Brian Rose is getting ready to fly by Terry Dooley Sep 21st 2007

In a gym at the foot of the Pennines Blackpool's Brian Rose, now fighting out of Manchester, is being ably guided to the experienced Bobby Rimmer. This union sees both men – fighter and trainer – taking their first solo steps in their respective professions. Rimmer is remembered for his work with The Phoenix Camp yet wants to put past associations behind him and show he has the attributes to be a top trainer. Brian is the hot prospect of this camp. This is no disrespect to any of the other fighters there but Michael Gomez is well past the prospect stage and Sean Crompton, despite showing he has heart and desire, does not have the amateur pedigree of Brian. Pedigree is also the key issue. Already Brian looks like a fighter who has the potential to emerge as a thoroughbred in boxing. Sharp movement, a lively jab, increasingly sound shot selection and intelligence in the boxing ring have all been exhibited in Brian's five, 5-0 (1), fights thus far. Brian has been prematurely compared to Ronald ‘Winky' Wright and whilst I would not encourage the adopting of a sealed guard that itself invites pressure Brian's fights so far have followed a similar pattern to the strategy Wright adopted versus Felix Trinidad. Allow me to elaborate. Wright started off jabbing behind a tight defence in the fight with Tito. Then, when the time was right, Wright worked the power shots and then, with Tito befuddled and bemused, Wright brought his southpaw left to the party. Rose used his jab predominately against Ernie Smith and David Kirk. Body shots were factored in during his fight with Tony Randell. Then the mixture of jabs, headshots and body shots forced Justin Barnes to quit in two rounds this June. By taking it one step at a time Rose may one day be the type of fighter who can produce perfectly performed fight plans. BBN caught-up with Brian to discuss his fledgling career. BBN: You have had plenty of amateur experience Brian, could tell us about that? BR: “I had ninety amateur fights and won seven national titles. Two schools titles, two NABC's and two Junior ABA's. I boxed for England 20 times and boxed all over Europe with England.” BBN: What prompted you to turn pro? BR: “I turned pro after a bad decision in the ABA's. Joe McNally beat me the first time fair and square but the second time there was just no way he won. “I knew I did not have the style for the pro game at the time but I also knew I could adapt to it and I have done that now. I'm planting my feet a bit more and throwing a variety of shots.” BBN: You had a first fight in Blackpool then a shoulder injury forced you to take a year out, why start over again here in Manchester? BR: “I had my first pro fight in Blackpool and it went all wrong. The training was not right, they had the wrong gumshield for the fight – it was someone else's gumshield – so I knew it wasn't right for me and Manchester is the place for boxing right now. “(Local promoter) Wally Dixon brought me down here and introduced me to Bobby Rimmer. I got a flat here and saw how nice the gym was and how good Bobby is (working with his fighters) so that sealed it for me.” BBN: You and Bobby have a good boxer-trainer relationship, was that immediate? BR: “To be honest I was a little star struck when I first worked with Bobby because of the boxers he has worked with and I was flattered that he wanted to work with me. “Bobby always said that he did not want to change my style but he wanted me working off the jab, not just throwing it, and he has got me throwing body shots and planting my feet. He has done it without making it a massive change. I found it quite hard at first because I was used to being on my toes. I picked it up quite easily in the end.” BBN: You have shown you can throw a good left hook to the body, are you getting any tips from Michael Gomez about body punching? BR: “I always watch Michael in training. We will do a lot of technique sparring on the quiet days. He'll throw a lot of body shots and I'll throw a lot of body shots. So I learn a lot from him. He is a renowned body puncher. Then I'll work on my jab and see if Michael can get past my jab because I'm tall with a good jab.” BBN: A good jab is a fighter's best friend; you put a lot of jabs out when you fight. BR: “Yeah, everything should come off your jab anyway. A jab is the key to good boxing. In the (Ernie) Smith fight I was a little bit gun-shy as I had been out for a year. In the Tony Randell fight I knew I could take the shots and I was comfortable working off my jab.” BBN: You have come along nicely so far, are you happy with the matches you've had? BR: “All my matches have been right and they have been good learning fights. I'd have to say my last one (WRSF 2 Justin Barnes) is my favourite one as it was a stoppage and I'd been worried about my punching ability. I could really feel my punches going in against him.” BBN: Justin Barnes talked a good fight before the opening bell, did that rile you? BR: “I was going mad before the fight because he'd given it loads and he was taking ages to get into the ring. I wouldn't mind if it was for a world title or a televised fight but it was a small show. “I'm glad he did that because it got me up for the fight and helped me to stop him. I might have just boxed him but I went up through the paces because he had done all that.” BBN: To be blunt Barnes seemed to quit after you caught him with lefts to the body, it must have been a disappointment not to finish him cleanly? BR: “I was hitting him with big shots but if he had stuck it out I could have hit him with more. I had trained for eight weeks and was a bit gutted when he did not stay on his feet. I was hitting him with shots but I wanted to hit him with flurries of shots.” BBN: A few fighters have told me they do not like having a ‘0' in the KO column. BR: “Yes, I don't know about anyone else but not getting a KO really bothered me. All my mates were taking the piss by calling me Brian ‘Points' Rose and you do take it to heart and wonder if you can hit hard. “The reason for me not stopping people was that as soon as you hit these guys they are there to survive whereas (Tony) Randell had a bit of a go and (Justin) Barnes came at me and that is why I stopped Barnes and really hurt Randell.” BBN: Have you already set yourself goals as a fighter? BR: “I think you have to set yourself small goals then work towards them. Firstly a Central Area Title, then a British title, then a European title and then a World title. You have to imagine yourself as a world Champion one day otherwise it shows you have no confidence and you won't ever be a prospect BBN: Who are your favourite fighters? BR: “I like Winky Wright because I like his style. I like Oscar De La Hoya and he is one of my all-time favourites but my favourite boxer of all time is Chris Eubank. His heart was massive and what he did for the sport was brilliant. When I was starting boxing I loved his fights with Benn and his courage was unbelievable. I'd love to meet Chris Eubank.” BBN: How did you come into the sport? BR: “One of my dads mates took me to the gym and I was a little bit of a natural to start with (so) the coach said I had something and told me to keep coming to the gym. “It was hard at first because I was put in with bigger lads. I had my first amateur fight at eleven and was put down twice by a bigger lad. I was crying and all the other things you do when you get beaten and are young but I bounced back from it. I came back and was boxing for England when I was twelve. It is all about getting confidence.” BBN: Does the sparring you are getting here at the moment with the likes of Gomez and, closer to your division, Jamie Moore give you confidence? BR: “Yes, I sparred with Jamie before my fight with (Ernie) Smith and the sparring is the main reason I moved here. I was scared at first. To get in the ring with Jamie Moore? That is scary. “I asked for Jamie's autograph at first. I did one round and got beaten up. I was beaten up in the second (round) and then decided that he is only human like everyone else and tried to give as good as I got. “Jamie dropped me with a body shot in the second and he then eased back instead of taking the piss or taking me to the cleaners. Jamie taught me a lot and when things are tough in any fight I can get confidence from knowing I sparred with Jamie Moore.” BBN: I spoke to Denton Vassell the other week and he talked about the fight between the two of you in the amateurs. Was that a memorable fight? BR: “I was always hearing a lot about Denton and his punching power. I thought I could either get close and hold him or stay far away and box him. That's what I did. I kept him at bay with my long arms and that is how I beat him. “He is a really good lad Denton. He intimidated me before the fight. Even though I'd been in with some big lads I was intimidated by Denton. I think it was a draw then I won on a count back by landing a few more jabs.” With that Brian was off to do some work in the reception of Rimmer's gym. Rose can be seen answering phones, taking money in and, sorry Brian, washing dishes in order to make himself useful. This says something about his attitude. The comparison between Rose and Vassell is not just lazily based on the fact they fought as amateurs and are now professionals, although that it is a good starting point. Both men did well in the unpaid ranks before deciding that the pro game suited them better. Denton made this decision based upon his style and Rose made this decision in order to expand on his style. So far it is a case of so good for both men. It will be interesting to see their careers parallel; it is not out of the realms of possibility that their careers could also dovetail. If Rose could cope with Vassell's pressure in the amateur ranks he can cope with the fighters he faces as a baby pigeon in the pro game. Over the next few years Rimmer hopes to feather Brian up for the rigours of the pro game and Brian is prepared for the graft required. Photos by Allan Stevenson

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