YORKSHIRE GRIT
Callum Beardow bids farewell to the amateur ranks
‘I JUST KEPT AT IT, KEPT IN THE GYM AND IT’S PAID OFF NOW’
YOU’VE had a good 2018?
I’ve had my best year. I only lost one in my last 15 fights. [Against Bryce Goodridge] I lost in the semi-finals of the ABAS last year and then this year I lost in the final [against him again].
He’s just turned pro. Hopefully one day I’ll see him [for a rematch]. I think he’s had 120 [amateur bouts]. When I boxed him last year it was his 110th. I’ve only had 38. What was the Elite final like?
I thought I did better than the previous year. The previous year I lost on a split decision. Last year I came out thinking he’d done enough to beat me. This time I thought it was closer but I lost on a unanimous decision.
First round I thought I won and then I thought he won the second two. The second was close so I thought he’d done enough to beat me.
He’s very tall, very rangy. He can sit on his stool and still punch me from the corner!
How would you describe your style?
I moved up from cruiserweight two seasons ago, the lads are massive at that weight.
Even though I can box, I have to come forward. I have to put the pressure on.
What have been the highlights of your amateur career?
I think 2012 I won the Junior ABAS. I’ve won about seven Yorkshire titles. I’ve got two Boys Clubs, CYP silver medals, got to the final twice. Lost to James Branch twice in that. Senior Elite championships I’ve got a bronze medal, I got a silver medal this year. I won the English Title belt, defended that once.
I never actually boxed for England, even with all that, never had the opportunity. I’m on the England talent pathway now but other than that I never actually got the England vest, what I always wanted.
But I’ll go down the professional route. Your shoulder injuries must have been difficult to come back from?
I was 17, 18 when it happened. I was on the verge of breaking into international boxing for England.
All of a sudden I had a repeat dislocation of the shoulder and had to have about year waiting when I couldn’t spar.
I had a [third] clean up operation to make sure the joint runs smooth inside and after that it’s been fine ever since. That was all together two years out. I didn’t compete. There were probably about nine months where I couldn’t throw a punch.
I was 18 years old, I need to start earning a bit of money and I’d put everything into boxing.
But I just kept at it, I kept in the gym and it’s paid off now.