WHALE OF A TIME
21-year-old Elliot Whale sets his sights on the national Elite title
YOU’VE had 100 amateur bouts, how pleased are you with that milestone?
It’s a good feeling and it’s good that I’ve done it all with the same club. Every one has all been at Nemesis with Tony Pettit and that. It’s a good feeling. Especially the amount of comments you get saying not many people do it, it’s quite a good feeling.
[Nemesis] is like one big family. I know it’s a cliché but it is. I’d never feel right fighting for another club. I think it’s just the perfect gym for me.
What have you learned over the course of 100 contests?
Definitely take every fight as it comes. But I don’t know really, it’s valuable fighting experience. I’ve fought pretty much every style now, all different type of levels.
Who would you say have been the best people you’ve boxed?
The best person I’ve boxed would probably be Luke Mccormack, I boxed him in the ABA semi-finals, and Steven Mckenna from Ireland, he’s probably the best person I’ve boxed and beat.
He’s a good fighter, he’s turning over now, he’s not even on the amateur scene anymore. He’s probably the best one I beat and Luke Mccormack is the best one I’ve lost to. I think once he [Mccormack] gets to the Olympic Games, he’ll probably turn over and I think he’ll be fighting for world titles, not straightaway but in the future. Is the national title your target?
I’ve just moved up to welterweight. I’ve had three fights at welter, won them all. Hopefully it all pans out alright, goes well, get this title in the Elites… That’s my focus at the minute.
I got to the semi-finals again [last year] I got beat by Isaac Milburn from Birtley. It was close, a close fight. It just didn’t go my way, I lost on a split.
Hopefully this year is going to be a big year.
Have you been frustrated getting so close the last couple of years?
I’ve got no excuses. I’m up at the new weight. I’m not really tired at the weight, I’m good. The weight’s all good. I’ve sparred some good fighters and everything’s just going well. I’m in a much better place.
I’m ready to rock this year.
Who have you been sparring?
I’ve sparred Josh Taylor, you can’t get better than that. The only way you can really get better is getting up on GB, because obviously they’re amateurs and good fighters.
Chris Kongo who used to be on GB. It’s hard to get amateur sparring because no one wants to spar you if they’re going to fight you in the ABAS. [But] when you’ve been boxing so long you come against the same sort of fighters.
‘ALL MY 100 BOUTS HAVE BEEN WITH THE SAME CLUB. NEMESIS IS LIKE A FAMILY’