boxing can be a bit of a joke

[johnnygreaves]

I've just been told that my fight with aba lightwelter champion is not happening now on the 5th in brentwood as malony wants his new lad to look good & get a stoppage. Had another turn me down on a show in Newport along with my training partner , my brother franks lad costas osben as we were to good for the opponents. That's costas with a win & a draw in two. & Mr who's won thrice in 64. Do these boys want opponentswith one bloody arm just so they look good and guarantee they get a win. It seems even being a good journeyman is stopping me getting work now.

[Scottrf]

Crazy Johnny. I used to think that you learnt boxing by challenging yourself and beating decent opponents and a wide variety of styles. Shows what I know.

To me you can never look good against someone brought in to make you look good. It's glaringly obvious to anyone that it's to do with quality of opposition.

Price admitted that he's learning more in sparring than his fights, these fights are completely pointless and boxing fans know it. Noones impressed with a first round KO of a tomato can.

[jonp]

Johnny our lad Andy patterson limited skill wise game as they come regular work for his 13 or 14 fights then he had the cheek to win two on the trot and gett a draw we had 3 opponents pull out one of whom had a 11.3 record?
Its almost like organised bullying sometimes iv even had patt refused by a promoter saying hes too game.

[johnnygreaves]

If I get stopped, I'll lose my licence. If I don't get stopped you don't get work coz they won't look good against you. Christ when I've won I ain't got fights for a few months after unless the boys either a past world champ or the next big thing. You have to laugh .

[Scottrf]

Noone ever said being a journeyman was an easy gig

People roll into title fights now with 20 fights in which they haven't been tested once, meet a style they haven't seen before or get punched back and they just don't know what to do. But then as long as boxing fans are fixated on losses (see Haye-Thompson or Khan-Prescott), then promoters are going to make sure their boys don't have a chance of losing or looking bad.

Boxing fans say they don't care about a 0 and they look at opposition, but how many rank Ward and Bute above Froch. Froch at #4 SMW in BM, sort it out Glyn.

[LeedsLad]

Surely a promoter would rather find out which ones can fight and which ones can't?

Throwing a lad in with some Latvian that wouldn't survive four rounds with a rugby player does nobody any favours, and only makes people think the promoter is a robbing twat.... next time they'll go to the football instead.

The board really need to do something about these imports that can't box for toffee. In the UK we've got loads of journeymen of varying abilities - some are spoilers and get through 4x3's, others can take a couple of rounds off a young lad over six, and the remainder are the sort that promoters ought to love - the acid tests.

David Price's opponents have been a disgrace, Tony Booth would be 8-0 against that lot. He needs new management without delay. Fury has been pro a similar length of time and is ridiculed..... despite having two wins over McDermott and beating several goodish journeymen.

Look at DeGale, 9 fights - British champ and has a stoppage over Paul Smith. Not bad going. Groves - 12/13 fights ,Commonwealth champ, wins over Anderson and Adamu plus a couple of goodish journeymen.

That's how you match people, we don't want lads getting to 20-0 before facing their first opponent with arms. Didn't do Kevin Mitchell many favours, did it?

[johnnygreaves]

Look , the boy,s a aba champ. Realistically I ain't gonna turn him over. All I'm saying is I would give him rounds & a few things to think about. I don't do knocked out, I don't get the nod at all but Jesus. I'm no mug. Nobodys push over. Just what a up and comer needs. He won't knock out a journeyman, & any winning fighter won't fight for little money & no title. The winning boys won't take risks against each other. Good luck finding an opponent with a week to go!

[DavidPayne]

I'd be interested to see those with a vested interest in new prospects offer some input on this.

[palooka]

Johnny, can you imagine being pulled from bouts could be because of your enthusiasm for the Journeyman Prizefighter?

[Glyn Leach]

Johnny, can you imagine being pulled from bouts could be because of your enthusiasm for the Journeyman Prizefighter?

Exactly where my mind was wandering Simon. Plus, could winning PF The Journeymen actually damage a fighter's future earnings potential? Might promoters get a bit scared, might they think 'oh, he'll want more money now he's king of the journeymen'?

Dunno, an interesting angle on it all though.

[ppb]

I still want you for my show on the 25th Feb in Wishaw mate.

But you need to wear 18oz gloves ha ha.

Only kidding Johhny, looking forward to seeing you then.

PG

[palooka]

I come across a few business people day to day and it is not always about the money with them. Some of them are spiteful sods who'd sooner do you down than help you out, even if it doesn't cost them anything. (Of course I'm not implying boxing could be anything like that though) :)

[Newport Daz]

I've just been told that my fight with aba lightwelter champion is not happening now on the 5th in brentwood as malony wants his new lad to look good & get a stoppage. Had another turn me down on a show in Newport along with my training partner , my brother franks lad costas osben as we were to good for the opponents. That's costas with a win & a draw in two. & Mr who's won thrice in 64. Do these boys want opponentswith one bloody arm just so they look good and guarantee they get a win. It seems even being a good journeyman is stopping me getting work now.

Sorry to hear about that mate. As a punter I had no idea of what sort of stuff goes on behind the scenes. What I can tell you from someone who does buy tickets on a regular basis is that we fans get fed up with easy knock over wins.It becomes really frustrating to watch. When I go to a show I want to see a FIGHT. I don't want "the opponent" to fall like a sack of spuds in a glorified sparring session just so the "home" fighter looks good. When will promoters learn that if they want to put bums on seats, the only way of doing it is putting on decent, competitive fights?

Anyway, good luck on getting your next job

[Chambers2]

I've just been told that my fight with aba lightwelter champion is not happening now on the 5th in brentwood as malony wants his new lad to look good & get a stoppage. Had another turn me down on a show in Newport along with my training partner , my brother franks lad costas osben as we were to good for the opponents. That's costas with a win & a draw in two. & Mr who's won thrice in 64. Do these boys want opponentswith one bloody arm just so they look good and guarantee they get a win. It seems even being a good journeyman is stopping me getting work now.

It must be infuriating Johnny. As Jon P said it's organised bullying.



Looks like some promoters are still using Warrens late 1990's early 2000's career building plan

[johnnygreaves]

To be fair to frank w. He always gives me work and always pays good money. Ha , the only prob is that franks fighters are mostly shit hot. I don't think the prizefighter thing is costing me work tbh . Just some boxers don't want to even have a good workout , & want tomato cans all thru their career. Now I'm no Ricky hatton but rarely give boys a trouble free time. There's a lot of pro fighters that don't actually want too fight . Just gets a little disheartening

[saturday_kid]

Its this sort of politics in boxing that leaves a bit of a sour taste in the mouth.

A lot of the times promoters are catering for the casual fan/friends of the boxer who probably happens to sell shed loads of tickets who do want to see a KO rather than the real fans who want to see good fights.

Just on a sidenote Johnny as a boxing fan who gets to quite a few local shows (not as many lately) I have always enjoyed watching you fight and have seen you give some of our local prospects real good tests and given them lots of trouble sometimes, dont think your work doesn't get appreciated fella, keep it up

[palooka]

To be fair to frank w. He always gives me work and always pays good money. Ha , the only prob is that franks fighters are mostly shit hot. I don't think the prizefighter thing is costing me work tbh . Just some boxers don't want to even have a good workout , & want tomato cans all thru their career. Now I'm no Ricky hatton but rarely give boys a trouble free time. There's a lot of pro fighters that don't actually want too fight . Just gets a little disheartening

That is mad Johnny; most of the lads I know who boxed would fight at the drop of an hat (in their youth) and a couple are still right game old codgers. If they don't like a fight they shouldn't box.

[johnnygreaves]

Your probably right Simon. It's the guys handling their affairs. I had the complete arse with the whole thing earlier & posted with the hump.

[fightfaninfrance]

Note to promoters:

I'm a fight fan whose only really got heavily into boxing in last 2 years since getting disinterested in the sham that is modern day football.

I love seeing how a prospect deals with one of the 'top' journeymen. I went to a couple of shows last year and saw prospects get a stoppage in first 2 rounds against fellas I could have given a go. If that's the undercard for 30 quid I'll save my cash for watching prima donnas playin footie.

Keep up the good work jonny!

[LeedsLad]

Note to promoters:

I'm a fight fan whose only really got heavily into boxing in last 2 years since getting disinterested in the sham that is modern day football.

I love seeing how a prospect deals with one of the 'top' journeymen. I went to a couple of shows last year and saw prospects get a stoppage in first 2 rounds against fellas I could have given a go. If that's the undercard for 30 quid I'll save my cash for watching prima donnas playin footie.

Keep up the good work jonny!

This is the problem.

You'll see a bad journeyman get banged up by some average prospect, when really he shouldn't be boxing at all..... then a good journeyman will be put in with a good prospect, who really ought to have moved on from those sorts of fights.

A good journeyman is probably 50-50 with an average prospect, we just need refs that can put 10's and 9's in the right boxes!!

[johnnygreaves]

Top post Leedslad! The prob is , the only jobs you get against average boy are on small hall turnouts where they've sold loads of tickets . On them ones your two rounds down before the first bell. Me & loads of observers had me winning a hell of a lot more than my 3 to date. A

[lefty]

Top post Leedslad! The prob is , the only jobs you get against average boy are on small hall turnouts where they've sold loads of tickets . On them ones your two rounds down before the first bell. Me & loads of observers had me winning a hell of a lot more than my 3 to date. A

im curious mate,who would you say is the most talented guy you've ever boxed?I mean from the experience of actually having been in the ring with em.

[johnnygreaves]

Most talented? Very tough question , there's been a few to be honest. John Watson , v good. Carl place, Jamie cox, boy he can hit. That's not too say there the best. Talented , very . But then I boxed people at different stages in my career. Some I would have handled easier as I became more experienced. Very hard question my friend. There's a few I've missed too