Heavy Police officer set for first professional boxing fight

Neri · Post by **Neri** » 04 Sep 2007, 11:10

http://www.brightoncitizen.co.uk

POLICEMAN Howard Daley is more used to pounding the beat - but next month he makes his debut as a professional boxer.

The 31-year-old bobby will line up up on the same bill as Chorley's world welterweight champion Michael Jennnings - just 18 months after taking up the sport.

And the former Burnley doorman has set his sights on being a knockout success, targeting a shot at a British title within two years.

The 16-stone heavyweight, who is a part of the Operation Support Unit for the Eastern Division covering Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, will take on the experienced Dave Ingleby from Lancaster at The Guild Hall in Preston on Saturday, September 15.

But despite never having had an amateur fight - he only has seven "exhibition" bouts to his name - Daley is confident he can use his experience as a bouncer and a cop to win.

"I haven't fought at amateur level but I think my life experiences will work in my favour," said Daley, who worked on the door Sidewalk 53 in Burnley before joining the police force five years ago.

My job means I know how to handle myself under pressure and I am not nervous at all. In fact, I am pretty confident."

Daley, who is also a defensive tactics instructor for the police, only climbed in to the ring 18 months ago to help a friend prepare for his first professional fight.

But now he wants to make up for lost time.

"I don't want to hang around.

"I want to get this first fight out of the way and push on from there.I see my future fighting for Central Area titles and then on to British titles.

"I suppose I am quite old to have taken up the sport but heavyweights don't usually hit their prime until they are in their 30s.

"I know I don't have the experience of being in the ring but I have not been in any wars and I am coming in to the game as a fresh fighter."

Coach Alek Penarski believes Daley is the real deal.

"When I saw him for the first time I knew he was a natural," said Penarski, a former British Central Area light heavyweight champion. "He is a big, strong lad and his natural strength and fitness means he can do something in this division."

Daley is part of Team Penarski, which also includes Bolton heavyweight Scott Mitchell, the fighter who he was sparring with when he was first spotted.

"I was helping Scott prepare for a fight when Alek saw me and asked if I was interested in taking up boxing. It wasn't something I had ever thought of before but Alek saw something in me and persuaded me to give it a go."

Daley is now making up for lost time with a gruelling six-day-a-week training programme at Penarski's Horwich gym.

"I've never really been in to other sports but I have always spent a lot of time in the gym and working out," added Daley, who comes from Preston.

"I've set myself a target of two years to challenge for a British title and I'm happy to take on any of the big guys, whether its Matt Skelton, Danny Williams or Audley Harrison."

yiddo14 · Post by **yiddo14** » 04 Sep 2007, 11:32

Bet there are plenty of heavies out there that would love to hit a copper

josh fg · Post by **josh fg** » 04 Sep 2007, 11:36

Herbie Hide

m1kee50 · Post by **m1kee50** » 04 Sep 2007, 13:39

Met loads of coppers who love a row.... more than you would like to think

jonp · Post by **jonp** » 04 Sep 2007, 14:01

Hes not fighting Dave Ingleby.Hes fighting Zahir Kahut.

harrygreb · Post by **harrygreb** » 05 Sep 2007, 09:39

i'll have a pop at him

1southpaw · Post by **1southpaw** » 05 Sep 2007, 11:12

yiddo14 wrote:Bet there are plenty of heavies out there that would love to hit a copper

garry delaney

Tkokidround1 · Post by **Tkokidround1** » 05 Sep 2007, 12:22

i hope the pig gets knocked out in the 1st round lol

E · Post by E » 05 Sep 2007, 13:30

Wasn't Dermot Gascoigne, the heavyweight, a copper?

http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?hu ... &cat=boxer

josh fg · Post by **josh fg** » 05 Sep 2007, 20:00

hmmm copper and a bouncer he must be fun

yiddo14 · Post by **yiddo14** » 06 Sep 2007, 05:13

josh fg wrote:hmmm copper and a bouncer he must be fun

No need to worry.
He is entering the wrong game now

Won't be so easy not having the odds heavily stacked in your favour!!

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 06 Sep 2007, 09:46

Does he get to twist his opponents arm behind his back, cuff both his hands together, before doing his best mike tyson impression? I hope the police service are paying him overtime.

m1kee50 · Post by **m1kee50** » 06 Sep 2007, 10:21

yiddo14 wrote:
josh fg wrote:hmmm copper and a bouncer he must be fun

No need to worry.
He is entering the wrong game now

Won't be so easy not having the odds heavily stacked in your favour!!

Thats spot on -- they love a bit of action when they have all their mates wrapped round them.

daley · Post by **daley** » 14 Sep 2007, 15:40

Thanks for your kind words guys. My fight has been postponed until the 28th due to Jennings having a chest infection. Clearly I dont need all my mates stood behind me. There will only be me and the 6ft8 giant in there on the night. It will be like David and Goliath. I hope to fight every month so you will see lots of me.

Howard Daley

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 14 Sep 2007, 16:49

daley wrote:Thanks for your kind words guys. My fight has been postponed until the 28th due to Jennings having a chest infection. Clearly I dont need all my mates stood behind me. There will only be me and the 6ft8 giant in there on the night. It will be like David and Goliath. I hope to fight every month so you will see lots of me.

Howard Daley

You havent heard my kind words yet mate - How about seeing how things go before calling out the likes of Matt and Danny - The other one you mentioned, Harrison had a target but Sprott finished that dream and now the man is seen as a fool because of all his claims - I wish you well but dont talk the big names yet, big men fall heavy, as Harrison did a few months ago.

SticknMove · Post by **SticknMove** » 14 Sep 2007, 17:59

daley wrote:Thanks for your kind words guys. My fight has been postponed until the 28th due to Jennings having a chest infection. Clearly I dont need all my mates stood behind me. There will only be me and the 6ft8 giant in there on the night. It will be like David and Goliath. I hope to fight every month so you will see lots of me.

Howard Daley

Just a quick tip, don't use the police siren as a ring entrance. It might lead to a stampede of the audience trying to escape via the fire exits.

m1kee50 · Post by **m1kee50** » 14 Sep 2007, 18:18

daley wrote:Thanks for your kind words guys. My fight has been postponed until the 28th due to Jennings having a chest infection. Clearly I dont need all my mates stood behind me. There will only be me and the 6ft8 giant in there on the night. It will be like David and Goliath. I hope to fight every month so you will see lots of me.

Howard Daley

Fair play to you mate. Best of luck. Punches above the belt, and forget the CS spray.... AND NO ARMLOCKS, THIS AINT THE UFC!

yiddo14 · Post by **yiddo14** » 15 Sep 2007, 03:20

daley wrote:Thanks for your kind words guys. My fight has been postponed until the 28th due to Jennings having a chest infection. Clearly I dont need all my mates stood behind me. There will only be me and the 6ft8 giant in there on the night. It will be like David and Goliath. I hope to fight every month so you will see lots of me.

Howard Daley

Only a bit of banter fella.

Fair play for posting, and good luck with the ring career.

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 15 Sep 2007, 14:06

Good Luck Howard, I bet there won't be much trouble at ringside

m1kee50 · Post by **m1kee50** » 15 Sep 2007, 14:30

Chambers2 wrote:Good Luck Howard, I bet there won't be much trouble at ringside

no, all the trouble makers will be cheering the debutant lol

el_grande_mauro_mina · Post by **el_grande_mauro_mina** » 15 Sep 2007, 18:22

no, all the trouble makers will be cheering the debutant lol

banjaxd · Post by **banjaxd** » 15 Sep 2007, 21:01

hey carlos hows tricks ?