Rendall Munroe interview: talks Terrazas, Dunne & Poonsawat
Posted: 14 Apr 2010, 17:07
Spoke to him this afternoon, should be a cracking night at the Skydome with Mutley vs Fewkes, Jaffa and Ovil Mckenzie vs Tony Salam etc. A cracking bill.
Hi Rendall, thanks for speaking to us today. How is training going for the 23rd April?
“Yes training has gone very well thanks. Jay has put the plans together to win the fight which we’ve worked hard on. So now it’s simply a case of ticking over now and resting so I don’t get flat. I’ve only got 2 pound left to take off. When I’m not in camp i usually weigh about 9 stone 10lb so i’m big for my weight class but making weight has never been difficult for me because I love to train.”
Who have you been sparring and did it go well?
“Sparring has gone really well and i’m very pleased with how it went. We had some really good guys down like the Olympian Joe Murray and Carl Johannson and also a tidy Russian guy. Then in the last week i’ve been doing some sharp rounds with Ashely Sexton.”
Ashely Sexton knocked out your stable mate Usman Ahmed recently, was he watching the sparring?
“Yes that’s right, but they’re cool. Yeah he watched us doing a few rounds. He wanted to spar Ashley but his trainer said no, he’s sparring Rendall today i’m afraid !”
So what do you make of Victor Terrazas? Do you see anything to be wary of ?
“I always leave the preparation from my training camp down to Jay Shinfield. He watches my opponent and devises the right approach to get the win. Jay is very good at picking out what they do and what I need to do. But being honest, my main focus is purely on myself. I think about how i’m training rather than how they (the opponent) are training. I’ll be in great shape and confident me and my team will get the win and onwards to the next level.”
Let’s say you get the win and look for the next big challenge, does the new WBA champion Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym appeal to you in the future ?
“Yeah Poonsawat is a fight i’d definitely be up for. If Frank Maloney say’s ‘Rendall your fighting this guy next’ then it’s all good. The main thing for me is that i’m enjoying it, It’s not like i’m hungry for money – I’m just enjoying the ride and doing my best. It’s a dream to become world champion. The team i’ve got behind me are great, my trainers, my promoter. I’m just enjoying each day as it comes and whoever they put in front of me I will go out and there and aim to win. “
Does he regret that a fight with Bernard Dunne never happened for whatever reason?
“I respect Bernard Dunne and if he felt that he couldn’t continue then that’s how it goes. I know there was a bit of hype surrounding the fight and it’s one I’d have been up for. But there’s no bad blood between me and any fighter out there. “ said Rendall.
“I don’t disrespect nobody out there in the boxing game. We’re out there trying to do the same thing and it’s a tough sport. There are people out there who go around saying bad things about people, but I’m not on that level as I’m just a happy guy doing what I love. I’m just enjoying myself and whatever anybody else does it’s up to them really. It would have been a nice fight definitely but I wish Bernard all the best. “
So if you win the WBC eliminator would a trip to Japan bother you to fight the WBC champion Toshiaki Nishioka ?
“Not at all. I’ll fight anybody who Frank Maloney put’s in front of me. The world title is the dream and I’m prepared to fight anyone out there to realise that dream. I’ve got full confidence in my team and they have confidence in me. When that opportunity comes knocking I’ll be fully prepared for it and give it my absolute best to give Leicester and the Midlands another world champion. “ said Rendall confidently.
“Whatever happens, when people look at me and acknowledge that I did the hard way. I took fights where perhaps many others wouldn’t have done.”
It showed big balls to step right in there and fight the unbeaten Kiko Martinez, straight after his famous one round destruction of Dunne – would you say that was your big opportunity that night ?
“Kiko was coming into that fight as you say, unbeaten with a big punch on him. He’d just trounced Dunne in a round – and Bernard was unbeaten too. So yes it was a nice win for me but I was confident that I was tough enough to withstand his power. He could whack alright, but after the second or third round he’d hit me with some of his biggest shots and I just laughed at him. Then after that he struggled to find a plan B and the fight was won.”
Simone Maludrottu was a good win too. What did you learn from beating an experienced fighter like the Italian ?
“He could punch he could move, he was a very good fighter. It goes to show that if you’ve got the heart you can stick with it and get the win. Before the fight Jay (Shinfield) said to me ‘Look Rendall, this could be one of them fights were you’ve got to dig that hole and keep digging’ and after the 3rd round Jay said to me ’This is it mate, this the time to start digging the hole!’ “ laughed Rendall.
“At at the end it was a big hole that we’d dug and we stuck with it and pulled out the win against a very experienced operator. It was a great win for me and the team.”
You’ve had a great journey so far and it’s all starting to come to fruition - and you are still in your 20’s. Do you have a plan for life after boxing ?
“When the day comes when I turn it in, I want people to look up to me and say ‘you know, this guy is alright’ that I did it the hard way, without the need for trash talking my opponents. I want the youth of today to look at me and say ‘If you dedicate yourself and you want it, you can get it’.
“All fighter’s reach the end of their path in life and when my times done Jay will say to me ‘look Rendall your times done’ and when that day comes I can look back with pride and reflect on coming from being ranked 437 in the ratings, right up to challenging for the top honours. Each day is a dream for me and I grab it with both hands. I will keep doing my very best and if I can get that belt in my cabinet, it would make me and the family extremely proud.”
Do you ever see the day when you will call time on the day job and only box ?
“I’ve made it to where I am in the sport whilst always being at work, so if it ain’t broke why fix it? I love my job and the people I work with. There won’t be a day were I’ve got to fight on beyond my prime simply because I need money in the house. Work are flexible with me to go for my dreams and like my dad always tells me, you only get one shot at life son - and you should always go for it. “ said Rendall.
“If it was a desk job you could ask the question, but the fact is the hours keep me disciplined and I’m running around all day getting great exercise so if anything it compliments what I do in the ring.People out there are seeing me pulling smelly bins and really I don’t need to be there, but it shows that I want to be there. It’s a community thing and I love the graft. It keeps me in great shape”
On the sweets and doughnuts he’s often swamped with by well wishers on his bin round:-
“Sometimes if we have a new driver, he’ll say ‘wow I can’t believe how much stuff you get from well wishers on your round!’ – honestly we get homemade cakes, bags of doughnuts and the lorry looks like a sweet factory” laughed Rendall.
So has the gold tooth replaced one that rotted from all the cakes ?
“(laughs) that’s it ! we get spoiled, but we work very hard and I love the banter and the people on our round look out for us. My weight is always spot on with all the work in the gym, the day job and to be honest the lads eat most of them, but I have the odd nibble if it looks good.”
Is there anything you’d like to say in closing?
“I just want to thank all my 2-Tone fans so far for supporting me and I hope as many of you can cheer me on at the Sky Dome in Covnetry on the 23rd. There’s my fight and some really good undercard fights. It’s going to be a really good night of boxing and if you can make it, you’ll have a great time.”
Thanks Rendall and good luck for the 23rd.
“My pleasure as always.”
Hi Rendall, thanks for speaking to us today. How is training going for the 23rd April?
“Yes training has gone very well thanks. Jay has put the plans together to win the fight which we’ve worked hard on. So now it’s simply a case of ticking over now and resting so I don’t get flat. I’ve only got 2 pound left to take off. When I’m not in camp i usually weigh about 9 stone 10lb so i’m big for my weight class but making weight has never been difficult for me because I love to train.”
Who have you been sparring and did it go well?
“Sparring has gone really well and i’m very pleased with how it went. We had some really good guys down like the Olympian Joe Murray and Carl Johannson and also a tidy Russian guy. Then in the last week i’ve been doing some sharp rounds with Ashely Sexton.”
Ashely Sexton knocked out your stable mate Usman Ahmed recently, was he watching the sparring?
“Yes that’s right, but they’re cool. Yeah he watched us doing a few rounds. He wanted to spar Ashley but his trainer said no, he’s sparring Rendall today i’m afraid !”
So what do you make of Victor Terrazas? Do you see anything to be wary of ?
“I always leave the preparation from my training camp down to Jay Shinfield. He watches my opponent and devises the right approach to get the win. Jay is very good at picking out what they do and what I need to do. But being honest, my main focus is purely on myself. I think about how i’m training rather than how they (the opponent) are training. I’ll be in great shape and confident me and my team will get the win and onwards to the next level.”
Let’s say you get the win and look for the next big challenge, does the new WBA champion Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym appeal to you in the future ?
“Yeah Poonsawat is a fight i’d definitely be up for. If Frank Maloney say’s ‘Rendall your fighting this guy next’ then it’s all good. The main thing for me is that i’m enjoying it, It’s not like i’m hungry for money – I’m just enjoying the ride and doing my best. It’s a dream to become world champion. The team i’ve got behind me are great, my trainers, my promoter. I’m just enjoying each day as it comes and whoever they put in front of me I will go out and there and aim to win. “
Does he regret that a fight with Bernard Dunne never happened for whatever reason?
“I respect Bernard Dunne and if he felt that he couldn’t continue then that’s how it goes. I know there was a bit of hype surrounding the fight and it’s one I’d have been up for. But there’s no bad blood between me and any fighter out there. “ said Rendall.
“I don’t disrespect nobody out there in the boxing game. We’re out there trying to do the same thing and it’s a tough sport. There are people out there who go around saying bad things about people, but I’m not on that level as I’m just a happy guy doing what I love. I’m just enjoying myself and whatever anybody else does it’s up to them really. It would have been a nice fight definitely but I wish Bernard all the best. “
So if you win the WBC eliminator would a trip to Japan bother you to fight the WBC champion Toshiaki Nishioka ?
“Not at all. I’ll fight anybody who Frank Maloney put’s in front of me. The world title is the dream and I’m prepared to fight anyone out there to realise that dream. I’ve got full confidence in my team and they have confidence in me. When that opportunity comes knocking I’ll be fully prepared for it and give it my absolute best to give Leicester and the Midlands another world champion. “ said Rendall confidently.
“Whatever happens, when people look at me and acknowledge that I did the hard way. I took fights where perhaps many others wouldn’t have done.”
It showed big balls to step right in there and fight the unbeaten Kiko Martinez, straight after his famous one round destruction of Dunne – would you say that was your big opportunity that night ?
“Kiko was coming into that fight as you say, unbeaten with a big punch on him. He’d just trounced Dunne in a round – and Bernard was unbeaten too. So yes it was a nice win for me but I was confident that I was tough enough to withstand his power. He could whack alright, but after the second or third round he’d hit me with some of his biggest shots and I just laughed at him. Then after that he struggled to find a plan B and the fight was won.”
Simone Maludrottu was a good win too. What did you learn from beating an experienced fighter like the Italian ?
“He could punch he could move, he was a very good fighter. It goes to show that if you’ve got the heart you can stick with it and get the win. Before the fight Jay (Shinfield) said to me ‘Look Rendall, this could be one of them fights were you’ve got to dig that hole and keep digging’ and after the 3rd round Jay said to me ’This is it mate, this the time to start digging the hole!’ “ laughed Rendall.
“At at the end it was a big hole that we’d dug and we stuck with it and pulled out the win against a very experienced operator. It was a great win for me and the team.”
You’ve had a great journey so far and it’s all starting to come to fruition - and you are still in your 20’s. Do you have a plan for life after boxing ?
“When the day comes when I turn it in, I want people to look up to me and say ‘you know, this guy is alright’ that I did it the hard way, without the need for trash talking my opponents. I want the youth of today to look at me and say ‘If you dedicate yourself and you want it, you can get it’.
“All fighter’s reach the end of their path in life and when my times done Jay will say to me ‘look Rendall your times done’ and when that day comes I can look back with pride and reflect on coming from being ranked 437 in the ratings, right up to challenging for the top honours. Each day is a dream for me and I grab it with both hands. I will keep doing my very best and if I can get that belt in my cabinet, it would make me and the family extremely proud.”
Do you ever see the day when you will call time on the day job and only box ?
“I’ve made it to where I am in the sport whilst always being at work, so if it ain’t broke why fix it? I love my job and the people I work with. There won’t be a day were I’ve got to fight on beyond my prime simply because I need money in the house. Work are flexible with me to go for my dreams and like my dad always tells me, you only get one shot at life son - and you should always go for it. “ said Rendall.
“If it was a desk job you could ask the question, but the fact is the hours keep me disciplined and I’m running around all day getting great exercise so if anything it compliments what I do in the ring.People out there are seeing me pulling smelly bins and really I don’t need to be there, but it shows that I want to be there. It’s a community thing and I love the graft. It keeps me in great shape”
On the sweets and doughnuts he’s often swamped with by well wishers on his bin round:-
“Sometimes if we have a new driver, he’ll say ‘wow I can’t believe how much stuff you get from well wishers on your round!’ – honestly we get homemade cakes, bags of doughnuts and the lorry looks like a sweet factory” laughed Rendall.
So has the gold tooth replaced one that rotted from all the cakes ?
“(laughs) that’s it ! we get spoiled, but we work very hard and I love the banter and the people on our round look out for us. My weight is always spot on with all the work in the gym, the day job and to be honest the lads eat most of them, but I have the odd nibble if it looks good.”
Is there anything you’d like to say in closing?
“I just want to thank all my 2-Tone fans so far for supporting me and I hope as many of you can cheer me on at the Sky Dome in Covnetry on the 23rd. There’s my fight and some really good undercard fights. It’s going to be a really good night of boxing and if you can make it, you’ll have a great time.”
Thanks Rendall and good luck for the 23rd.
“My pleasure as always.”
