BritBox Issue One Preview

A N E W M AG A Z I N E D E D I C AT E D TO B R I T I S H B OX I N G V I S I T W W W. B R I T B OX M AG . C O. U K

OCTOBER ISSUE £1.99

THE PRICE IS HEIGHT

DAVID PRICE. A DOSE OF

DERRY MATHEWS. EXCLUSIVE. JOHNNY COOKE 60’s legend.

INTERVIEWS. TONY BELLEW JAZZA DICKENS RYAN FARRAG KEV SATCHELL NATASHA JONAS NICK QUIGLEY TOMMY CARUS & MORE...

LIVERPOOL RISING SPECIAL EDITION

BRITBOXCREDITS .EDITOR SEAN POLLOCK

@SeanPollo

.DESIGN SEAN POLLOCK DAVE SMITH

@DavoSmith_iFM INFULLMOTION.CO.UK

.BOXING WRITERS SEAN POLLOCK MICHAEL J JONES JOHN A MACDONALD ELLIOT FOSTER JESSICA JACKALOPE KYLE MCLACHLAN JOHN EVANS GREG GRIMES

THECONTENTS EDITOR’S LETTER: Welcome to BritBox issue one—first off, thanks for buying the magazine!

Hopefully our inaugural publication will give you a deep insight into the booming Liverpool fight scene and will be a great read. It’s been brilliant to be able to deliver a magazine online as well as on mobile devices. We’ll keep the motor running and hope to grow, improve and entertain with every issue. We’re bi-monthly for our first year and hope to go monthly next year, to help us do this please spread the word to your boxing fan friends and family, it’d be much appreciated. Once again, thank you and enjoy! SP

VAUGHAN BOXING .3

Discover the story behing Liverpool’s top boxing promotion company ran by Stephen Vaughan Sr. & Jr.

PRIZEFIGHTER PREVIEW .4

Elliot Foster previews the upcoming Prizefighter tournament in the Liverpool Olympia on Oct. 6.

A DOSE OF DERRY .6

BritBox looks at the comeback years of Derry Mathews and discuss his warrior antics.

NATASHA JONAS .9

John Evans has followed Natsasha Jonas for a long time and sits down with the star to discuss the Olympics.

A SCOUSER ABROAD .12

Kyle McLachlan takes us ‘down under’ with a blast from the past mission concerning Alan Rudkin.

.Contact Us CONTACT@BRITBOXMAG.CO.UK @BRITBOXMAG BRITBOXMAG.CO.UK

.SPECIAL THANKS TO MICHAEL J JONES DAVE SMITH ANDREW MILLWALL MERSEYSIDE FORMER BOXERS’ ASSN. ANDY GRAY STEVE TOLCHER MARK HARNELL COACHES AT THE RED TRIANGLE ABC JOHNNY & DAVE COOKE

COACHES CORNER .14

Coach Kev Campion gives us the low down on being a coach and shows us the counter-uppercut.

BLOOD BROTHERS .15

Jessi Jackalope reports on brothers, Stephen and Liam Smith and how they’ve managed so far.

BROTHERS QUIGLEY .16

Two more Liverpool boxing brothers, John and Nick Quigley, are featured for your pleasure.

BOXING GYMS .19

Discover our four picks of Liverpool’s must see boxing gyms.

RYAN FARRAG .20

The Red Triangle prospect gives BritBox his thoughts on life as a pro.

THE PRICE IS HEIGHT .22

Our feature piece sees Mike Jones conversing with David Price and giving his thoughts on the big man.

THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN’ .26

Ever wondered who came before the latest boxing stars?

We explore the past Scouse legends.

TONY BELLEW .28

The Bomber Q&A with Mike Jones, who sheds light on his career and Cleverly.

ICE MAN .30

Liverpool’s latest British title challenger speaks to our Editor on his breakthrough performances.

THE JOHNNY COOKE STORY .32

Sean Pollock speaks to the legendary 60’s champion, Johnny Cooke, a must read.

MIND OVER MATTER .35

Ever wondered what makes a sportsman tick? Or help them prepare? Brian McCready says it’s all in the mind!

JAZZA DICKENS - CUT TO SIZE .36

Jazza Dickens tells BritBox of his burning desire to become a world champion.

PROSPECT WATCH .38

More prospects? Yes! Jake Smith and Tommy Carus get an introduction to our readers.

Promotions

VAUGHAN BOXING .tv S

tephen Vaughan Sr. had 77 amateur boxing bouts at Schoolboy, Junior and Senior level before he formed Vaughan Promotions in 1990 to promote professional boxing in the United Kingdom.

After a stint with amateur and professional football clubs and a nine year inactivity of Vaughan Boxing Promotions, the outfit reestablished itself in 2010.

Success arose in managing and promoting in Area, English, British, Commonwealth, International and World champions. The company worked closely with Derry Mathews as the behind the scenes handler

of the former World and British titlist. They have also promoted and managed fighters such as Tony Dodson, John Donnelly and Andy Colquhoun.

Vaughan Promotions is now predominantly run by Stephen Vaughan Jr., who could once boast the title of ‘youngest licenced boxing promoter in the UK’.

Along with PR Stephen Speed, the company work tirelessly to endorse their Liverpool bred boxers nationwide.

The Vaughan corporation launched its website VaughanBoxing.TV in 2011 and has been working closely with other companies like VIP and Frank Warren Promotions to deliver top quality small hall shows, mainly in the Liverpool Olympia. They even managed to

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stage an IBO World title fight for Mathews, and in November this year, a British title fight for newly signed Donnelly.

The Vaughan boxers can now boast their own gym in the DM Fitness Centre, owned by Derry Mathews, which is a great addition for the roster to hone their skills in.

In 2012, they took to their website to announce the takeover of Maltese Premiership side Floriana FC. In addition, they revealed the securing of a new sponsorship partner, ‘Fat Gary Sports’ which is a UK sports management company.

Vaughan Promotions is hoping to widen its grasp on the North West boxing scene and continue to excel young Scouse fighters into the limelight. Stephen Vaughan Jr. can regularly be seen animatedly roaring his fighters on from ringside, a moral support for his men that goes a long way.

Sponsorship opportunities from £500 (inc. tickets) are available for the upcoming British title fight Donnelly vs.

Butler live on BoxNation.

Email mail@vaughanboxing.tv.

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R E T OC H RRO S G T I H F G I E E Z I PR LIGHTW E E H H T T & & Y CKKY

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ctober 6 sees the commencement of ‘Prizefighter: The Lightweights II’ at the Olympia theatre in Liverpool. The compiled line-up is one of Matchroom’s finest, laced with boxing talents such as Dewsbury’s Gary “Five Star” Sykes (20(5)-20) and Liverpool’s very own former British champion Derry Mathews (30(16)-7-1).

The slogan for Prizefighter is, “eight fighters; seven fights; one winner – all on one explosive night”. However, that won’t be strictly true on the first Saturday of the month, as Rocky Fielding (11(5)-0-0) tops the bill on a card that packs a huge punch in a bid to win his first title in a 12-fight professional career.

Fielding, a 24-year-old from Liverpool will stand toe-totoe with Steve Wood-managed Carl Dilks (16(5)-5-0) in a 10-round battle for the vacant English super middleweight strap.

Dilks, also hailing from Liverpool, is an experienced fighter and is four years the senior of Fielding. The 28-year-old has been in the ring with Joseph Ainscough, a former victim of Rocky.

‘Dynamite’ Dilks is a replacement opponent for Matchroom’s latest starlet, who was scheduled to fight Wayne Reed. Ironically, both Dilks and Reed featured in the Prizefighter tournament that Fielding won in the Liverpool Olympia. Originally slated to scrap for the Central Area Title, Rocky has been promoted to English strap challenger status.

Other names who will be involved in ‘Prizefighter: The Lightweights II’ are, unbeaten 23-year-old Tommy Coyle of Hull (13(4)-0-0) and Liverpool man Stephen Jennings (5(2)-1-1). Also taking up spaces are Liam Patrick Walsh (10(3)-1-0) a 30-year-old from Halifax and Terry Flannigan (15(4)-0-0) who is the current super featherweight English champion.

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25-yearold Gallagher’s gymtrained Anthony “Million Dollar” Crolla (23(9)-3-0) takes up a spot too.

Crolla is seeking retribution after being defeated

by Derry Mathews in April as the 29-year-old Liverpudlian added the coveted Lonsdale belt to his list of titles.

The inclusion of the Manchester scrapper could see him face another former opponent, Gary Sykes, in a similar battle of the ex-Lonsdale belt holders. All three fighters are rebuilding their careers after losses.

The three aforementioned fighters - Mathews, Sykes and Crolla - are the favourites in the draw, with the bookies backing one of them to be the last man standing. However, all eight participants will be confident of getting their hands on the sought-after Prizefighter trophy and the £32,000 winner’s cheque.

“Prizefighter is back with a bang with our strongest line-up ever,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “I never expected a dream line-up like this and Anthony’s [Crolla] inclusion is the icing on the cake.

“Ideally we would’ve loved to have this in a 5,000-seater arena but the fans will experience an atmosphere like never before in the Liverpool Olympia and this is a must see night of boxing on Sky Sports on October 6.”

Scouser Stephen Jennings has spoken to BritBox about the opportunity of being involved in a Prizefighter, which has – in the words of Eddie Hearn – the strongest line-up ever.

‘Jenko’, 28, said, “I’m really proud to be involved in a tournament with such great fighters in, and it just goes to show how big the tournament is, with the fighters that have been placed in the line-up. I’d like to thank Eddie for giving me this opportunity.”

Continuing, Jennings, who could come up against former foe Derry Mathews, when asked about possible revenge, said, “I’m not after revenge – if the Derry fight happens, it happens; I’m sure it’ll be another exciting fight for the fans.”

Jokingly, the man who’s currently 5-1-1, when asked about what he’d spend the £32,000 winner’s cheque on, if he won it, said, “Well, I’ll tell you that

when I’ve won it.”

Tommy Coyle got his chance to participate after the unfortunate withdrawal of unbeaten Heywood puncher Kieran Farrell. Coyle will come up against some of his division’s finest and at just 22, ‘Boom Boom’ will be eager to make an impact. The Yorkshire man already boasts Central Area lightweight honors and had been touted as the potential dark horse of the 135lbs bracket.

There was then another drop-out to the line-up, as previously billed Terry Needham had to pull out of the tournament through injury.

Eddie Hearn, Matchroom’s managing director, has just signed a two-year agreement with Sky, which will mean that, as principal promoter, they will be showing 20 shows per season on the box. Prizefighter will be just one of a number of great boxing events held under the Matchroom Sports banner.

The competition is a complete sell out and the Liverpool Olympia will have a boisterous atmosphere before and after the first bell of the night sounds.

By Elliot Foster BritBox P5

“You only get out what you put in”

Image By Andy Gray - http://www.boxingportraits.com

A DOSE OF

DERRY T

Ex-British Champion Derry Mathews ‘The Art Of War’

he ancient scriptures, ‘Art of War’ by militant strategist Sun Tzu proclaim, “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.” However Liverpool warmonger, Derry Mathews (30-7-2), has regularly defied this aphorism throughout his illustrious career having prevailed in many an ‘all-or-nothing’ battle.

Mathews, 29, was a fallen warrior in 2008-09 following four crushing defeats in six; he retired having held the English and WBU featherweight titles. However, a new lease of inspiration in early 2010 saw the once ‘Golden Boy’ make a calculated comeback to the lightweight ranks, “I had time to reflect on my career and see how successful I’d been. To tell you the truth I never went to many boxing shows, but I saw what fighters were winning titles on TV and I knew I was leagues a head of some of them. So I put the dedication and graft in the gym again and knew it’d pay off,” he told BritBox. But what achievements did a onetime ring general hope to accomplish with a return? “I mightn’t have thought I’d win a British title, I thought that chance might have gone but I did it and proved a lot of people wrong. I’ve believed in myself and I guess that’s why I’ve come back from bad defeats and turned things around,” said Mathews.

‘Dirty’ Derry has featured 13 times since his 2010 reappearance and only four of them bouts have ended with the chime of the final bell. His warrior mentality and exciting television performances reaffirmed him as a fan favourite, “I prepare 110%. I’m a crowd pleaser that’s the way I’ve been brought up I like to put everything into the fight, I sell a lot of tickets and it’s all about putting bums on seats in this game.

“I believe I’m a 12-round fighter, the longer it goes the better I get into it, but they haven’t all seemed to have gone that way. I prepare very hard whether I get the stoppage or a points win. I’ve been lucky to stop a few but I’ve been on the end of some stoppages.

“I keep learning every day in the gym and I keep working hard.”

One of the stoppages the ex-British champion refers

to is a heart-breaking night in January of this year. An electric atmosphere in the Liverpool Olympia brewed as the cheers of the home crowd thundered round the antiquated walls of the famous venue. Mathews was challenging for the vacant IBO world lightweight title against the unbeaten Emiliano Marsili (23-0-1), but was stopped in seven awkward and painful sessions, “When I boxed Marsili the game plan was just absolutely terrible, take nothing away from Oliver Harrison, he’s a tremendous coach. I wasn’t getting good sparring either, like one or two sparring partners.”

Almost conceding that a fairy tale ending wouldn’t materialise, Mathews nearly retreated from the boxing field once again... until an opportunity to fight Anthony Crolla for the British title arose. The 28-year-old relocated his training camp to Scotland and reunited with ex-coach Danny Vaughan to rejuvenate himself for a final charge. Crolla was a young, hungry scrapper who had built a solid reputation in the 135lbs division, the bookies deemed it a 7/1 mismatch.

The prehistoric ‘Art of War’ also dictates that, “If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight.”

And fight he did—Mathews outgunned Crolla to win by sixth round TKO. “I won the Lonsdale belt for myself, but also for Danny he’s had me since I was 18 and it was great to see the smile on his face and my family’s.” >

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A DOSE OF

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DERRY >Scouse supporters were outnumbered and scattered sporadically round the Oldham Sports Centre, but lifted the roof in rapturous fashion, “There’s nothing better than beating a Manchester fighter in his own backyard!” admitted Mathews.

“Knowing the place and the time of the coming battle, we may concentrate from the greatest distances in order to fight.” – Sun Tzu ‘Dirty’ Derry took “greatest distances” to a literally new height as he marched his camp north to Scotland to prepare for his most recent bouts. His performances, physicality and mentality since the move have resembled that of a young hungry boxer who wanted to grasp his big chances with both hands. “I get locked away from my kids, girlfriend and mates, I don’t see anyone for weeks; it’s hard but part of the job. If you want to be successful in this game you’ve got to give your life to it and you can enjoy it at the end of it.”

The celebrations were as short lived as the title reign. Mathews challenged unsuccessfully, yet valiantly ,against Welshman Gavin Rees in a British and European showdown. “Against Gavin Rees I dedicated my life to it again, but the better man won on the night, little things from that camp were different to the Crolla camp, but me and Danny have spoken about it and I also shouldn’t have been coming home [on weekends].”

The man who cites his most valuable piece of advice as ‘you only get out what you put in’ has big plans for the remainder of his fighting days and revenge may be top of his list, “Since I’ve been back with Danny, we’ve have talked about possibly getting a rematch with Marsili and I was going to approach Eddie Hearn to get me the title fight with Marsili,” he revealed.

A roll call of great Liverpool boxers isn’t a list that one can simply waltz onto without a superb and memorable career, or one that an individual can self-initiate onto, but Derry Mathews would be excused if he thought himself a candidate. “It’s a hard position to be in; Liverpool has had so many great fighters. I want to be remembered as someone who always fought the best, always gave 110% inside the ring and in training. I’ve never ducked anyone and always been in hard fights. I want to be able to say to my kids, ‘your dad did this and that and was never in a dull fight.’ That’s how I want to be remembered, as a fighter who worked hard and was successful.”

The 29-year-old’s career thus far has sealed his place amongst Liverpool legends, but Mathews continues to refine his art of war and has many battles still to come.

by Sean Pollock BritBox P8

Natasha jonas