'Roll on 2007!' - Exclusive Wayne Elcock interview by Tom Podmore Dec 8th 2006

New English middleweight champion Wayne Elcock is over the moon after his eight round stoppage victory over Coventry's reigning champion Steve Bendall last Friday night. And he can't wait for 2007, a year he promises to be one of his best. The Bendall demolition wrapped up a great year for the Birmingham stylist, who admitted he feared for his career at the beginning of 2006. Elcock, now 17-2 (8), put in a devastating performance to stop Bendall on Friday, and admits that Steve surprised him a little with his ability to take his patented power shots flush and still remain upright. Bendall, although well beaten, was game throughout and gave it his all. He landed a few shots on the swashbuckling Brummie and earned the new champions respect. Steve had talked of retirement beforehand but that performance suggests he still may have something to give on the domestic scene. Indeed, he will fight on in 2007 and hopes to meet Elcock sometime in the future. Wayne has nothing but praise for the Bournemouth based Coventry southpaw. “I wasn't really that surprised he took the punishment, to be honest. I had trained very hard so I was prepared for it to go the full ten rounds. But I have to admit the way I was hitting of late I thought I would get an earlier night than round eight. “But it's taught me that you should never really on your punch. So I just focused on a distance fight and never underestimated him, as I knew he had mixed in good company and he had trained harder than ever for this fight. “I had massive respect for him as a fighter beforehand, and now its respect to him as a person. “Steve is a top guy, and a credit to our sport. He hadn't cheated on his training, had done his roadwork and his legs held him up from some heavy head shots, but I had belief that if he kept taking them like he was I would get him out eventually – the accumulation of punches taking its toll.” Elcock, ever the perfectionist, wasn't 100% percent happy with his performance, though, as an injury picked up whilst sparring Bedworth's Jay Allen meant he couldn't all that he wanted to do. “I was pleased with my performance, but a nagging injury to my left hand, sustained in my first sparring session, prevented me using the left hook that I had worked on in training. It was the tool that done the job for me last time. “The left ‘went' again but it was in round eight and the adrenaline carried me through it and I finished the job in style. “It did mean I had to work on my right more, and I even went southpaw in sparring sessions as my left hand was in such as state while sparring. It was a precautionary measure, just in case it reoccurred in the fight with Bendall. “I had an injection four weeks before fight and another injection in it on the Monday before fight, and I guess that's why I was right hand happy on the night but against a southpaw I suppose it wasn't such a bad thing having to sharpen up the right hand.” Wayne, a proud and passionate Brummie, is praying that the win on Friday night will catapult him to a second British title. He admits he couldn't do anything without the help of the legions of his supporters, though, who roar him on everytime he fights. He hopes they are back to support him at the ICC in March when he goes after another title – his third in three fights – and then the British title fight. “The crowd did me proud on Friday,” disclosed ‘Mad Dog'. “The roar as I came in to ring was amazing and the noise level raised the roof every time I landed a good shot. It definitely spurred me on and made me even more determined to do the job. “I had it in the back of my mind that I really wanted to see every one of them with a smiling face at the end of it. All the hurt and pain in training, or the fight itself makes it all worth while when you see so many Brummies and Midlanders as proud of me as I am of them. “We are a team and I couldn't do it on my own. It will take us both to make this a city for big time boxing. I never felt troubled or felt it was really tough but he did catch me with a couple of shots but I always felt in control and went at my pace. “I listened to instructions from Paddy and Tommy (Lynch, trainers) and eased off for a couple of rounds (five and six) and then picked it up when they told me. “I am waiting for the British title to be contested and then I have to wait and see if I get my chance once again, which is never guaranteed. “In the meantime, I will fight for the WBF ‘world' crown in March, so I am keeping busy and not playing a waiting game. By then it should have all unfolded and I will have a clearer picture on what fights will be in front of me. “Then I can go forward knowing I have stayed busy and will be fully prepared for whatever direction I am offered.” It's been quiet a year for Wayne and his promoter, Ken Purchase. Purchase, a life long boxing fan, had staged shows with great past fighters coming over, but he had his first professional boxing card in May, and Wayne couldn't have been happier with who he delivered. “It has been a great year for me. And I have to say a massive thank you to Ken Purchase and ‘Team Ringside' for having the belief in me. They backed me all the way and got me the fight with Lawrence Murphy - It was a fight I had chased since the defeat in 2003, and it was great to have it in my own backyard. “I'd like to thank the people of Birmingham for believing in me and supporting me even before I had any title strapped around my waist. They helped keep me and Ken in business. “The Murphy fight delivered boxing to my city and it got rid of any doubts I had about my ambitions or capability (Murphy destroyed in five, after being on the deck three times). It restored my own belief that I could still do a job after being virtually written off and in semi retirement. “I had the feeling there was no where to go without any backing of a promoter before ‘Ringside Promotions' came. “Then Ken arrived, and since then I have gone from strength to strength. It's been great to be able to have a path to follow and a promoter willing to make sure you stay on that path and achieve your goals. “The year started with no promoter and no future. The only thing keeping me in the gym was Paddy and Tommy as well as Don Aegeson, and I owe a lot to them. Its hard to stay focused and work on improving my punching power when you have no fights in the pipeline to stay positive for. “I was facing a bleak future but they kept me sane… just about! “However, it's been a whirlwind last six months,” continues Elcock. “I've captured back to back titles and won all my fights this year inside the distance. I've added the scalps of two top ten British fighters and the Scottish champion, who had never been stopped. “I feel it is the start of things to come and hopefully I can achieve more goals and ambitions in the coming years. “I'm more experienced after getting a second chance through Ken. And I'm more determined than ever to succeed. “The best is still to come. I will enjoy Christmas and celebrate with a pint or two, as it's been a long time since I have had a Christmas and New Year. I'm really looking forward to spending some quality time with my family and daughter, Chelsea, without a grueling training programme to do. “Roll on 2007, I can't wait.” As a fighter, Elcock isn't bothered who he fights, as long as he fights. He doesn't mind who wins out of Richard Williams and Howard Eastman, he's confident of beating both. He'll also be making the trip to London to challenge the winner to fight him in the New Year. “I will be at the Richard Williams- Howard Eastman fight as its a must see fight for me, and I will want to challenge the winner after the fight. “If I am honest, they are both good fighters and have respect for both of them as I do with everyone I could possibly meet – I learnt the hard way against Lawrence Murphy in 2003 (shockingly losing in one round). “I don't get caught up in possible opponents as there is no point doing my homework until it's needed. In boxing anything can happen, but it's a good match up (even if I do feel it should be me in there after my eliminator!) between two fighters that have achieved a lot for British boxing, albeit at different weights. “There is not much in the way of age and both are experienced at a very high level so I will sit on the fence! But I hope the winner defends the title against me. "I feel so good that I don't care which one I face. He will become the former champion."

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