City legend helps Bruce prepare for his big fight
RENDALL MUNROE TRAINING COSBY BANTAMWEIGHT
SEAN Bruce has been punching his boyhood hero in the build up to Leicester’s next big fight night, writes Matt Bozeat.
Bruce faces hard-as-nails Steven Maguire in a bantamweight six rounder at Athena on Friday, June 9 – and to prepare, he’s been swapping punches with his trainer!
The 27-year-old from Cosby is trained by Rendall Munroe and revealed he goes way back with the former European champion and world title challenger.
Bruce said: “I had an unlicensed fight in Leicester when I was about 11 and Rendall was at ringside.
“My dad said: ‘Get him to sign your gloves’ and he wrote: ‘The sky’s the limit’ on them.
“Rendall was massive in Leicester at the time.
“I remember him beating Kiko Martinez (for the European superbantamweight title) and what a huge night that was.
“It’s crazy to think that all these years on he is training me and we spar each other.
“Everyone in the gym stops when we spar and Rendall has definitely still got it. He’s still very competitive and let’s me know it when we are sparring.”
Bruce has had more top quality sparring, heading down to London to spar with Quaisie Khademi, the former WBO European champion.
He said: “We did eight, threeminute rounds with 30 seconds rest in between.
“His coach was saying he could see my potential.
“We talked for an hour or so after sparring and they gave me so much advice.
“I want to get to the level he’s at and I know there’s a long way to go yet, but I wanted to test myself.” Three fights into his professional career, Bruce has yet to lose a round. He knows Maguire will give him his toughest test yet, saying: “I know he’s going to come and look to put the pressure on.
“I’m excited by the challenge. I’m going to put on a good performance.”
Bruce hopes to challenge for super-flyweight honours next year.
He won the Midlands title four times during a 46-bout amateur apprenticeship with Earl Shilton ABC spent mixing it with tough opponents. Muhammad Ali went on to box at the 2016 Olympics and Liam Davies is the current British and European superbantamweight champion.
Bruce said: “That sort of experience really sets you up for professional boxing.
“I got my foundations from my amateur career.
“Win or lose, it’s great experience.”