The life and times of Chris Sanigar

Andrew Harrison
23/09/2015 1:17pm

It is forty-one years since Bristolian boxing icon Chris Sanigar - a frustrated footballer who harboured dreams of playing for his beloved Bristol Rovers - fell back on a latent talent for using his fists. Since his first amateur contest in March 1974, Sanigar’s roles have been varied: England international, hard-man pro, father, manager, trainer, promoter and survivor. Sanigar lit a spark under the West Country’s boxing scene and the spark became a flame as the likes of Ross Hale, Glenn Catley, Scott Dann and Dean Francis captured professional titles between 1994 and 2004. Yet despite recently turning 60, it appears Sanigar’s best days lie ahead

Fresh Rhodes for Ryan

John A. MacDonald
22/09/2015 9:53am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O91mheGn5Xc

In a professional career that spanned 17 years, Ryan Rhodes has seen, done and achieved almost everything possible in boxing. Whilst it seemed almost inevitable that Rhodes’ knowledge would be highly sought after by the next generation of fighters, coaching wasn’t something he had considered after retirement, until his long-time friend Curtis Woodhouse approached him. “It was something I’d never even planned on going into, but boxing has been a big part of my life since I was six years old and I felt that I had a hell of a lot of experience and knowledge to pass on,” Rhodes told Boxing Monthly over the phone from his gym in Sheffield.

New purple patch for the Sanigars

Mark Butcher
21/09/2015 3:38pm

More seasoned fight fans will remember the ‘Bristol Boys’ era of the late 1990s and early 2000s where, dressed in striking purple shorts, the likes of Glenn Catley, Ross Hale, Dean Francis and Scott Dann set the dormant West Country boxing scene alight. Now the latest incarnation of the Chris Sanigar stable are enjoying a new purple patch with two of their champions Lee Selby and Lee Haskins boldly taking on the U.S. market in the coming months.

Fight Of The Century Part 1 - Broughton vs Slack

Luke G. Williams
19/09/2015 10:43am

In a new series of articles for Boxing Monthly, Luke G. Williams will be examining a dozen iconic boxing matches from the past 265 years. Each of these fights could be said to have transcended the sport and proved themselves worthy of the oft over-used moniker of ‘the fight of the century’. The series begins with an examination of the brutal contest between English champion Jack Broughton and challenger Jack Slack in 1750, a fight of great historical significance, albeit with an aftermath which has been widely misinterpreted.

DMcCarthy grows up early

Shaun Brown
18/09/2015 11:24am

At 14-years-old what were you doing? Have a think. Playing football with your mates? Going to parties? Studying for the latest test at school? Things were a bit different for Matt McCarthy. “I was a man at 14.” At that age, I think it is safe to say that two of life’s greatest responsibilities - parenthood and employment - didn’t interest you. In fact, the very thought of it would have been a difficult one to comprehend. “I had a kid at 13-years-old,” McCarthy told BM. “I started working full-time at the age of 14 from 6am till 6pm on a [building] site. I was taking home good money.”

Lee Selby: Coming to America

Mark Butcher
17/09/2015 3:03pm

There is a suspicion that Lee Selby may be the best boxer in Britain today. The IBF’s ‘champion of the year’ Evgeny Gradovich was left chasing shadows when the majestic Welshman relieved him of his 126lbs title in May and now Selby has the chance to showcase his sublime talents for the U.S. market when he faces three-weight world champion Fernando Montiel on 14 October at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona. A measure of Selby’s ability is that his dissection of Gradovich caught the eye of influential advisor Al Haymon who subsequently added him to an impressive roster of clients that includes three other reigning featherweight champions. Career defining and lucrative fights are within reach of the rangy Welsh stylist. “That’s what I’m in the game for. I want the big fights now. To achieve that, I think you’ve got to box in America,” Selby told BM at the Welsh Centre in King’s Cross, London, on Wednesday. “I’ve teamed up with Al Haymon and he has got three of the other world champions at my weight so the fights are easily made."

Cordina eyes World Championship glory

Matt Bevan
17/09/2015 11:22am

The Olympic Games has been a hotbed of success for British boxers over the years with medals coming thick and fast in recent times. However, World Championship gold has so far eluded all but one British boxer. The latest batch of stars from the Team GB production line in Sheffield will be hoping they can match Frankie Gavin’s achievement when they travel to Doha in Qatar for the 18th World Championships, which begin on 5 October. Leading the team will be Joe Cordina, who became European Champion in August in Bulgaria, and the 23-year-old from Cardiff believes he can emulate Gavin in a tricky lightweight division. “It gives me a massive boost going over to Qatar as the European Champion,” Cordina told BM. “But I also know the pressure will be on and I will have a target on my back."

IV Gate: The truth about drug testing in boxing

Michael Montero & Tiffany Lam
16/09/2015 2:14am

With the recent furore involving Floyd Mayweather and USADA during the run-up to his fight with Manny Pacquiao, the issue of drug testing in boxing has returned to the forefront of the sport. Michael Montero discusses the details of 'IV Gate'; explains the differences between USADA and VADA, as well as the tests they perform, and even shows just how easy it is to cheat a drug test.

More to come from Cardle

John Evans
15/09/2015 11:41am

Upon turning professional, a young fighter is inundated with information and technical skills. The months fly by as the gym becomes a classroom and days are spent learning. Once the daily grind becomes routine and the opponents become tougher, arguably the most important quality you can acquire comes to the fore; learning to block out negativity and build belief and confidence in your own ability. British lightweight champion Scott Cardle (18-0, 5KOs) has received plenty of plaudits since his successful move into title class, but the 25-year-old from Lytham St. Annes also had to endure his fair share of criticism while he worked his way into contention. Cardle learns his trade under the watchful eye of Joe Gallagher. Gallagher himself attracts plenty of criticism on social media but maintains his conviction in his own methods and concerns himself with nothing except his work. That single-mindedness has been rewarded with a series of titles. It would have been impossible for Cardle not to have subconsciously adopted the same mindset.

Cooke on the boil

Shaun Brown
14/09/2015 12:40pm

Spend some time talking to Jordan Cooke and you’re likely to be left with the impression of an extremely confident young prospect with a maturity beyond his years. The 21-year-old was in good spirits when Boxing Monthly spoke to him recently, and he has every reason to be. A perfect (5-0, 2 KOs) start to his professional career, which began almost one year ago, along with a spot on a Matchroom show and sparring some of the best lightweights in the UK had Cooke in a positive frame of mind ahead of his next outing on 19 September in Bedworth. The Dave Coldwell prospect, trained by Jon Pegg and Paul Counihan, has heard the many whispers of ‘He’s one to watch’ but Cooke knows there is a long way to go. “A lot of people say I'm one for the future and they can see the talent and the potential,” Cooke told BM. “I think I'm a top prospect but I know I've got to work hard and have loads of learning to do.”

McIntosh back on track

Shaun Brown
12/09/2015 11:42am

There wouldn’t be enough time in the day to talk about the number of lives that boxing has saved from poverty, prison or death. Some have found their way into the brotherhood of a boxing gym in the nick of time, others have already danced with the devil before discovering the noble art. ‘I’d be dead or in jail.' And so begins the story of Nathan McIntosh and his answer to ‘Where would you be if you hadn’t found boxing?’ “If it weren’t for Tommy, I wouldn’t be boxing.” The Tommy in question was Nottingham coach Tommy Thompson. A man who over time has worked with the likes of Kirkland Laing, Tony Sibson, Johnny Nelson and Junior Witter to name but four.