Finding way around corners of ring is all I’ve known so I felt lost outside the ropes. Guiding young fighters is new chapter but lights ain’t out on last one
Meet MailSport’s new columnist who pulls no punches with his take on Scottish boxing
For as long as I can remember, it’s always been about finding my way around the four corners of a boxing ring.
That growing confidence, owning every inch of the canvas and being the best I can be in my place of work.
Stepping outside the ropes is a different challenge.
No longer having that feeling of certainty, it’s only a few months since I had to admit to myself I felt a bit lost.
Training throughout the lockdowns was a nightmare and then fights being talked about only to fall through. Back in May I was scheduled to fight again but it was far too chaotic a time frame and it didn’t happen.
Cue a real downer and I needed to take things back into my own hands.
I decided to phone Boxing Scotland performance director Craig McEvoy to see if I could begin my coaching badges, which are required to work with young fighters.
My words to him were that I was a bit lost, boxing is all I have done since I was a wee boy and suddenly there was nothing but big question marks. What am I going to do?
This may sound a bit doom and gloom and I’m not using my first MailSport column to announce my retirement.
Hopefully that day remains on the far horizon.
All I’ve been asked about for the last two years is when was I going to fight again.
I’m 38 years old, that’s not a spring chicken for a boxer.
But my attitude is that as long as I’m not getting hurt, then I will continue.
There are big fights left in me and hopefully the return to the ring will take place before the end of the year.
But another chapter in my career beckons and that conversation with Boxing Scotland has opened up a brand new perspective on the sport for me, watching, helping and mentoring from the safer side of the ropes. For the last four months I’ve been helping coach the amateur fighters.
There have been a couple of trips for sparring camps in Serbia and Russia.
My son Leon was getting himself into a state as he’s so used to me going away throughout my own fight career that I had to reassure him I’d only be away for a week.
First on the agenda is the World Championships, which will take place at the end of this month. We are all gearing up for that but the big focus is on the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham next year.
Coaching young fighters has dragged me out of my comfort zone. The first few weeks with Boxing Scotland felt so weird.
Working on the pads with the boys wasn’t the problem and being asked for bits of advice was fine. But helping them to get ready was so strange as I’ve been so used to only being focused on myself. Gloving them up, head guards on and all the rest of it, it’s usually me who’s getting all of that done for me so this has been a big adjustment.
Thankfully it’s second nature now and I just get on with it. To mentor and inspire young fighters is great but I tell them I’m learning from them as much as they are picking up bits and pieces from me. There’s a learning that cuts both ways.
Whether it’s preparation, sparring or pad work, I watch them and pass on what I can.
I also state the importance of the good habits which are the staple of my own career.
The majority of the boys are taking it all on board, which, in such a short time, has been so satisfying to see.
I always said that when I stopped boxing, coaching would be next. It was about setting up my own gym, establishing my own amateur club and training professionals
The only positive spin- off from the Covid lockdown was the amount of time I managed to spend with Leon.
He’s eight years old and he was born at a time when I changed trainers. There was so much of his life where I was away training. So this year-anda-half is the longest sustained period of time when I’ve been home, it ’s been priceless to have that.
I know there will be people reading this who can relate to that as they will have been in similar situations.
There are signs something resembling normal is returning and in the last few months I’ve discovered learning never stops, inspiring others should never end and brighter days lie ahead.