson’s back on any big shows or the summer one versus Chisora. I might get on the undercard of that or see that I can do whatever with him. Yeah of course that’s part of my mission and it would be great to do that. I hope I can get on, not just for me or Lancashire but I am a British fighter so let’s try and get the best for all of us. It’s not just for me but the fans and everyone that supports all of us and always at the back of me.

Tyson fury has been laying out his plans for the coming year on Twitter on who he wants in 2014 after his career stalling in the second half of 2013, down to the postponement and cancellation of his fight with David Haye. The names mentioned included Deontay Wilder, Roy Jones Jr, Lucas Browne and most vocal after the Twitter anouncement Dereck Chisora.

Thers has been some back and forth between the two on the social networking site with Dereck mentioning Febuary as a possible date for the pair to meet and the promise of his ‘people’ phoning Tysons ‘people’ about arranging the rematch. But with Dereck scheduled to make a defence of his european title against Andriy Rudenko on the 15th it could mean Dereck has to relinquish the title to make the rematch happen, but with Dereck trying to manouver into a title shot a win against highly ranked fury would put him there and same with Fury a win against Dereck could make him mandatory for one of the belts.

AJ: How long do you see yourself boxing for?

BP: I’ve got a few good years boxing left. I always knew when I turned professional that I would be a late developer, I always knew I’d be at my best in my late 20’s now I’m going to show people I’m the best. I know a lot of people peak around 25/26, I don’t think I’ve peaked yet I think I’ll peak around 28/29 I think next year you’re going to see the best of me. I think I can carry on and have 4 or 5 years at the top.

AJ: Sounds Good. What do you see yourself in the next few years then, title wise?

BP: I’ve got a fight coming up now on November 20th (Sergejs Savrinovics) in Newport, the opponent is not the best on paper but after my bad defeat to Matt Hall I deserve to come back with 2 fights to get my career back on track. Hopefully after this fight the boxing board will make me number 1 challenger for the British title, I’ve always been ranked quite high and it would be the first time I’ve boxed for it at light middleweight. So I think it’s my time to go for the British title, hopefully Anthony Small don’t vacate the title because to be honest the first fight it was an easy victory I knew I was going to come on strong late on. He had nothing left and I think the result would be exactly the same; I would take him into the late rounds and just destroy him.

AJ: what did you think of Smalls victory over Hall?

BP: Well I think at my best, I made my excuses for the Hall fight. At my best no-one can live with me, maybe I should have boxed more, I gave my excuses and didn’t enter the ring 100%. I didn’t see any improvement in small apparently he’s fitter apparently he’s punching harder. I didn’t see anything I thought he did exactly what he did against me. He was just pity patting and boxing with little punches that I would just walk though. Hall got tired and he (small) got to him, Small wouldn’t of been able to do that against me I’d of just walked though them and done what I done last time and just unloaded, as the fight goes on my punches get harder with Small he pita pats and they don’t get no harder they get weaker.

AJ: After the loss to Hall there was talk of you moving divisions, maybe up to Super Middle was there any truth to this?

BP: Enzo is trying to get me to move and get me to change weights he wants me to box at middle he wants me to box at supper middle. I think I’m a light middleweight, I make the weight easy and I think in my last fight was my best fight even though Mike Monaghan is classed as a journeyman, I think the performance I showed was my best performance to date and I gained a lot of confidence in that fight. So I think defiantly light middleweight but maybe in the future but like what I said I’ve yet to hit my peak. But I’ll settle at this weight because another 1 or 2 wins will get me the British title shot so ill stay at this weight for now but maybe in a few years I’ll gradually go up the weights.

AJ: is there anything you would change in your career looking back?

BP: Yeah I would have went for the Olympics, I mean just look at the guy who are rich now before there pro careers have even taken off. My Style is made for the amateurs I’m a good boxer, I won a lot of titles and never lost for my country. I think I would have been spot on for the points scoring in the Olympics. That’s my only regret not going for the Olympics and instead turning pro at 18. Obviously my lifestyle as well I’d of been a bit more dedicated to the sport, I came off the rails a bit and took the sport half hearted but I’m taking it more seriously now and hopefully I’ll achieve my goals.

AJ: You mentioned the amateurs, your brothers boxed as armatures and had short pro careers what are they up too now?

BP: Well when you turn pro you have to stick to the rules and dedicate yourself to the sport that’s something they didn’t do, they got mixed up with the other side of life, drink and drugs. They went down that path and that’s it in and out of prison. They wasted their careers, they were both top boxers but they wanted the other side of life but they are happy with it. My older brother Byron he’s the head case of the 3 of us to be honest he still thinks he’s going to come back, he wants to get in there with like Tyson Fury, he’s walking around as a heavyweight now my brother. He wants to get in there with Tyson fury and all the other top heavyweights, he wants to come back and have a go. It the case of him saying he wants to do it but he’s not in the gym training hard so I think it may just be in his head that he wants to come back and fight top boys. And Delroy  is happy walking away with what he did, he lost a bunch 8 years ago and he doesn’t ever want to step foot in a boxing ring ever again. Both have different ideas about what they want to do but like I said the reality is getting back in the gym and training for it.

AJ: If Byron did get back in the gym would you support him in his comeback?

BP: Yeah definitely, I think he needs to get training and get a bit of weight off but I don’t think he’s putting 100% into it you know what I mean he’s still have the odd can and smoking and what have you. But he still thinks he’s going to come back I still have words for him some encouragement and I would like to see him come back, he’s undefeated. Like he used to be Joe’s sparring partner and Joe (Calzaghe) knows he’s a head case he’s proper hard you can hit him and bang him but he’ll keep coming, he’s got big heart he has.

AJ: Well if he does come back I hope he takes it seriously so he wouldn’t get hurt

BP: Well if he does take it back he needs to have 4 or 5 months training hard and that, a lot of people would like to see him get back in the ring. A lot of people in my areas always say “your brother Byron was always the best” there’s always been talk about Byron being the best and wasted a good career, but I was the only one who carried on and took it more serious. Yeah I’d like him to come back, I mean he could give a lot of people trouble because that’s the type of fighter he is, but like I say he’s got to get back into it but if he wants to dedicate himself to it.

AJ: Going back to yourself, you’ve battled with bulimia and recently you’ve brought in a nutritionist how has that affected your training and dropping weight?

BP: Well I’ve never had trouble dropping the weight just when you get to the Hall fight, Enzo wasn’t really in the gym training us because of everything that was going on between (Frank) Warren and Joe, Enzo was obviously part of that so he wasn’t in the gym. But like Maccarinelli blames the training side for his defeat. I Believe I trained myself good enough to beat Hall but obviously the weight loss, I was going home eating what I wanted and just bringing it back up and I was back on to a habit because the weight was coming off so quick and I was eating what I wanted and it was just simple. Like on the day of the weigh in with Hall I couldn’t stand my legs were buckling, I couldn’t stand up. And obviously the food I had taken back into me obviously hadn’t given me any energy what so ever, I’m just thankful that after that defeat I can come back and box. I mean I could have died on that night the way that I done it I was unbelievably weak but obviously I had to change my lifestyle around. So I went and brought in a sports nutritionist, me and Gavin Rees. He set us a plan for the 6 weeks for the fight in Newport, the last fight like I said for me it was my best fight ever against anyone. And I’ve had fight of the year a few times, I showed so much skill, stamina, power and speed – everything no matter who was in front of me that night I would have beaten them with my style.

AJ: Well you looked good on the before and after pictures you had posted on Facebook.

BP: Yeah I’ve watched it back on DVD and was so happy with the performance I’ve realised within myself I can go on pick up the British and pick up the titles and be back on the world scene. But I proved in the last fight and ill prove it again in this fight then I’ll prove it against Small and I’ll beat him like I did last time.

AJ: do you have any predictions about your next fight against Savrinovics?

BP: Well in his last fight he was stopped by I think a welterweight (actually a Light middle) with a couple of body shots. I know his record and his wins have been mainly knock outs (7 wins 4 Ko’s) so he’s a bit of a banger but the way my style is I’ll take him into the later rounds and then I’m gonna stop you. I mean in my last fight against Monaghan if that had been Small or anyone else in my last fight they would have been gone. Monaghan is a tough cookie he walks around at super middleweight and he took them well the ref could have actually stepped in and stopped it with the punishment he took. So i would like going the distance and going the later rounds, that’s what I want to do I want to take this guy to the later rounds, I want to be in front in the later rounds winning the fight quite comfortably and stop him towards the end in rounds 8,9 or 10.

AJ: Sounds like a good plan. You’re currently with Calzaghe promotions, do you see yourself staying with them for the rest of your career or would you consider joining another promoter to secure title fights?

BP: Well I’ve been told by the promoters that title fights are gonna come, I think the first one on my list I think is going to be the British one because I’ve been in the top 10 for years now and I haven’t had that British title opportunity yet. I think after a couple of wins that will be my next fight. Obviously I’m being told by the promotion that world title fights are going to come and big fights are going to come. At the moment I’m not sure what’s happening, I don’t want to keep fighting on these small 10 round shows you know, I want to be fighting for titles so hopefully I’m going to pin my faith in the promotion and see if that happens. But like I said I’m not at my best yet I’m not at my peak and next year I need these big fights and hopefully Calzaghe promotions can do that for me. I mean Gavin Rees is going down a different route he’s obviously fighting in Prizefighter with Barry Hearn so I’m not sure what he’s going to be doing but I’m sticking with Calzaghe promotions for a while and hopefully the options come and if they don’t I’ve obviously got to do what’s best for my career.

AJ: Would you ever consider doing the Prizefighter route?

BP: No because like what I said I’m a 12 round fighter, it doesn’t matter who I’m boxing I’m usually behind at the half way point then I go on and stop them or win on points. That’s my style, my style is not made for 3 rounds, and I don’t get started till half way. It wouldn’t be no good for me to be honest, it would be a losing fight for me to start.

AJ: Like what happened to Danny Williams in the last Prizefighter?

BP: Yeah he was terrible weren’t he? Yeah like I said a 3 rounder is different that a 12 rounder. Like I said I’m a 12 rounder, I’m a title fight guy. I would love to go back to 15 rounder’s to be honest they would be more suited to me, 3 rounds I think is just too short. It would suit Gavin obviously, I can’t see him losing in 3 rounds he just goes out and throws leather. A lot of people can’t do that, they can’t keep up with the pace. He should win it quite easily.

AJ: I think he would be the favourite because of fighting at the higher level.

BP: yeah he has fought at the higher level but I just think that people won’t be able to keep him of them  But the likes of Bami and a couple of the others who are in there who are bangers so it’s going to be good, it’s going to be a slug fest. So I think that’s what it’s going to be, a slug fest but it’s going to be the battle of the chins.

AJ: What are your thoughts about the Calzaghe clan TV show?

BP: I think its good actually, I think the first two didn’t make Enzo come across very well but I watched the one on Monday when they were showing Newport and I think it was really good. They got a few of the boys a bit more involved; I thought it was a good show. But Enzo you know what I mean, that’s Enzo he likes to bark his orders and shout them but that’s Enzo you know. He didn’t come across too good but he’s won trainer of the year so he must be doing something right but yeah its pretty good.

AJ: Have you ever had any problems with Enzo?

BP: Yeah if you go back a few years when I was suffering some defeats I decided to leave. I didn’t feel that the attention was on me so much because Joe was in the gym and you had a lot of champions in the gym so I wasn’t given enough attention. I blamed that for some of my loses and I moved on for a while with Tony Booth. Whilst I was with him for 9 months I had about 3 fights I think but obviously my lifestyle resulted in what my results was, they weren’t very good and my record slumped for a while. Then I decided I wanted to pick my career back up and take it a bit more serious and I made the move to go back with Enzo.

AJ: Are there any young lads in the gym that you think will be future stars?

BP: Well we’ve got a new boy just turned up called Chris Evangelou I think he’s from London. He’s just moved down here to start training camp for 4 or 5 weeks for this show. I think he’s a Light Welterweight he should be having his first fight on the bill, there’s a lot of talk about him. He’s not too bad but there are a lot of things he needs to be doing. Enzo has been pushing him and for me he kept by people who do very well. Also there is Ryan Evans he’s another decent fighter, I was sparing him last night I think he’s a lightweight (Welterweight in his debut) and he’s a good boy so he can go on and do himself proud. Obviously my main aim is myself I just want to be in there and be in them big fights, these unknown’s I’m boxing is just no good for me what so ever. I need to be in there with names it’s somewhere I’ve always been, I’ve never said no to a fight. So like I said I know Small’s don’t want to fight me, he thinks he’s got bigger things but there is nothing bigger than coming back and beating someone who beat you bad you know what I mean. So I think that’s my next fight I want to beat Small and I want to fight for a world title, I want to push on and follow in Joe’s footsteps.

AJ: Are there any of the big 4 title holders out there that you would like to fight? Cory Spinks for example.

BP: Well I’ll fight anyone you know what I mean? The names don’t bother me. To be honest I’m not a massive boxing fan I don’t really follow any boxing, if boxing was on TV I probably wouldn’t watch it. I mean I don’t really follow the champions; you’d have to tell me the name of the 4 champions to be honest. I’ll fight anyone that’s all, I train hard myself and I don’t check their records and I don’t get tapes of them. I don’t do anything, I just get in there and I know I can beat them. That’s how I beat them, I prepare myself and that’s how I would do it if I fought any of the world champions.

AJ: Finally I know you will be getting married soon is everything sorted and how much are you looking forward to the big day?

BP: Well the wedding has been pushed back going on a year from what we were planning. My fiancé is now pregnant so we are expecting our first baby together so the wedding is going to be put back a bit. So yeah our future looks good together, that’s it we are looking forward to having the baby and tying the knot and plan our life together.

Why did you choose to go through the Prizefighter route?

I’ve been out for a year because of the stuff going on with Joe, Enzo and Frank Warren. I had a 6 rounder a few months ago, I was supposed to fight an 8 rounder in Newport but obviously this is a bigger event for me than an 8 rounder. So bigger money and bigger opportunity for the winner, straight back into a title shot, and I didn’t see why not.

Yeah seems like a lot of the top British boxers have been doing that lately, like Danny Williams

Well its only 3 rounds and 32 grand you can’t get a title shot for that. Like i said i should of done an 8 rounder for no money.

Are you looking forward to Prizefighter?

Yeah course i am since my last fight i haven’t been out of the gym, I’m only 10 stone 9 now so i don’t have to lose much weight and i have a nutritionist on board now. And i used him the last time and the weight came off good. So everything is good I’ve been sparring properly with Bradley Pryce, just looking forward to the night now.

So the Sports nutritionist is making it a lot better for you to make weight?

Yeah course he is I’m having 4 meals a day now and before i was having 1 meal and struggling. Unless you go through it no-one really understands what you go through. I’m of 4000 calories a day now and before i was eating like 500 so i didn’t have the energy to burn it back off. And i didn’t have the energy to train all the time and now i do so the weight comes off easier. It doesn’t go in your head the more food you have the more you lose weight.

So its eating the right foods?

Yeah its know what to eat and at what times, unless someone tells you, you don’t know do you? Joe won 3 times at one time and kept himself to a strict diet. And now I’m not on such a strict diet I’ve not so much weight to lose .

For Prizefighter will you be coming in on the limit or bellow?

In my  last fight in Newport I only weighed 140 pound there. So I’ll only come in at 140, that’s the weight I expect. Yeah so 140ish, 142 maximum.

Is there anyone in Prizefighter you would like to be drawn against?

I’ve been out of action for a while you know, there are a lot of good names in this. I think I’ll win this then have a fight with John Murry at lightweight for the British title.

So that’s your plan after Prizefighter, to campaign at lightweight?

I wouldn’t rule out boxing again at light welter weight, i make the weight quite easy, i won a world title at light welterweight. So this should be easy 3 rounds a time and i’ll fight flat out.

Would you like to take on Amir Khan for your old WBA title?

Of course yeah. I would like to fight him. Even without the title I’d like to fight him. I don’t know why he moved from lightweight to light welter because he didn’t have the best chin to start with. He’s got boxing ability but if he fights anyone with heavy hands he will have to use the boxing ability. But i can fight him, why not?

You won your world title at light welter do you think you could of achieved more at lightweight?

Oh defiantly i could of achieved more, even at light welterweight i’ve got a great chin, After 12 rounds with Kotelnik i got knocked out people started laying into me. I’ve been a world champion and got a great chin and if i can knock you out i will knock you out, that’s the way i feel anyway. When i come back down to lightweight my punches will be stronger and i’ll still have a good chin so mi don’t see why i can’t do well at lightweight. The only one out there at the moment is John Murry so he’s the one I’m looking at fighting next.

What would your game plan be if the Murry fight came off?

Not really he’s a bit like me and comes forward and punches, so do i. So looks like we’d have a standoff in the middle of the ring he can bang so it would be an explosive fight and good to watch and good to be in. I like a good old tear up so should be a good fight.

Is there anything you regret or would change in your career looking back?

Well having the last year and a half off and losing the title, all the legal stuff with warren and the court case with Joe. Me and Bradley had to stay out of that thing and obviously we regret that, being out the ring for such a long time. Obviously I’m gutted i have 3 kids you know now and they need money, that was frustrating but there nothing i regret. I lost the title when i boxed Kotelnik but didn’t do too bad. I’m still quite young and i can still win titles so i hope for another 2, 3 years.

I hope you do. What you you say was your best performance? The title winning effort or another fight?

Well winning the world title. No-one expected me to win going up in weight. I trained for 4 or 5 weeks and never had a day off. I have a point to prove in Prizefighter. So I’m out to prove a point and show how good i can be.

Will you be returning to Calzaghe Promotions after Prizefighter or will you be looking at other promoters?

I don’t think i should answer that should i? (laughs)Er well i don’t know, I didn’t know you were going to ask that.

Its fine you don’t have to answer

Well Bradley aint boxing on the (Newport) Bill now, i don’t know what is happening with that promotion. Well like i say Prizefighter is there, i go where the money is to be honest and i have 3 kids i need to go where the money and the titles at to be honest.

What did you think of the Calzaghe clan TV show?

It was alright apart from Enzo, that’s who he is isn’t he? He wacky but that’s just Enzo in the gym. I’ve been with him 20 years and i know everybody. It focused on me and Bradley quite a bit as we’re his best fighters and we’ve been with him so long were used to him we don’t take much notice to be honest (laughs). Once you’ve known him so long you know that’s how he is. He’s strict but he’s like that with everybody, that’s just Enzo.

Has the training changed since Joe retired or is it just as brutal?

Oh its just the same, everyday he (Enzo) needs someone to shout at. When he’ shouting that’s just to motivate us. Whenever you see a Calzaghe boy enter the ring there never usually and upset. He’s trained world champions and commonwealth champions so he isn’t doing to bad.

Well he must be doing something right.

Yeah a lot of people slag him off but like i said when he shouts at us its motivation and half the time we shout back you know.

Is there anything you’d like to say to your fans?

Watch Prizefighter and watch my career down at lightweight .

Blackpool's unbeaten light-middleweight prospect, Brian Rose (14-0-1).  Rose boxes in front of his home town fans against Frenchman Bertrand Aloa on February 27th in a match for the vacant International Masters bauble. 

How did you get into Boxing?

When I was younger I got into a little bit of trouble and my dad took me down to the gym. I ended up training and I ended up respecting the sport and then I stayed boxing really. After that I didn’t get into any more trouble.

What was the best moment of your amateur career?

I won about seven national titles but I think it was the Bronze in the European Cadets. I think that was my main moment in my amateur days, being third in Europe and I lost to the world champion but still got Bronze. So I think that was definitely the highlight of my amateur career.

Why did you turn pro instead of trying for the Olympics?

I was going to stay on but there was another two years left till the next Olympics so I just thought it would be better if I turned pro. I agreed to go in the ABA’s but made that my last and as soon as I got beat I turned pro.

What do you think of your amateur foe Joe McNally now?

He beat me fair and square the first time but the second time I thought I won. I’ve said a few times that he is potentially really good. I think he’s brilliant, I think he’s talented. And I have no hard feelings against him for the decision in the amateurs, that was years ago. But it happened and it wasn’t his fault you know? He’s a really nice lad as well, I have nothing against Joe.

Would you like to fight him in the pros?

I’ve got nothing to prove as a pro, I’m not going to go calling anyone out. But I’ll just box whoever Frank Maloney or Steve Wood put in front of me. It’s up to them who I fight, I don’t pick who I fight.

Why did you decide on light-middleweight when you have fought in the 170s?

You mean as an amateur? Well to be honest I was a little bit lazy, I didn’t do much running but I kind of got away with it because I did a lot of spring and a lot of pads. So I got away with it boxing at middleweight. When I turned pro I knew I had to work and train hard every day, so the weight kind of dropped off me, that’s how I made the weight easy and I make the weight easy now.

What was it like winning the Central Area light middle belt? (Stopping Jason Rushton late in the final round...Rushton was unfortunately rushed to hospital with a career-ending brain injury.)

I think it was the highlight of my career as a pro. I mean afterwards I was absolutely buzzing after the fight, I was made up. But when I got back to the dressing room and was told what happened I was devastated. It just kind of took everything away from me; I didn’t even get my belt for weeks. People wanted pictures but I just couldn’t get the belt.

Do you feel what happened in your last fight will affect you in the future?

Definitely not, no.  I mean I felt really bad what happened, I’m always in contact with his girlfriend and she’s always telling me how he’s doing in hospital. I’m putting it behind me now, I can’t let it affect me, I may as well quit if I let it affect me. So I’m just trying to forget about it now and get on with my next fight.

Would you say that was your hardest fight?

I don’t know that probably is the toughest fight I mean I didn’t get hit much. Though it could have been my first ten rounder, that’s probably my toughest fight. But Manoocha Salari who I drew with was probably my toughest because I was caught with a big shot and I had to come through a mini-storm to achieve a draw because he won the first three and I won the last three (rounds). So I think I did well to get that.

What do you hope to achieve this year?

I think I'll speak to Steve Wood about it but by the end of the year I’m looking at boxing for the Commonwealth title. I’ve just got to stay undefeated until then. That’s it basically, by end of the year boxing for a major title.

Are you looking forward to boxing in front of your home crowd (Blackpool) in your next fight?

I am yeah I got a bit of a tough fight I’m boxing Bertrand Aloa. But it will be good to bring the title back; I’m boxing for the International Masters title now. It’s a different title so I’m going to have two titles by the end of February. It will be good for my home crowd to see me boxing for a new title.

Will the new belt mean more to you?

No, it will be about the same really, they're only minor titles but for me at the moment that’s what I’m in it for. I’m in it to win title and keep winning my fights, I’m not in it to win or lose i want to win every fight.

Were you offered Prizefighter?

I’ve asked to go in it but Steve Wood wanted me fighting for titles, so he’s going to be looking at major titles at the end of the year so doesn’t really want me going in it. But I definitely would have gone in it; I mean I asked to go in it. I’d have loved to have gone in it, I’ve always said that.

Would big names like Bradley Pryce or Matthew Hall going in change your manager's mind?

No definitely not, it’s one of those competitions where it’s how good you are on the night, not just how experienced you are. I think anything could happen on the night; you could hurt your hand in the first fight or hurt your hand in the first fight. It’s all about who boxes best and who stays out the way of shots.  That’s what it’s about really, I means its only over three rounds and some fighters are only good over three rounds so that suits them. I mean Matthew Hall and Bradley Pryce are more twelve round fighters so if you get a quick start over the three rounds then you’re in, aren’t you?

What was it like training with Michael Gomez and is it different now he’s retired?

Michael Gomez was a character. He was brilliant to train with; he brought something else to the gym. It was good to watch him sparring; I mean he was the hardest trainer in the gym.  He trained harder than anyone, I know he partied when he could but when he was in training he was so focused me and Jack (Arnfield) learned a lot from him.

What was it like living with Bobby Rimmer as a housemate and trainer?

That was another funny three years of my life. He was great he treated me like a son and sorted me out really good. I just moved to Manchester and I knew no one, I’d left my family. I lived with my mum and dad before I moved to Manchester, I met Bobby and he moved me into his house straight away. And he treated me like a son like I said, he couldn’t have treated me any better.

Have any other trainers ever approached you?

No I’d never leave Bobby unless something really dramatic happens. I’ll never leave Bobby because he’s done everything right, I’ve never lost a fight so I can’t moan at anything he’s done so i’d never look at leaving him.

Is there anything you’d like to add or say to your fans?