Natural Born Fighter

Professional Light-Welterweight boxer Rocking Robin Deakin opens his heart to; it is a remarkable, unbelievable, but true insight into a man who holds back no punches about his life and career.

 Robin was born 3 to 4 months premature, he died when he was a baby and had to be brought back to life. He didn’t even start to begin to walk until he was 6 years old and even then he had to use crutches taking baby steps; he was in a wheelchair with his leg in plaster due to numerous operations because he was born with a medical condition called Talipes, in layman’s terms, a clubfoot, he was born with his left foot twisted and pointing backwards, most people would crumble at the very thought but this was just the start of the fight for Robin Deakin.

Robin’s leg was constantly in plaster and the plaster cast that had to stay in place for a certain amount of months at a time  according to the doctors, however, on one occasion his leg went gangrene, he was crying his eyes out with the pain and there was a funny smell coming from the cast, his dad took him to the doctors and demanded they take the cast off but the doctors refused on the grounds it had not been on long enough, so, his dad decided to cut the plaster cast off himself. As his dad cut the plaster away part of his leg came away, the Achilles tendon on the back of his leg was being eaten away by maggots, Robin said, “I have no calf muscle on the back of my left leg, it was the doctors fault, I was young and just had to get on with it”. Robin’s dad took him along to a boxing club to help strengthen his legs and says, “My dad was never a boxer but he learned through taking me, he trained me and I really did enjoy it. Boxing was a lifesaver, if it had not been for boxing I would never have been able to walk; I carried on boxing even though I was actually classed as disabled”. I had a very close family until I was 15 years old, my mum never supported me in any way regarding boxing and from that age my dad just left me to get on with it. When he left me I had no one to look up to, I really looked up to my dad although he had been in and out of prison, not only did he get me into boxing, he got me the respect that I needed”.

Robin’s condition does not really affect him these days although the cold weather can leave his joints a bit tender but he can still walk, he says, “I have to warm up when I’m getting out of bed, stretch the legs to warm the body, I get cramp at night but I deal with it”. 

Attending school was the hardest for Robin, he got called names like, cripple, spastic, go away flipper and go away clubfoot, he got called lots of names but when he started making a name for himself in boxing it all stopped, Robin continues to say “I hardly went to school, it pissed me off really, I got kicked out at 14 years old. I was always getting into trouble and getting called all the names under the sun, it ruined my childhood”.

Robin had a successful amateur career winning 40 out of his 75 bouts. He made it to the semi-finals of the British Youth Championships and semi-final of the senior British ABA’s.

I asked Robin how it came about him turning professional, he recalls with great fondness, “I was scouted by former World Champion Steve Collins, he took my number and we kept in touch. Steve touted me, he said I was a quality fighter, the showman, and that boxing needs fighters like me, Steve said, “I will get you a deal with Frank Warren”, I thought he was talking shit, he told me Frank Warren would snap me up, so, 3 months down the line I met up with Steve Collins and Frank Warren at St Albans and signed the deal, I was buzzing, on top of the world. I had just signed a 3 year deal with Frank Warren”.

Due to a few bad decisions Robin phoned Dean Powell to get his contract back from Warren, he then signed with a good friend of his Graeme Errol because he wanted to try and progress with his career but after 12 fights he said “it just felt like he was doing it for the money “he left Graeme on good terms and he remains friends with him to this day.

Robin went to America and was going to sign with legendary manager Lou Duva, and be trained by Gus Curran but didn’t sign because he fell in love with a girl but the love affair didn’t last. 

 He went on to sign with boxing manager Michael Helliet, Robin says this turned out to be the worst move he ever made in boxing. During Robin’s time spent with his last manager he fought 19 times in 24 weeks, Robin says, “10% going to the trainer and 25% going to Helliet that equals a lot of money going to a man who cannot even drive and has to be picked up and driven to fights by his fighters”. Robin said “I asked Mickey Helliet for my contract back, Helliet said I would have to pay him £2.5k”. Robin says in a recent interview with Boxing News, Helliet’s aim was to manage 100 boxers all across Europe, where is his duty of care?  This man promised me wins but didn’t get me nothing. 

 On the subject of manager’s Robin goes on to say, “If I had signed with Steve Goodwin or Carl Greaves, I would have went on to become English Champion at least, they are the nicest people in boxing, they really look after their boxers”. Robin says his ideal trainer would be Enzo Calzaghe as he really looks up to him.

Robin Deakin is 26 years old; he made his debut on the 28th of October 2006, at London’s world famous York hall, Bethnal green, outpointing Shaun Walton in 4 rounds, he has had 50 professional fights but his boxing record on paper does not paint a true reflection of the boxer he is. He has shared the ring with lots of cracking fighters such as Anthony Crolla, Stephen Smith, Patrick Hyland, Scotland’s Jason Hastie and Jon Slowey, the list goes on and on. Robin says 39 of his opponents have gone on to become champions at all levels. 

I asked him about a few of the boxers he’s fought. Anthony Crolla is a boxer who has his eyes on the prize and is looking to make it all the way to the top, he is fighting for the Commonwealth Title on the 30th March, Robin says, “He’s very clever, very skilful and quick, he’s a good fighter”. I went on to mention he fought Scotland’s Jason Hastie 3 times, he replied, “Lovely guy, I put him down once but it was not classed as a knockdown, I lost but I mugged him off, he didn’t lay a glove on me, I was too slick”. I also asked him about Scotland’s rising star Jon Slowey, he said, “Nice kid, very talented, I think he’s gonna be the next big thing in Scotland, not a hard puncher, very quick, he’s a really nice guy”. However, his hardest fight was against Stephen Smith, former British and Commonwealth Champion, he said, “His eyes killed me straight away and they looked straight through you. I was trying to stick my tongue out but I knew straight away he meant business, he is a powerhouse and it was a privilege to lose to him”. Robin reckoned he was robbed in many fights as the referee would give his opponent the decision, in Robins words, “Referees stick with the promoters, they need the prospects”, Robin  thinks his record should read more like 50/50, half wins, half loss’s.

In a cruel twist fate boxing gave him the confidence and the tools to survive in life but on the other hand boxing is taking away everything Robin Deakin has ever worked for.  Robin has had his licence taken away last August by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBB of C). This has emotionally and financially drained him, he says, “I am now 3 k in debt, I’ve lost my house, I’m sleeping on my mum’s sofa, she lives in a 2 bedroom flat with my brother, the board just haven’t taken away my licence they have taken away my life and my dignity. I also lost my Job because I had to take a day off to go to the board meeting, I was told by the board if I didn’t attend the meeting I would lose my licence. My world has collapsed all around me; all I want to do is get my licence back”. 

Robin recalls getting an e-mail informing him of the board’s decision to withdraw his licence, Robin says, “It was nothing to do with my medical as I had previously just passed one. I went along to a meeting with the board with my manager Michael Helliet, it was my manager’s duty of care to support me and act in my interests but during the meeting he was on his mobile phone continually texting and I was left to defend myself. He does not care about his boxers, he only cares about money. The board said it was down to me to get the wins but this is down to my manager”. Robin says “why is the board allowing this manager to keep his licence when he clearly does not fulfil his contractual obligations to me as his boxer?”  On the subject of loss’s a British Welterweight called Peter Buckley lost 256 fights and the BBB of C awarded him a belt. Robin went on to say, “There is a Light-Welterweight boxer called Johnny Greaves - who is fighting in 3 weeks time he has lost 91 fights.

Robin now plans to reapply for his boxing licence with the BBB of C and is confident with the right trainer and management he will have a successful boxing career.

On a lighter note Robin is a male model with Cody’s Model Agency, he says, “There’s not a lot of money in it but its good fun and you get to meet the girlies”.

Robin is due to appear shortly on the TV screens in a programme called Almost, but can’t say much more because he’s duty bound.

Robin likes to keep in touch with his friends and chill out with close friends Michael Jennings and Mark Byrne, he tells me, “I am the funniest man you will ever meet, I can be serious too, but I will make you laugh all day long, that’s why I get respect. Michael Jennings, he treats me like family which is nice and when I go to stay at his family’s house they also treat me like family, also, my mate Mark Byrne who has just got his pro licence, boxing is one big happy family”. 

I asked Robin if he still trains, he replied, “I still train with Michael Jennings, he is a world title contender, most underrated fighter in Britain and he boxed Miguel Cotto at Madison Square Garden’s”.

On the subject of films Robin says “The Fighter is my favourite because that’s what I am”, and when it comes to Rocky movies he’s a connoisseur, a man after my own heart, none other than Rocky 4. He said “As an amateur I used to watch rocky movies for inspiration and I feel I am the real Rocky”.

Robin says, “All I want to do is fight, the TV work is just for publicity, I really want to fight again, it’s been the biggest part of my life, I want to inspire people who suffer from a disability”. Robin is a real character and has 5,405 followers on Twitter.

Robin Deakin was not only a boxer, he was an entertainer, a crowd pleaser and a real showman but now the BBB of C want to close the curtains on him. Boxing needs more characters like Rocking Robin Deakin.

Every time my finger hits the keyboard I feel the pain just writing about Robin, he is a true Champion and inspiration to everyone, in many ways Robin Deakin is a natural born fighter.

By Raymond Fraser Buchanan

The link below is a Rihanna mix; lyrics written by his mate Franko Fraize and dedicated to Robin, it’s a touching tribute to a true fighter.  

http://205.196.120.118/1d7ofz95l12g/5ax68au5ema2kd2/Robin+Deakin+-+Diamonds+Final.mp3

Follow Robin on Twitter@RockinRobinBox

Follow Franko on Twitter@frankofraize

Trying to catch Ken Buchanan these days is a bit like trying to catch Usain Bolt but I managed to pin him down.

Who would have thought a wee boy from Northfield, Edinburgh, whose auntie Agnes from Musselburgh, bought him a pair of boxing gloves when he was 8 years old, would then go on to become an Undisputed World Boxing Champion Legend.


On Monday night the St Andrews Sporting Club held its 40th anniversary, the opening night of the St Andrews sporting Club which featured an all Scottish affair between Edinburgh’s Ken Buchanan and Glasgow’s Gentleman Jim Watt, regarded by many as the best Scottish fight on home soil.

I asked Ken if he enjoyed his night at the 40th anniversary, he replied “I didn't even know it was happening", however, Tommy Gilmour who promotes the St Andrews Sporting Club tried to contact Ken several times by e-mail and phone and was deeply disappointed he wasn't there.

With regards to your fight against Watt how did it go? “It was an East versus West encounter; it was not long after I lost my World Title and I wanted to beat him to win the Lonsdale belt outright. I didn’t think the fight would have went 15 rounds, I wanted to knock him out”.

Was it a partisan crowd? “It was a very even crowd; “I brought a bus load from Edinburgh so I had a good support, after I won the title I gave it up so Jim could fight for it”. Ken seemed to woo the crowd over because on the footage from the fight all you could hear was C’mon Kenny, C’mon Kenny. 

This historical most talked about fight in Scottish Boxing History led to a great friendship between the old foes and they remain friends to this day.  

What are your thoughts on Scottish boxing at the moment? “I think Ricky Burns and Willie Limond are good fighters, there are a couple of boys coming up, Edinburgh’s John Thain is one of them and there’s healthy prospects coming through”.

“I won the Scottish Senior Title and bronze medal in the European Games at 17 years old”.

Ken fought the Olympic Champion Stanislav Stepashkin who was 5 years his senior, in the semi finals of the European Championships held behind the Iron Curtain in Berlin, East Germany.

What memories do you have of the fight? “He hit me very hard, he was very strong, the fight was 50/50, I could have beaten him, I could have lost, it’s hard to say”.  Many reporters thought Ken had won that fight.

Ken was such a good amateur that opponents were hard to find and more often than not he had to do exhibitions with Scottish Amateur Legend Dick McTaggart. 

You turned pro at 19 years old, was this an advantage or was it down to money? “I was ready for it, I was Scottish and British champion and got a bronze in the European championships losing to the best amateur boxer in the World, having such a good amateur career Welsh manager Eddie Thomas asked me to turn professional”. 

Your first Professional fight was against Brian Rocky Tonks, were you nervous before the fight? “He had just come off 3 wins in a row, he was experienced but I was too fast for him and won by TKO 2, I was nervous before every fight”.

You fought Maurice Cullen for the British Title – Cullen was the last Briton to fight at the old Madison Square Garden’s – was this a hard fight? “This was a hard fight, a very hard fight, he was a good boxer nearing the end of his boxing days, he had a good left hook, I wasn’t looking for a knockout but it just came in the 11th round”.

You fought Miguel Velasquez in Spain in his back garden so to speak and incurred your first loss, how do you feel about this? “I got robbed in this fight, I thought I’d won, people watching on TV also thought I had won”.

Buchanan had fought in 4 continents before he got his World Title shot but over the span of his illustrious career he fought in all 5 continents.

You travelled 4075 miles to San Juan Puerto Rico to win the World Title from Ismael Laguna, what was going through your head? And was it in the contract for a rematch if you won? “I didn’t know what to expect, it was 125 degrees when we got off the plane, I always remember my dad saying “how you going to fight in this heat son”, I trained really hard, pressured Laguna, stayed on top, the times when he wanted a breather, that’s when I went for him. A rematch was never written into the contract because he thought he was going to beat me so he would never have to fight me again”. 

Ken did fight Laguna again but this time it was at Madison Square Garden’s, the Mecca of World Boxing back then, he said, “My eyes were swelling up so badly the referee had to call the doctor to take a look a few times – I was winning the fight and had it been stopped the crowd would have been in an uproar, I could hardly see out of one eye and the other was almost shut so my manager cut open the swelling with a razor, this allowed me to see and continue the fight. I went on to win the fight by a bigger margin than the previous encounter”. The use of the razor was copied many years later in a Rocky film but for Buchanan it was for real.

What was it like to dance with Princess Anne? “I was shaking that much, she was brilliant, I don’t think I impressed her with my dance moves”.

You were Sports Personality in 1971 and awarded the MBE, how proud were you? “I went to Buckingham Palace, it was really nice, I was getting awarded for all those years as a boxer, I felt great”.

During the time you were World Champion you had 8 fights but 4 were non title fights, why were they not all for the title? “You just can’t do one after the other”.

One of the non title fights was against unbeaten Canadian Welterweight Champion Donato Paduano at Madison Square Garden’s, who was rated number 4 in the world, were you not taking a chance due to the weight advantage? “If you’re fighting someone a stone heavier, then it’s a stone slower, I was much faster than him and I won on points”.

Another non title fight was in Johannesburg, South Africa; against world number 4 rated lightweight Andries Steyn. When the referee separated the boxers at the end of the first round he accidentally stuck his thumb in Kens eye, Buchanan’s vision was impaired in the second, knowing he could only fight for so long in this condition he went out and stopped Steyn in the 3rd.   

You won the American Boxing Writer’s Association’s Fighter of the Year in 1970, beating the likes of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, are you the only British fighter to win this award? “Yes”

Can you see any British fighter winning this prestigious award in your lifetime? “No, the boxers nowadays are all hometown fighters, Jim Watt only defended his WBC title in England and he got beat”

Buchanan also topped the bill to the man crowned Sportsman of the Century, he was simply known as ‘The Greatest’ Muhammad Ali.

Who was your hardest opponent and why? “Ismael Laguna and Roberto Duran, they were good fighters, they could box, they had heart and they could punch”.

You lost your World Title to Roberto Duran, was a rematch in the contract? “Yes, the WBC stripped him of his title, but he still wouldn’t fight me again”.

Why do you think Duran would not fight you again? “He knew that I would have boxed his head off for the whole fight, I underestimated Duran and if he fought me again I would not have taken the fight so lightly”.

What do you think of the new law stating if a boxer is deemed to be hit below the belt they can have up to 5 minutes to recover? “That’s a good thing because sometimes you get hit by mistake; I wish that rule had applied in my day”.

In my last interview Gareth Stemp was clearly hit below the belt and the referee told him so after the fight, Gareth said if he had 20 seconds to recover he could have finished the fight stronger and may not have lost. Ken Buchanan was clearly infamously hit below the belt and after 20 seconds he pleaded with the referee to let him continue the fight.

Who do you consider to be the best boxer of all time? “I don’t single one out but I’d have to say Sugar Ray Robinson, Rocky Marciano, Roberto Duran, Ismael Laguna, Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard and off course Muhammad Ali, they were all great fighters”.  

Considering New York is 3268 miles away from Edinburgh, did it feel like home? “Oh aye, the fans were brilliant, they loved seeing me in my tartan dressing gown and tartan shorts, the Americans love the tartan”.

What was the registration on your car back then? “KB123”

What advice do you have for young amateurs or professionals? “Train hard, look after your body, don’t take drugs and try not to drink too much”.

What was your favourite Rocky film? “I thought Rocky 1 was the best”

You have a new book out, what is it called? “Adopted Legend: The Welsh Connection, written by Phil Jones”.

What’s the book about? “It’s all about the time I spent in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, sparring with World Champion Howard Winstone, my manager Eddie Thomas and the friends I made who I still keep in touch with to this day”.

Ken was inducted into the American Boxing Hall of Fame in the year 2000.

Buchanan’s fighting overseas especially in America is unparalleled by any British fighter.

And I’d like to say “Dad, I’ve always been your biggest fan”.

By Raymond Fraser Buchanan

Lightning fast Taylor has the Heart of a lion. 

Josh Taylor is mixing it with the elite of World Amateur Boxing and it’s truly a testament to how much hard work and determination he has put in over the years to get to where he is today.

Josh has been a member of Team GB since March 2011 and is now a regular with The British Lionhearts and fights in the 60kg lightweight division, this is their first season in the inaugural World Series Boxing Tournament. 


As Josh prepares to travel to Italy for his next fight with the British Lionhearts he took time out to speak to Pro Box Scotland.

Your next WSB fight is on Saturday and is a rematch from the Olympics against Milano Thunder’s Dominico Valentino who was rated No1 in the world, what are your thoughts leading up to this fight? “I can’t wait to get over there and smash him, I’m not going to hold back as much, I’m just going to go at him and he has a very awkward style so I’m just going to keep on top of him with 3 and 4 punch combinations, keep busier than him”.

The fight will be shown live on ESPN on the 2nd of February at 9:45 pm, so there’s going to be Thunder and Lightning in Rome on Saturday. This is a must see fight for any boxing fan; miss it at your pearl.

What do you think about the concept of WSB? “It’s the first season Britain has had a team in it and its getting a lot of attention”. 

What advantages does WSB have? “It’s a good eye opener to see what the professional game is like, I get to keep my amateur status, get to go to the European Championships and the Commonwealth games in Glasgow, it’s an introduction to the pro style so I’m getting the best of both worlds”.

Wearing no vest or headgear, how much difference does this make? “Before my first fight I was really nervous but as soon as the bell went I loved it, loved it, loved it, it just felt natural”.

WSB is fought over 5 rounds, what are your thoughts on this? “I am training 3 times a day, six days a week, I spar 9 rounds at a time and I’m looking forward to it like, I feel like I’m adjusting well”.

With Team GB Josh has fantastic sparring sessions with the likes of Sam Maxwell, Tom Stalker and Joe Cordina, there’s quite a few, and everyone at Lochend ABC.

You are rated 4th in Europe and 5th in the World, he told Pro Box Scotland? “I feel very proud, all my hard work is getting recognition; hopefully I will get to be World Amateur Champion and ranked no1 in the world, I’m very happy to be where I am today”.

With Team GB how much difference is the training from previous years? “It’s more technical, running is a lot more specific, 5x3 minute rounds on the track at a fast pace, strength and conditioning, circuits and weights”.

You train at LA boxing club, Lochend ABC and your trainer Terry McCormack won Performance Coach of the Year, what is it like to work with him? “Terry is a really good coach, he has taught me a lot of different techniques in pretty much every aspect of the game, he has spent a lot of time with me and Terry is a professional coach who has taught me in a professional style”.

Who is your toughest opponent to date? “I’ve had a few hard fights, I fought a Mongolian in Serbia 2010/2011, this Mongolian had pace and he could throw every punch in the book, he just kept coming at me, I went on to win the fight 14-10”.

You were the only Scottish member of the Great Britain Olympic Boxing Team, How did you feel about not being able to walk behind the flag in the Opening Ceremony? “I wasn’t too bothered about not being at the Opening Ceremony until I seen the Arctic Monkeys were there, I had to prepare for my first fight, keep my eye on my weight and just wanted to get rest for the fight”.

What was it like to walk into a capacity crowd at the ExCel Arena?  “Brilliant, I don’t think I’ll get that feeling again in my whole career, may get it at the Commonwealth Games - that’s going to be amazing”.

Your first fight in the Olympics was against Robson Conceicao, he was favourite to win, did you have a game plan? “I sparred with him 3 or 4 weeks before the Olympics, he felt right strong in sparring, I had hoped to avoid him for the first couple of fights, however, I thought if I get him I would just hit and move” Josh says “It was not physically hard, it was more technical due to his experience, I had to outthink him and outbox him”. In 2011 Robson Conceicao lost by 1 point 18-19 to eventual winner of the World Amateur Boxing Championships, Vasyl Lomachencho, who won the Gold Medal at the Olympics in London 2012 and is the current World No1. 

Your next opponent Dominico Valentino, you did not look like the same boxer, what do you think went wrong? “I didn’t feel the same buzz, felt too relaxed because I had boxed him the year before, I was feeling really confident”.

 After the loss how long was it before you actually realised what an achievement you had made? “It was a good 5 days, I was really gutted. I had been working so hard to get down to the weight, I was really angry with myself. I remember sitting watching the Olympics at my cousins house in London and it made me realise I had just been on the biggest stage in the world”.

Tell me about your Olympic experience? “My hair stood on end watching the first day fights, what an atmosphere, the whole place exploded”.

Josh spoke about his Olympian pal Luke Campbell on Dancing on Ice and feels sorry for him having to wear the lycra outfits but said if he ever got asked he’d be right up for the challenge.

Taylor made Scottish Boxing History being the first Scottish boxer to make the Olympics through a qualifying tournament, how does this make you feel? “Really good, great feeling a mixture of emotions, all my hard work dieting to get down to the weight had paid off big time, when my hand got raised I was laughing and greeting with joy, one of the best feelings ever”.

Josh’s boxing career has also taken him over the pond notably to the Wild Card Gym with Freddie Roach. He told us “It’s a different world over there, the bags are going 24/7, the sparring over there is like competing in an International Tournament, everything is bigger and better, don’t know why America didn’t do so well in the Olympics at boxing, it’s also brilliant training in the warm weather”.

You have won a few Scottish titles, have you a particular favourite? “I equally enjoyed winning every one”.

Josh has competed in many Multi Nation Tournaments bringing home 6 gold medals and 2 bronze, and silver.

What was your Commonwealth Games experience like? “What a buzz in the village, party style all the time, it was great to see people coming from so many countries coming together, it really was a great experience and it was brilliant! They had an amazing party after the games in the village”.

You got Silver Medal at the Commonwealth Games, what happened in the final? You boxed so well in the previous rounds “I gave a good performance but Tom Stalker was just a bit too experienced at that level. This was my first major tournament, only 19 years old, I was really tense instead of relaxing, I learned a lot from that experience”.

Taylor won a bronze at the Youth Commonwealth Games at the tender age of 17, what happened in the semi-finals? “I was winning the fight but the fight got stopped in the 2nd because I had a nose bleed, I was raging so I chucked the gloves at the referee. I have to admit I’m a bad loser and am not getting any better like. As it was a youth tournament they need to protect the boxers although I didn’t understand that at the time, I was just raging”.

How did the Josh Taylor website come about? “My mum’s friend set this up, he’s really into web design, and he thought it would be good to get a page going before the Olympics, he was doing the update but now we just do it ourselves, it’s got 13,053 likes so far.

Who’s your all-time favourite boxer? “I was a right big Ricky Hatton fan but I’d say Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali and Ken Buchanan are my favourites”.

Josh has really busy schedule training at Sheffield with the GB Team and likes to chill out with his family and girlfriend Danielle when he gets the chance.

What do you think of women boxing? “I think it’s really good for women to get the chance to box, the Olympics went really well and the standard of boxing was brilliant”. 

What was it like sparring with Ricky Burns? “Brilliant, I was over the moon, I sparred with Ricky three or four times, every time we did between 6 and 7 rounds, I learned so much from him, like the difference between amateur and professional, it was nonstop boxing professional style. It was great sharing the ring with a top class World Champion, you can’t buy that experience.  I would like to thank Ricky for the opportunity to spar, it was really nice of him and this prepared me for my 1st fight with the British Lionhearts in the World Series Boxing”.

What’s your favourite Rocky film? “ Rocky 1”.

What made you take up boxing? “Well I done Taekwondo from the age of 5, I went along to Meadowbank ABC when I was 15 years old, I used to watch Alex Arthur when he was Champion with him being from Edinburgh, he trained at Meadowbank where my mum worked and then I started training with you Raymond”.

What does the future hold for Josh Taylor? I want to go to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, see what happens after that, I’m really enjoying this WSB. There’s a new thing starting called the APB ( AIBA Pro Boxing) programme due to commence the end of 2013, it will link closely with WSB and will basically allow professional with up to 12 fights to compete in the Olympic Games”.

The AIBA (The International Boxing Association) have radical new changes to drop the status of amateur in a move towards making the sport more professional providing boxers with a more structured career path that will be the way forward to open up new horizons.

Have you got anything you would like to say to your fans? “I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart for all the support they have given me along the way, it is very much appreciated and hopefully I’ll become a World Champion one day”.

I took Josh to his first Scottish Title and British Finals; it did not take me long before I knew this wee boy from Prestonpans was destined for the top.

I look forward to hearing about your success in Italy Champ.

Everyone at Pro Box Scotland would like to wish you all the very best for Saturday.

By Raymond Fraser Buchanan

Gentleman John Thain

With only a few weeks to go before the boxing extravaganza Rule Britannia, John Thain took time out to speak to Pro Box Scotland.

In your next fight as a Professional you will be featuring on the undercard of Rule Britannia at Wembley, where your fellow countryman Ricky Burns and Nathan Cleverly are top of the bill on the 16th of March, how do you feel about being part the biggest British boxing show this year? “Gonna be a big event, I’m excited to be part of it, it’s going to be shown across the world”.

Has your opponent been named yet? “Yes, Jay Morris, from The Isle of White, he’s a tough guy, boxed 231 rounds and has 15 wins, he also knows who he’s boxing, I’m making sure I’ll be ready for whatever he brings to the table, he has given a lot of guys a tough night. It’s great that I know who I’m fighting because it gives me the chance to develop a game plan and work on techniques”. 

How are you feeling about the fight? “I’m developing into a champion, my manager Frank Warren is seeing that I get the fights”.

Have you decided on your entrance song? “In my last couple of fights it’s been an old Motown song ‘Nowhere to Run’; I’d like to come out to something unexpected, unique, not the same as everyone else”.

Who will be in your corner? “Terry McCormack and Eric Brown, Terry has been in my corner in all my pro fights, I’ve got a really good thing going with Terry”.

How have you been preparing for this fight? “It’s basically always been the same, roadwork, groundwork, circuits, sparring; we try to add new things as well. Sparring is most important, I spar with the like of Tommy Philbin, Stevie Nicol, Aston Brown and David Brophy, I like to mix the sparring, it helps me prepare to deal with different styles”.

Why did you decide to turn pro? “I thought I needed a challenge, thought I was doing quite well but because of the training I was doing with Terry, I was developing into a pro. When the opportunity came I wanted to make sure I had a good base, good management team, boxing on cards that I’m gonna  get seen on. I wasn’t known as someone that could be a pro, I had to change my training regime and this made me more focused, it’s been hard”.

Are you a full-time professional boxer? “Yes, at the start I was training through the day and doing private hire driving at night but I’ve given up driving, it’s always something I could fall back on. Now that I’m a full-time boxer I can stay more focused on the game, concentrate more on training, I believe I perform better in bouts the harder I train”.

Do you have a sponsor? “Edinburgh City Private Hire did sponsor me last year. Custom Made Boxing Shorts by Lubi is my main sponsor, she makes my outfits for the fights, the shorts are my design and it’s great she’s getting bit publicity herself”.

You train at Lochend Boxing Club with Coach Terry McCormack, John says? “The great thing about Terry is, he is the boss, each boxer has their own style and he just wants to improve the style you have, my style is a boxer and my aim is to win rounds by out boxing my opponent”.   

I first met John way back in 2007 when he was boxing for Gilmerton ABC. The first thing that I noticed about him was that he is a walking talking self-contained encyclopaedia on the subject of boxing, not only that, he is one of the nicest boxers I have met, in fact he’s one of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure to meet. He possesses an array of punches that are a throw back to his hero’s such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Sugar Ray Robinson, Ken Buchanan and Alexis Arguello, he has more tools than a plumber.

John told Pro Box Scotland “It all started for me when I was 13 years old, I always wanted to try it, my dad kind of tried to put me off by pointing things out like brain damage etc. My dad was a sailor and he would always phone me when the fights were on, he was always telling people I was a boxer, I didn’t know that till later”. Sadly John’s dad passed away before he could witness his sons dreams became a reality. 

What success did you have as an amateur? “To be honest it did not start very well, I lost about 20 fights as an amateur boxer, however, my aim was to even this up as a senior. I was Scottish Light-Welterweight Champion in 2008. I was really hungry to get to International Events just like my friends, Jason Hastie and Stephen Simmons; I really wanted to be as good as them”.

Why did you decide to get into boxing? “It was actually by chance, watching the Rocky movie’s made me really want to try it. My friends were going to the gym, I had to beg dad to allow me to go, my family were against me boxing but when I started they did support me. They thought it was just a phase but I kept trying till I eventually got my first contest after 6 months training at the age of 14. Out of all the kids at school I was the least likely to start boxing and make a career out of it”.

John is very modest about his amateur career but he did share the ring with, Olympian and European Union Boxing Champion John Joe Joyce, he lost on points that night but that must have given him a right good boost knowing he could hold his own with the best.

 Another significantly important fight was against Frank Buglioni, I asked John how he got on with Buglioni? “The fight was in Chigwell, London, I thought I was gonna be boxing someone else, however, in the parade before the fight this big guy came over to shake my hand, that’s when I realised I was going to be fighting him. It was an amateur 3 round fight so I was able to nip in and score a few good shots, I won the contest on points and I still speak to Frank to this day. I was giving away a bit weight, he was not as experienced as I was but he was very strong, always coming forward, I still have the video of the fight”.

Funny thing, John’s old foe and friend, Frank ‘Wiseguy’ Buglioni as he is known by now has a professional record that reads 7 wins, 5 inside the distance and no defeats, he is developing into a hot prospect and will also be on the undercard of Rule Britannia but he is now fighting at super-middleweight. 

Your boxing career has taken you across the world were you have trained in many gyms, most notably being the Wild Card Gym, John says “Never been in a gym like it, anyone can walk in, World Champions, movie stars etc, they know how good the gym is. The sparring you get there is different class; you won’t get it anywhere else in the world. I sparred with top class boxers like, Jose Benavidez, Jamie Kavanagh, Michael Medina and Frankie Gomez, it takes you to another level, it’s the closest you get to a real fight”.

John’s last fight was at Meadowbank, Edinburgh, on the 8th of December, how did the fight go? And what did it mean to you? “I really wanted to box in Edinburgh at least once, that’s where I’m from, I’ve got a lot of friends here and the chance to fight on home soil was amazing. I lost a lot of fights in Edinburgh as an amateur so it was great that my mates could come along to watch me fighting as a professional. I hurt my right hand in the 1st round that didn’t help matters so I started working the jab more and as the fight progressed my hand felt better and I got the chance to throw more right handed shots, I could have performed better but I was glad to get the win, I was satisfied with my performance”.

You fought in the SECC in Glasgow, on the undercard of Ricky Burns v Kevin Mitchell, on the 22nd of September 2012, you fought Lee Noble who was a lot more experienced than you having had 39 pro fights, winning 15, what were your thoughts going into this fight? And how did the fight go in your eyes? “I knew I would be very fit because I was just back from the Wild Card Gym, I was lighter than him but felt sharper. I hurt both hands during that fight so I had to fight through the pain and focus more on shots to the body rather than the head. I then realised I was having more success when I went to the body, he was expecting head punches. I then worked out a strategy to keep him at arm’s length with the jab because he kept coming forward; I kept moving my head so he didn’t have a clean target to hit, I finished the fight stronger than I started”. During the latter stages of the fight John radically went against the fundamental principles of boxing when Noble kept pushing forward, he teed off with three right uppercuts that landed one after the other without reply.  

Who has been your toughest opponent or opponents to date? Why? “Lee Noble, the situation with my hands, he was a tough guy and he came to win that night. Kevin McCauley whom I fought in my debut fight in Liverpool, I fought him again almost a year to the day and won the fight much more convincingly than the first and Joe Lovell, he was undefeated and he aimed to stay that way, I’ve not had an easy career to date”.

What are your favourite boxing films? “I like The Fighter and also The Raging Bull”.

What’s your favourite Rocky film? “I liked them all, if I had to choose I’d say the 3rd one where Apollo creed trains Rocky; he was an American football player before he was an actor, I like to do my research and I got him on twitter”.

Do you have any boxers in your sights that you would like to fight? “Not really, but I would like to box Ryan Rhodes”.

Where do you see yourself in 3 years time? I’d like to be a world champion, it’s the reason all guys turn pro and that’s what I’m aiming for. If you are chasing titles you will get there but if you are chasing money it will be hard, that’s why I remain focused on my dream of becoming a World Champion”.

What are your favourite quotations? “Always train hard because it makes fights easier, dedication, discipline, desire, you got to want to become champion and willing to overcome all obstacles, it’s not gonna be perfect every single day”.

Your mum is your biggest fan; will you be taking her to Wembley with you? “Hopefully, she has been to all my fights, it’s a shame, she watches through her fingers”.

What do you do in your spare time? “Training everyday becomes your life and everyone in the gym becomes your family but I do like to catch up with friends, chill out, movies, eat out, I don’t drink and never have”.

Do you have anything you would like to say to your fans? “I would like to thank everyone for their support because any support you get is very meaningful, I really appreciate people putting time and effort to come see me fight, even the people who come to watch me training makes it more meaningful for me. When I have won my pals have a great night and I would like to thank my sponsor, Custom Made Boxing Shorts by Lubi”.

Gentleman John Thain can deliver every punch in the book with speed and precision, this makes him a formidable opponent for anybody; he has a perfect record of 9 wins, 1 by way of knockout and no defeats. 

Everyone at Pro Box Scotland would like to wish John all the best for his upcoming fight at Wembley.

By Raymond Fraser Buchanan 

Professional Boxer Gareth Stemp

 As an amateur Gareth Stemp was a hard working, diligent boxer who never shied away from anything and I don’t think anything has changed over the years.

Gareth was born on the 16th of August 1984, his fighting weight is bantamweight but has to concede weight in order the get fights, and John McCarron is his trainer.

He grew up with fellow pro Stephen Simmons, I asked him how he got into boxing he said “I started getting picked on at school and took to boxing straight away”. Gareth was 15 years old when he had his first fight and turned senior at 17.  
He had a brief apprenticeship as a plumber but getting into trouble more often than not led him to join the British Army as a 17 year old, he had a successful boxing career in the Army.

Gareth had a passion for football but due to too many injuries mainly ligament damage to his knee meant a career in football was out of the question but he still trains a football team on a Sunday.

He is a full time professional boxer and a lot of credit goes to Trademark Recruitment Agency for financially backing Gareth to fulfil his ambition and ply his trade as a pro boxer.  

His record stands at 4 fights 2 wins and 2 losses, in preparation for his last fight he said “it was a bit of a nightmare, 5 different opponents were pencilled in and a super bantamweight pulled out the week of the fight, he hurt himself in sparring and the opponent Barrington Brown was finally arranged. His trainer John McCarron pleaded with him not to take the fight, Brown had 10 wins and 8 losses and it turned out the heavier man Brown was in training to fight for the British Masters Title but the occasion got to Gareth – the thought of fighting in Edinburgh in front of his home fans was too overbearing to turn down, he never knew much about Brown but had trained hard, sparring with Jonathan Slowey whom he had shared rooms with on international duty, Ronnie Clark and Ryan McCutcheon who just beat the Scottish Champion at flyweight, Gareth said “Ryan possesses good technical ability “.

Last fight 8th December 2012 at Meadowbank, Opponent – Barrington Brown

Gareth says;

1st round  “I thought I done really well, noticed the boy had power cause my head was ringing a wee bit when he did catch me, liked to mix his punches, he was fast and tricky and had good movement but I was in control and was confident I won the round”

2nd round  “It started the same way I was still in control, he caught me a decent shot to the body but it did not stop me then he caught me with a low blow below the belt, I naturally bent over and out of instinct went on one knee, I fully expected the referee to acknowledge this and give me a wee chance to recover and continue – in the rules of boxing if there has been a low blow the boxer can receive up to 5 minutes to recover, the referee didn’t credit the punch as a low blow and I got up to my feet almost immediately and he started giving me a count, I continued fighting, at the end of the round my trainer asked if I wanted to retire due to the ribs that were visibly poking out my side”

3rd round “I was still in control but my opponent knew I was hurt, this gave him the upper-hand and I lost the round”

4th round  “Lost this also but in the last minute I hit him with a few good combinations, after the fight Brown told me I did hit him with some powerful shots”.

 “A couple of days later I went to hospital, I broke 3 ribs in that second round and have been on pain killers and told to rest, but, this had nothing to do with the low blow, I think everyone who was at the fight knew I was hit with a low blow apart from the referee and the reporter Tom Walker”.

“The one thing about mixing it with heavier boxers is the knowledge that someone your own weight won’t hit you as hard”.

Gareth would love to box in Edinburgh again; it’s been four years since he won his last Scottish title there under the guidance of former amateur coach Bradley Welsh who mentored him to many titles.

As a pro Gareth fought in Glasgow against local lad Paul McElhaney and had to be escorted to the ring and back the crowd jeered him all the way, so to fight again on home soil would be a dream come true, that’s why Gareth went that extra mile carrying broken ribs from the second round because he did not want to let his fans down.

What have you got planned in the next 5 years Gareth? I’d like to win a British Title – I fought Olympic Gold Medal winner Luke Campbell as an amateur and lost 7-4, I’m confident in my ability, however, there’s not a lot of guys out there at my weight available to fight me.

Gareth trains twice a day 6 days a week and coaches football on a Sunday. His routine comprises of distance running and sprints, he has to go through the west to get good sparring cause there’s not many at his weight locally, he used to train with Paul Weir and sparred with Ronnie Clark and but the travel expenses were costing too much, he has had 6 weeks off due to the injury but is itching to get back in the gym.

Gareth has a wee girl Jessica and a boy called Carter – he got that name from his favourite boxing film The Hurricane, after Rubin Carter – he would love his son to box, and his favourite Rocky film is Rocky 2.

In a wee message to the fans Gareth would like to thank everyone for their support and to get behind Scottish Boxing and again thanks to Trademark for making this possible.  

By Raymond Fraser Buchanan