Gallagher: I want to compete with Calzaghe and Roach
07.10.09
Part 2 of the exclusive interview with Joe Gallagher, courtesy of Lee Collier
http://www.livefight.com/news.php
ABA champion Anthony Crolla had a setback in May 2009 when he lost a British title eliminator too Gary Sykes. Crolla then left allegedly and trainer Anthony Farnell to team up with Hatton Promotions and he also switched to Gallagher’s gym in Denton.
“Crolla came here after the Sykes defeat and people thought that was his limits and he had reached his potential. He beat Jon Baguley on his comeback and showed some good signs in that fight.
“We had a proper camp for Brodie even though it was hard as we were fighting one of our hero’s. Anthony has been labelled a non-puncher, and I believe he was picked to fight Brodie as he is a non-puncher, so for Crolla to feature on Sky’s knockouts of the Year for the Brodie knockout is quite sublime,” beamed Gallagher.
“I think Crolla win is well up there, even though there were no titles on the line. I know what Freddie Roach means when he says tactics come off and I think Crolla fought a punch perfect tactically good fight and we predicted he would win inside three rounds and he did. You saw on the inside interviews that Crolla was so happy and I just hope the win will give Anthony the confidence that he can punch and deliver the goods. He is a good all round fighter and whether he fights at super-featherweight or featherweight, Anthony Crolla will fight for a title and he has the ability to win too.”
Another new fighter to Gallagher’s stable was Bradford’s Femi Fehintola. Back in 2008 the Bradford fighter was stopped heavily by Ryan Barrett. Twelve months away from the ring and a new trainer have seen Fehintola re-emerge on the scene with a smile on his face.
“Femi Fehintola came back from a shocking car crash of a defeat to Ryan Barrett, a knock out defeat. He came back and beat Sid Razak and put Sid down in the fourth and not many do that and then last week he had a good shutout win.”
Gallagher then explained the route back for Fehintola, “With Femi it’s still a career building progress and I’ll look for another one or two fights before looking at an English or British title. We need to take it slowly what we don’t want to do is hit the wall too soon. Femi is learning all the time in sparring with Crolla and Joe Murray. They have good in-house sparring between the three of them.”
Gallagher then discussed the rest of the year including debutant Danny Randall, the returning Mike Holden and the loss of Tony Jeffries from his stable.
“Danny Randall had a fantastic pro debut. It was one of the best debuts I have seen in a long time on the Murray/Thaxton undercard. He has great promise and is ready to build this year alongside Liam Cullen who will make his debut in 2010.
“We had Mike Holden come back and he was criticised in his draw. Then the kid who he drew with took Tyson Fury the distance and only lost by a couple of points. Mike Holden is back now and is ready to give it a go in 2010.”
Gallagher then discussed the loss of Tony Jeffries from his stable. “It was disappointing to see Tony Jeffries leave this year, he had one fight and boxed well on his professional debut using a good hook. I wish him all the best and hope he has a good 2010.
“It was a shame that Jeffries couldn’t stay,” said a puzzled Gallagher. “It showed his reasons for leaving weren’t so because I have recruited five fighters since and on the amateur side I had Hosea Burton winning the ABA middleweight title beating the number one Karl Kirkham on the way. So we had five title fights and five title wins this year alongside an ABA title, an Olympian who is 5-0 and it’s been a good year and you would be pushed to find other camps that have done that.”
The next twelve months could see Gallagher finally come face to face against some of his fellow boxing trainers that he rates as the best in the business.
“What I want to achieve as a trainer is to pit my wits against the very best trainers in boxing which is the reason I decided to train professionals,” explained Gallagher. “People are mentioning possible fights such as John Murray versus Gavin Rees, Kevin Mitchell or Amir Khan. When they do I think of Jimmy Tibbs, Enzo Calzaghe and Freddie Roach and the chance of pitting myself against them.
“I would have to raise my game as I would be up against Enzo Calzaghe and what a great trainer he is. Jimmy Tibbs and Freddie are the same too and I need to raise my game for these fights.
Whilst Gallagher had a very successful year, the man himself still feels he has a way to go before he can consider himself one of the best.
“As a trainer I am still learning,” stated Gallagher. “I feel I have just finished college and am off to university, I am going into the Harvard of the boxing world. It’s not only where it makes or breaks the fighters but it’s also where it makes or breaks me.
“I want to prove that I’m not just a British or European level trainer, I want to prove it on the world stage and pit my wits against the best. I did it this year when I went up against Rob McCracken and the Ingles. My dream would be to look across the ring and be up against the likes of Freddie Roach, when that happens you know you have reached the top,” enthused Gallagher.
The trainer who took over Billy Graham’s old gym realises that his fighters are close to making it to the top and feels with the passing and retirement of some great British trainers that trainers like himself amongst others can thrust themselves to the limelight.
“It’s like all my fighters are one fight away from the World cup final and I’m one fight away from pitting my wits against the very best,” beamed Gallagher. “God bless Terry Lawless who recently passed away, Billy Graham has moved on, Brian Hughes and Brendon Ingle are getting on and young blood is coming through and the only way we will get the experience is by getting these opportunities.
An emotional Gallagher finished off by saying, ““I have a great team around me and am quietly confident that we can conquer the world, I am shaking thinking of the prospect of pitting my wits on the world stage but feel I am ready for Harvard and the university of boxing trainers.”
Whilst Gallagher and his fighters do the hard graft in putting in the hours in the gym, all the help he receives from support staff is not lost on Gallagher.
“I really appreciate all the work and support of everyone at Bettabodies gym, Kerry and the girls in Jan and Joy who have done the brews and made the shakes for the boys. I would also like to thank CNP who support and sponsor the gym and without them none of it would be possible.
“I would also like thank Kerry Kayes for the nutrition work and advice and all the weight training he does with the fighters to make them even stronger and more physically prepared for the fights.
“I would also like to thank everyone who has supported me during my amateur days as a trainer, I will never forget the people who have supported me and given me publicity. They know who they are and they will always be around to make sure I keep my feet on the ground. I just want my fighters to get the recognition they deserve.”
Gallagher finished off by stating what he expected from 2010.
“Hopefully 2010 will be the year I can bring a World title to the gym. I don’t want to be greedy but if we’re sitting here next year discussing the year and I don’t have a World title, a European Title and a British title it will have been a disappointing 2010 for me.”