A busy weekend beckons for Bob Shannon by Terry Dooley Feb 24th 2007

After the euphoria of Ali Nuumbembe's hard-fought Commonwealth title win over Kevin Anderson in Scotland a fortnight ago one may have expected Nuumbembe's trainer Bob Shannon to spend a night of revelry up in Scotland to celebrate.  However, this was not the case.   Instead Shannon had a triumphant midnight drive down back to Manchester, a few hours sleep, and was then out on a celebratory run along the Glossop hills with his fighters, four of whom are in action this weekend.   John ‘Rocco' Hussey, Abdul Hussein and Mark Wilson (light-welterweight, super-featherweight and light-heavyweight respectively) are all in action on a Wally Dixon dinner show in Manchester's Piccadilly hotel.  The next day the popular Chris P. Bacon (works with Bob as well as Kerry Kayes) is in action at the GH Carnall leisure centre – home of the recent Moore-Macklin epic – where he bids to win the vacant British Central Area Cruiserweight title against Tony Moran on a Steve Woods VIP show.   Bob is the quintessential overnight success story that took years in the making, fifteen of them, in fact, since Bob opened the doors of his ‘fighting Fit' gym.  Over that period of time Bob has waited in the wings, giving his fighters the fitness needed to show of their eventual finesse as other trainers celebrated their successes and failures.   Bob now feels that his time in boxing has come, the hard work has played off and although he recently lost a Champion (as Andy Morris lost his British featherweight crown to John Simpson) Bob feels that Ali Nuumbembe giving the gym another belt almost immediately afterwards shows that his gym is in it for the long-run.   Ali's fight with Anderson had been gruelling with the Namibian's greater punch output winning out over the Scotsman's more accurate paucity of punches.  A left hook to the body in round eight had seemed to crumple Anderson in half and had a massive effect on the Champion as he faded down the stretch and lost his belt at home.    Andersons camp protested about the scoring but they need to cut-out the moaning, so to speak, and bear in mind that two out of three arbiters saw their man as the loser on the night.   BBN asked Shannon how he was feeling after that dramatic night.   Bob Shannon: “Well what can you say?  It was a great night, great for Ali.  We were the underdogs, everyone thought Ali was going to fade in the last quarter of the fight but you know this is Shannon's gym and if you know anything about this gym you know that we get stronger as the fight goes on.   I knew when Anderson said pre-fight he was going to take Ali to the trenches the fight was ours.  I have been in the trenches with Ali – on the runs, on the bags and in the gym – so I thought “no!  We are going to do that to you Kevin”.  Ali took him to a place he had never been before.”   BBN: What was the strategy going into the fight?   BS: “Basically we had worked on the Muhammad Ali style you know?  Moving and punching, that is what made the other Ali a legend.  I told Ali to move, float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.  We worked on that movement for weeks and it paid off, it was the right tactic to use.”   BBN: I was surprised, I felt that the left hook to the head was the shot for Ali but he switched one to the body, could he have stuck with this and taken Anderson out late?   BS: “Well I‘ll be honest and say that I work on a lot of body punching with the lads but on this occasion with Anderson being so stocky it would have very difficult to do it straight away or consistently.   What Ali did is turn the right hand over the top so Anderson stood up a bit taller and we got that left hook under the belly and it was a cracking shot.  Looking back a few more of them and it could have been over a lot quicker to be honest but I'm still happy with the performance and it was a classic fight from him.”   BBN: It is only February but it was a years-end highlight type of fight, did you think it was going to be so intensive?   BS: “Yes because Kevin is such a big puncher.  When he fought Muttley he pulled it right out of the bag.”   BBN: It must always be a big worry fighting away from home.   BS: “Well it is all about that little bit of luck and we got it in this fight, the judges got it right and we are really pleased.    Ali is such a great kid.  It is my first Commonwealth Champion, it was on my wife's anniversary, our wedding anniversary, and it could not have come at a better time.  It was a good way to start the New Year.”   BBN: You have four fighters going at it this weekend over two shows, what type of a challenge does that present to you?   BS: “Well I was so high after Ali's fight but was straight back into the car and home so I could be out running with the lads.  I was back in the gym on the Monday and just want to win.”   BBN: Andy Morris looked in good spirits tonight.  Is he bouncing back well from his first defeat?   BS: “Oh, he has been great.  I told him to get back in the gym but it is easier said than done when the referee takes a fight away that you are winning but Ali being the underdog and winning has inspired Andy.    Ali has shown that if you fight hard enough and keep in there you will get the result.  I am here everyday training hard for my lads and I am passionate about what I do and about winning.  We show all the time that you can't keep a good man down; if you keep working and keep pecking at it you get a result.   I think I am on my way up on merit and do not fear any other trainer now.  Like a good fighter you have work hard to be one of the best and you have to believe in your own ability and I do that.  We are all still earning together, I learnt from Ali's fight as well, I am willing to always improve and try and get the best results for my lads.”   BBN: I remember training upstairs with West Gorton ABA when you opened this place and you were starting out and working hard way back then for the success you have now.   BS: “Yes it has been fifteen years now!  I'm still an up and coming lad as they say.  I have done this training regime since I was a kid.  I've done my apprenticeship now and will keep plugging away, I am going to get ups and downs, we all have them but I think that at the end of the day I'm on my way up.”   BBN: You carry a good reputation around Manchester; Billy Graham in particular has always had a lot of respect for you.  In an often-fickle sport like boxing is that respect a sign that you have done things the right way?   BS: “Well I've always tried to be honest with people and work hard for my fighters.  We (trainers) all do.  But like any fighter you have to go that little extra mile to be the best and I think that I do that to try and make myself that little bit better.    I mean Ali can really go on and improve again now.  Look at this photo. (Bob points out an article showing him with Ali and Andy, both Commonwealth Bronze medal winners) I told both these lads that if they came with me I'd give it my all to turn that bronze into gold.”   BBN: Was that pledge something you believed in one hundred percent even at that time?   BS: “Totally!  I said to Andy that I would turn his bronze into British gold and I told Ali that I would turn his bronze into Commonwealth gold!   Andy will get that British title back and we have Chris going for an area title this Sunday.  Success does not happen overnight does it?  I've been trying so hard for fifteen years and it has made me confident.  Ali's (fight) was close and we had that bit of luck but it tinged me with a bit of sadness for Andy.  We should have the British and Commonwealth title here right now but we'll get Andy's back.   Never sit on your laurels, never feel sorry for yourself.  I moved forwards after Andy and have to move forwards again after Ali to get Chris a win in his title shot.  Then I need to keep them Champions and that is where the real hard-work starts!”   It had been a strong show of passion and commitment from Shannon and one that will be matched this weekend as he puts in a time and a half stint in the corner.  BBN took a leaf from his book in trying to interview every fighter at the gym and as we passed a lad working out on the bags we had to do a double-take at his budding mohican hair-style and new-found head of hair.    It turned out that Andy Morris has adopted Bob's passion for the ‘Last of the Mohicans' mentality and his new hairstyle reflected it.  Andy laughed and rubbed his head.   “It's last of the Mohicans time mate.”   BBN: So Andy how is you training going after the loss to Simpson?   AM: “What training?  Only kidding training has been going well and I've been in the gym for a couple of weeks getting myself fit for a fight in April.  It had been a bit hard to get motivated but Frank (Warren) has given me a fight date now and Ali has inspired me.”   BBN: Was it great to see Ali win his Commonwealth title?   AM: “Yes it was great to see and great for everyone in the gym.  Ali, wow!  It was a great performance.  I couldn't get to the fight but I watched it on telly and Ali was well worth the win, he boxed brilliantly.”   BBN: Did it make up a little for your disappointment against Simpson?   AM: “Yes it was just great to see Ali come out on top because he has had some hard fights and deserves it, he deserved to be the winner.”   BBN: After a tough year last year are you feeling more comfortable now that Frank Warren has taken sole control of your career?   AM: “Yes.  We decided to leave Frank Maloney (his former manager) and go solely with Frank Warren now.  It is great because Frank is the main man.  I was with Maloney and Warren as a joint venture but they don't work together anymore.  Frank Warren is the best man around so it isn't even a gamble if you know what I mean.”   BBN: What has Frank got planned for you this year?   AM: “Well he has promised me four title fights starting in April so I'll get stronger as the year goes on.”   BBN: Do you feel that last year you was left on the shelf a little bit (Andy only had two fights last year)?   AM: “Yes, I think that was down to the situation between Frank Maloney and Frank Warren and I got caught in the middle of it.  It is all in the past now and I'm just looking forward to getting my belt back.”   BBN: How are you feeling after losing the fight with Simpson on cuts?   AM: “It felt bad.  I can just imagine him walking around Glasgow, or wherever he's from, right now with my belt and it hurt, it definitely hurts.  I will get it back though.”   BBN: A few people blamed weight making claiming you are tight at the weight.   AM: “I'm fine at the weight.  We trained on power and I was hitting a lot harder and that is what I trained for.  I'm getting mature and the power is coming so I'm sitting down on my shots.  I want to punch a bit and people in the past said I move around a bit too much but when I sit down on my punches I still get stick so you can't win.”   BBN: Many people think that you should have been given a few rounds but obviously the referee disagreed.   AM: “I think that the referee bottled it to be honest and that is the be all and end all of it but you can't turn it back now and have to put it behind.  There is no point holding a grudge because I'm not going to get my belt back that way am I?  The only way I will get it back is in the ring.  By beating Simpson.   Before I go anywhere else in my career I want that Lonsdale belt back, it is the best belt.  Simpson is boxing clever by fighting Derry Matthews but I just have to keep myself fit and try and get that title when the chance comes.”   BBN: Some fans contacted me to say you had been hard done by so any message for them?   AM: “Yes.  Thanks to all my fans for their support and I'll be back.  I'm glad they have faith in me and will repay it by coming back strong.”   BBN: Thanks Andy and good luck over the coming year.   Like a fighter quickly moving between the jump-bar and heavy-bag (only less nimble) BBN accosted John ‘Rocco' Hussey – recently recovered from a hand injury – to ask him how he feels about making his ring return this weekend on the Wally Dixon card at the Midland hotel.   JH: “It feels very, very good mate.”   BBN: How has the hand been holding-up?   JH: “It has been good.  I've been strapping it up more and putting a lot more tape on.  You have to do that in boxing because you are not just punching in a fight you are punching (the bags) all the time and it takes it toll.  I'm thinking positive and focussed on the fight.”   BBN: How are recovering from the loss to Billy Smith in your last fight?   JH: “I just want to get back on the winning trail to be honest.  Hopefully by the end of this year I'll have a big fight.”   BBN: Anyone in mind?   JH: “Well I'd really like to fight that John Fewkes because I believe that I could beat him.  I watched him fight Craig Watson and thought Watson blew the fight by not pressuring.  He doesn't like pressure that Fewkes lad.”   BBN: Watson had him going a tad in the final round didn't he?   JH: “He did yeah, I thought he should have done that from round one don't you?   I am hoping that the KO's will come as well and if the openings come I'll take them and work them properly.  I hope I get a guy who is going to come fight so we'll see.  I'll have a look in the first round then try and do a good job over four-threes.   BBN: You must want Smith again?   JH: “Hopefully I can get that fight somewhere down the line and try and get revenge on him.   I've had a bit of bad luck and will come through it and I just want to be the best I can be at the end of the day.”   Local light-heavyweight Mark Nielsen is on the bill this Saturday as well, undefeated in three fights he hopes to open his account for this year with a win.  On something of a roll BBN managed to trap Mark as he dashed off for his shower.   BBN: Thanks for talking to us Mark.  How are you feeling about this fight?   MN: “Good, I'm hoping of a good win and a good performance on Saturday.  I know a bit about my opponent from looking him up on the Internet so I know he has won two fights on points lately.”   BBN: How has your work in the gym been going?   MN: “Good, really good.  Sparring has been excellent, I've been sparring with Chris Bacon and the young lad Denton Vassell.   Denton actually hits me harder than some of the heavyweights!”   BBN: Chris is a big lad with a good dig as well.   MN: “Chris is very strong, his punches are strong and he throws you about a lot but I don't think he hits me as hard as Denton does.”   BBN: Does Denton hurt you to the body or to the head?   MN: “Both!  Denton can really bang and the smaller gives you a lot of speed where the heavyweights throw you about a lot and show you strength.  Chris is very good at the rough stuff and I'll be supporting him this Sunday.   I'm going to keep busy this year and do whatever Bob tells me to do.  Wally has a lot of dinner shows this year and I'm hoping to be on a few of them so look out for some good tear-ups because I like to fight!”   Finally the time came to leave, it had been an exhausting visit and as it concluded Shannon was preparing his fighters for their final weigh-ins.    On the way home, though, BBN had just enough time to speak to the other fighter on the Dixon bill as Abdul Rashid aims to get back on the winning trail after the enjoyable, but ultimately losing, experience of fighting Anthony Crolla on a big Sports Network bill.   Abdul is hoping to get his put his career back into the winning street and told us that the experience of fighting on the undercard of a Joe Calzaghe fight was a great one for a young pro to go through.  Despite the loss to Crolla Abdul hopes that his high-energy style will see him through this week and as I spoke to Bob about having four fights going ahead over the weekend Abdul pointed out the most important statistic.   AR: “It will be four fights and four wins!”   Tickets for the VIP show can be obtained by phoning 0161 834 9496.  A limited number will be available at the door on the day of the fight at the venue, the GH Carnall Leisure Centre.

Go back Comment on this article | Send to a friend | Print

Friend name: Friend email: Your name: Your email:   Privacy Statement

There are no comments. Click here to be the first who comment on this article.