Confessions of a boxing virgin by Kerry Duffy Aug 1st 2005

Confessions of a boxing virgin Date: Sunday 24th July Venue: London Equinox, Leicester Sq. London. It was to be the last pro boxing show at The Equinox, before its conversion into a casino, but it was my first. Ever. Not quite sure of what to expect, I took my seat ringside – c/o Jon Feld, in partnership with Joe Pyle as promoters of the evening's boxing – and waited with baited breath. I sat with my father and surveyed my surroundings. An obvious nightclub. Dark and gaudy at the same time, what a feat! I passed on the complimentary buffet, instead opting for the not so complimentary bar. At £4 a pop I half expected my wine to be served by a semi-naked young man. Or at the very least in a wine glass, but I digress. Upon reading a preview of the show in Boxing News, I was under the impression I would be in the presence of the rich and famous. Indeed, it was more rich and infamous as I spied Roy ‘Pretty Boy' Shaw looking dapper in his ringside seat. The assembled crowd were in fine form though and there was a great level of support from London to Wales. The only boxing I had thus far experienced was an amateur show, many moons ago, of which I have no recollection, and the only professional boxing to which I was accustomed was via the TV set, all bright lights, big talking comperes and big breasted women. Although tonight was not a million miles away, it was more blinding lights, blonde comperes and bare big-bottomed women. The action began a prompt one hour late but for me it was worth the wait. Top of the bill was a ‘clash of the titans', ‘lord of the manor', ‘man vs. boy' type grudge match between two east enders, Micky Steeds and Garry Delaney, thus giving the show the inevitable title, ‘Who will be the guv'nor?' Clever, eh? Micky Steeds took the honour with a majority points decision. However, that bout was either the least impressive of the night or the wine was making me drowsy, but I found the preceding bouts a touch more entertaining, namely the determined yet ultimate loser, Tony Booth, a grey haired Hull journeyman, who still made the heavenly built Coleman ‘Coley' Barrett (great sobriquet!) look average. Another impressive bout saw the young boxer, Michael Grant, who was making his pro debut, walk away victorious after defeating David Kehoe by majority points. Another debutant, Jamal Morrison also put in a sturdy performance in his defeat of Casey Brooke. These boxers, and the whole evening, left an indelible impression on me and I hope this show is the first of many more I will get to enjoy.

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