Munroe helping Barrett launch bareknuckle career
RYAN Barrett will have ‘The Boxing Binman’ in his corner when he launches his bareknuckle boxing career this month, writes Matt Bozeat.
The 35-year-old from Coalville will become the first fighter to represent Leicestershire in the sport on Friday, November 27.
He meets Matty Hodgson on a show screened live on mso-ansilanguage:EN-US from Wakefield and believes Rendall Munroe is his secret weapon.
Known as ‘The Boxing Binman,’ Munroe twice fought for world honours as a professional boxer.
He has since opened a gym in Leicester where his pupils include Barrett.
Barrett boxed as an amateur with Chris Pyatt and Neil Linford in his corner before joining the Marines – and then deciding to join the growing bareknuckle boxing circuit.
“I’ve been working on my boxing with Rendall,” he said.
“I’ve always relied on being big, strong and aggressive. I have an aggressive personality!
“I don’t need to work on that. I need to work on my boxing ability and ring craft and Rendall has brought me on no end.
“The bareknuckle lads are all tough and game and I’ve got that as well.
“But I believe I’m a better boxer than most of them now – because of Rendall.”
Barrett is happy to be chucked in deep on his bareknuckle debut.
Hodgson has won four of his five fights and Barrett said: “He is the sort of opponent I wanted. I don’t want to mess about.
“His name is already out there and beating him will put my name out there.
“I know he’s tough, but so am I – and I can box as well.” Barrett is also fit.
“I’ve been training for 40 weeks!” he said. “I haven’t been out of the gym. I’ve been desperate to fight. I was pestering (bareknuckle boss) Jim (Freeman) and in the end he said: ‘OK, we will put you on a show, leave me alone!’”
Meanwhile, a pair of framed and signed boxing gloves, signed by Britain’s world heavyweight champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua and donated by businessman Kenny Whomsley, have been raffled off to raise £1,000.
The money has been split between Sileby Boxing Academy and Unity ABC in Leicester to help the clubs survive during the Covid pandemic. The raffle was held during a lockdown night event on Facebook organised by Kenny and friends Lee and Mason Nash.
Dave Lambert, head coach of Sileby Boxing Academy, said: “This donation means so much to me and all at the boxing academy.
“It comes at a very difficult time with the pandemic causing the temporary closure of both clubs, and will help towards funding to keep both alive.”