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For
my first interview I spoke to the town’s only current professional
boxer, Darren Chubbs. I’ve known Darren for years and although he’s
best known for his boxing success his first taste of professional sport
came as a cricketer.
For
three years he was a fast bowler for Gloucestershire and also enjoyed the
life of a pro cricketer in Australia playing for North Perth.
But
boxing has always been his true love and last year, at the age of 31, the
6ft 4in, 161/2 stone powerhouse joined the ranks of pro boxing. So far he
has fought twice and won both his bouts under the watchful eyes of manager
Brendan Devine and coach Franny Hind and has proved he is a force to be
reckoned with.
Darren
speaks with a passion for his sport and his knowledge of the game shines
through.
He
told me it all started in the old Crossens gym with Eddie Monahan when he
got his first taste of heavyweight boxing with former super heavyweight
Irish champion Bernie Deacey.
He
then boxed as an amateur out of Kirkby ABA, enjoying a record of 29 wins
and only two defeats – to Michael Holden, now British pro champ, and
Matthew Ellis, now ranked forth in Britain.
Now,
at the age of 32, Darren is under no illusion that he has to push on with
his career.
He
explained: “I have to take the direct route. I was going to turn pro
when I was 26 but with family commitments I joined the Prison Service. I
am now a PTI and that helps me with the training I have to do.”
Darren
trains every day and fights about every five weeks. He sets his sights in
a positive manner and says he has to fight someone in the top 20 in his
next two fights. He fancies a shot at Frank Warren’s John Mcdermott and
then even a chance for a British title fight.
Personally,
I think Darren could achieve his British title with his long, lean style,
similar to a young Lennox Lewis.
We
also spoke about the lack of facilities he and former boxers have
experienced in our home town – Brian Wareing, Paddy Derkin and Gordon
Burton to name but a few. There’s nothing worse than having to do
a full days work and then traveling to Liverpool or Kirkby to get the
facilities you need to train correctly.
It
makes you wonder how many young boxers, and kickboxers, we have missed out
on through the lack of facilities.
I
asked Darren which boxers he liked we shared the same love for Ali,
although we both agreed that in his day Mike Tyson was awesome.
The
one thing in boxing Darren doesn’t like is the politics although he
recons that might all become easier with the Barry McGuigan Boxing Union
which will give the likes of Audley Harrison the chance to pick their own
management teams and run their own careers.
I
wish Darren all the best for the future, starting next Tuesday at Everton
Park with his following of fans (who he thanks for all their support) and
his family wife Joanne, four –month old Lucy, Hannah (4) and Danny (11)
–I’m sure he will go from strength to strength.
Southport
could have a rising star with the potential to go to the top in Britain.
We could witness a Chubbs – Harrison or even Chubbs – Francis in the
not to distant future.
But
in my experience, a word of advice. Take the one who advertises on the
soles of his boots |
