GOOD TO BE BACK
Jack Stringer on how he rediscovered his love for boxing
WHAT were your highlights of 2017?
I got to the [75kgs] quarter-final of the ABAS. I got beat by Ben Whittaker. I won the English title belt as well. I thought I done alright against [Whittaker]. It was my first time back in the ring in nearly two years. That was only my fourth senior fight. It was the first time I entered the senior championships. It was good to jump straight in there with him.
It was my first time in the seniors, first time back in three years, so it was good.
I boxed against the Finland national champion up in Catterick. It was the Army against Finland so I stepped in against the Finland champion [Santeri Laine]. He was quite good and strong. I started off boxing very well and got drawn into a bit of a war with him. Which I enjoyed so that was good.
How would you described your own style as a boxer?
Sort of front foot counter-puncher. I like being on my front foot a lot, moving my head, throwing a lot of shots. I’m quite aggressive myself but sometimes I switch it up a bit. My main style is coming forward.
How come you’ve been out for three years?
I joined the Royal Marines. I took a year out before and took my time out for training as well. It’s something I’d always wanted to do. It’s something different away from boxing. I wanted to do something different. And I box for the Marines now so it’s quite good.
It’s quite different [training in the Marines]. It’s a lot more carrying a lot of weight, yomping loads of distance, doing all the tests and that. It was a lot different. I really enjoyed the soldiering side of it. Did your experience as a boxer help?
Definitely the boxing helped me a lot through marine training. Even though they’re physically strong, being used to boxing training helped me a lot.
What was your experience before the Marines?
I’d won three national titles before, I won the schoolboys, Junior ABAS and CYPS. I’d had quite a few bouts before I joined the Marines. I boxed for England a couple times as a Junior and then as a Youth.
So how did it feel to get back to it?
I had my first fight back in Australia with the Navy. That was a good experience. I enjoyed getting back in. I thought going to Australia it would be worth boxing one more time. I started enjoying it. I started getting the love back for it.