BoxRec

I like Oliver Harrison as a trainer hope he goes far as a promoter seems like a good show impressive KO from Jones Tucker is a very durable journeyman

Yeah it was a good one, fair play to Harrison it was top drawer.....nice to See Matko and Mick Jennings there as well.

Be good to see boxing on the rise again in North Wales

great to see that Oliver Harrison is putting on some decent shows, I like him as a trainer and hopefully his shows continue to be a big sucess.

Nice to see some Boxing in North Wales as well, although Deesside is quite a way off where I live in North Wales :(

Where do you live?

Captain Hook wrote:Yeah it was a good one, fair play to Harrison it was top drawer.....nice to See Matko and Mick Jennings there as well.

Be good to see boxing on the rise again in North Wales

nice 1 hook, neva seen ya there, some gud fights, i been sparing tom doran and he a good fighter also boxed aaron in the amateurs so wanted to show some support and justin's punch was brutal to james tucker he never could of carried on the ref made a good decision, he is a strong fighter and was a top show again.

Captain Hook wrote:Be good to see boxing on the rise again in North Wales

I don't know if one show makes it "on the rise". We get them every 5 or 10 years and then it all goes quiet again!

But hopefully there's more to work with now, with a handful of North Walians and lads from Chester. We haven't had more than one pro (if that) at a time in the region before.

What about Mike Allen? Maybe he can get some work again?

oliverfennell wrote:

Captain Hook wrote:Be good to see boxing on the rise again in North Wales

I don't know if one show makes it "on the rise". We get them every 5 or 10 years and then it all goes quiet again!

But hopefully there's more to work with now, with a handful of North Walians and lads from Chester. We haven't had more than one pro (if that) at a time in the region before.

What about Mike Allen? Maybe he can get some work again?

I said it would "be good to see it on the rise"...not that it was on the rise....

Thank you please...:)

Matko - Was sat few rows behind you mate but didn't get a chance to chat, will give you a shout soon for a catch-up.

oliverfennell wrote:
What about Mike Allen? Maybe he can get some work again?

Nah, he's done. He got mullered against a latvian called 'TURBA' a couple of years ago, and having spoken to craig winter who was training him at the time its evident that Mikes heart isnt in it, and also his defence and willingness to get hit (if you like) are both poor.

could never understand why Aaron and Justin left the North west to try their hands in stoek when they first turned pro. Aaron for one had a big following in the amateur ranks in North Wales, always thought it more likely he'd do well in Liverpool / Manc rather than Stoke - just that little bit too far isnt it.

EBF is taking off in North Wales, and a quite a few lads are fighting on that nowdays, okay, none of them would be title level pros, but they'd put bums on seats at pro shows, and more than hold their own to a certain level.

Then hopefully someone can put on some more proper pro shows and stop messing around with the EBF then.

I think the lack of a pro gym effects the state of affairs too.

True, but as you pointed out, it's not far to the North West. Train there, but on some shows in North Wales. There are plenty of venues and if the EBF attracts crowds, then it stands to reason legit pro boxibg would too, if not more so.

No, its not too far to the North West. But how many lads can afford to drive daily to liverpool / manchester, even chester to train in pro gyms, especially when having a full time job. Much easier to train in gyms like dragons den and fight EBF. Plus, when training in these gyms all the other lads are fighting on EBF shows then it becomes a culture within the gym. EBF held a show in Portmadoc (fornicating portmadoc) not so long back

Fair enough, but I just see the EBF as an extremely limited career path. OK, it pays the bills, but nothing more. Even the absolute biggest star in the federation (Mark Potter) is stuck fighting 4-rounders off-TV. I know he is medically prohibited by the BBBC, but anyone who's young, fully fit to box licensed, and who has genuine ambitions beyond a bit of beer money and (extremely) local bragging rights is going to hit the ceiling pretty quickly. Do legit pro outfits scout the unlicensed shows? Even if one of the EBF lads was made an offer, the BBBC slaps anyone involved in unlicensed boxing with a 12-month licensing ban.

So, while it is legal and relatively safe and by all accounts a fair night's entertainment for the punter, it is a very limited career path.

Aye, and the amateur stars will always go pro mate. Aaron Thomas (Senior Welsh ABA winner), Justin Jones (Multiple national titles from schoolboy upwards) & Tom Doran (multiple national titles from schoolboy upwards).

Who wants to sign an average joe fighter though, with maybe 6 or 7 amateur fights that wants to fight for money? This is where the EBF sweeps up.

In which case those three, plus the Chester lads, and one or two from the wider North West, could easily be bundled together for a few more shows in N. Wales.

What about Alan Jones from Aberystwyth (fought Scott Dann for the British MW title a few years ago)? Might he have any interest in fighting again?

Retired as far as im aware, beat Jim Rock didnt he... or did he lose? There was a documentry about him a couple of years ago, he did 90% of his training on his own (self-trained) in a barn on his farm! Only about 10% was done ina proper pro gym.

There are two identical twins form up the valley, Llanrwst and beyond way, who were multiple schoolboy ABA champions. One has turned to EBF, the other to cage fighting now. They could've been very very solid pro's with the right opportunity and guidance. Steve Schofield from Rhyl, Luke Bannister from Colwyn Bay, Dan Hogan form Llandudno, Lee Quinn from Colwyn bay can all, or could all, be decent enough pros, win more than lose. The pick of them will probably be 16year old Dan Hogan who currently trains with the Welsh under 18 squad and whos father runs Llandudno ABA. Lee Quinn is a waba champion. I think Schofield has gone to EBF, and Bannister works on the roads but still does a bit of Amateur stuff.

Martin knows more about the amateur scene than I do. Theres also a lad in prestatyn who looked the dogs baleros when he trained with us, he was something like 67-5 amateur record and had won a couple of national titles along the way. Forget his name though.

Wales wrote:Retired as far as im aware, beat Jim Rock didnt he... or did he lose?

Probably one or the other.

Cheers for all the info. Steve Schofield sounds familiar, the other names don't. Haven't lived in North Wales permanently since 2005, though. Hope business picks up around there. Still remember seeing posters up around Rhyl when the Feliciello brothers were fighting when I was a kid.

Ha ha, both

he beat him on pts then lost to him on pts.

THOMAS, DORAN AND JONES are fighting on a bill in Manchester this August, at a casino or dinner show I think, I'll keep you posted.

Thomas and Jones especially have no time to waste at their respecitve ages.

How old is Doran.


Your on my team in footy later hook, so dont be late!

turns out I was by 15 mins sorry mate :)

Doran is 21, Thomas is 29 I think, and Justin is 27/28 so yes the last two really need to get moving.....

makes me feel old you saying Azi is 29!!

He's booked a holiday with leighton to magaluff on July 15th, when in August are they due out?

Wales wrote:makes me feel old you saying Azi is 29!!

He's booked a holiday with leighton to magaluff on July 15th, when in August are they due out?

First week I think....

As a coincidence just been out in the sunshine with your dad having a catch up. He's booting it about in your motor :)

Think the three of them are fighting in Manc and then back to N Wales in autumn, probably along with Goodwin etc again.

Captain Hook wrote:
As a coincidence just been out in the sunshine with your dad having a catch up.

Pair of you are busy then...