Dean’s delighted at his return to the North East

DEAN Laing says he’s back in love with boxing again after moving back home to Newcastle fulltime. Turning professional in 2017 after a respectable amateur career, Laing relocated to Manchester – the UK capital of boxing – where he was signed by former world title challenger Pat Barrett. Despite one early blemish, Laing was 3-1 and progressing nicely by March 2018, but he was beginning to find it tough. Falling out of love with the sport, being away from family and friends half of the week, and gruelling regular long-distance journeys followed by the need to hit the concrete and keep up with his running for weight-cuts made the process a little labouring for the super middleweight.

To make his clamour to be home even bigger, boxing in the North East suddenly began to boom, thanks largely to the rapid rise of Lewis Ritson.

Laing would have two more fights under Barrett’s tutelage (both in Gateshead though) before cutting ties to the North West-based trainer and manager and coming home. Now based at O’toole’s Gym in Byker, Laing is ready to resume his career on March 16 at Rainton Meadows Arena, and he admits he’s feeling better than ever.

“Training has been great,” he said. “I feel like a different fighter already and I feel the best I’ve ever felt. I’m back in love with boxing again.

“I’m back in the North East where the sport is booming again and I want to be part of that. Now it’s time for me to kick on.

“I was a good amateur and I think I over-thought the decision when turning professional. At the time boxing wasn’t as big as it is now in Newcastle and Pat Barrett offered me to turn over with him because I fought his nephew at amateur.

“I’m back boxing for Owen Reay, my old amateur coach. He was in my corner for my first ever fight and has been there or thereabouts throughout the majority of my career. He knows me. He understands me and he gets the best out of me. He always has done and already I’m feeling a better version of myself.”