Goodwin looks a good bet for success by Martin Dobbing Jun 5th 2008

Many young fighters start off with a huge amount of fanfare, these guys are our top prospects, destined to reshape the Boxing map and leave an indelible imprint on out minds. Others start off with a certain amount of hype, maybe not stellar prospects but certainly ‘ones to watch'. Then rarely, oh so rarely we get the young man who comes in under the radar, who surprises us all and goes on to make a real name for himself in the sport. When Chester's Chris Goodwin turned pro no-one outside the tight knit Chester Boxing stable expected that much. Chris made the move over in December 2006, three months before the city's great hope, Kevin Buckley started his career. Whilst Kevin has been adorned with attention and plaudits, Chris, to many has been seen as ‘Kevin's mate'. But the truth is becoming apparent, Chester could have not one, but two young men destined to hit the top. Like many, Chris has boxing in his blood and it became no surprise when he laced on those gloves. “I started when I was six. My dad was a pro boxing trainer; I was always surrounded by gyms. I wanted to go pro from a little boy.” One of the reasons Goodwin was so under the radar was because he turned pro at such a young age. The ‘boy' was just eighteen. A decision that surprised many who believed he should get more amateur experience but a decision Chris believes is correct to this day. “I got robbed loads in the amateurs; I fought all the big names but just didn't get the decisions. You had to go to Liverpool and knock the lads out on their own shows if you wanted to win. It was ridiculous. I always wanted to go pro and when I did everything I wanted fell into place.” Typically things never run smoothly for the underdog. Travelling to Sunderland to face homeboy Chris Mullen on his pro debut, Goodwin was once again at the wrong end of a rough decision. A verdict Goodwin still believes to be incorrect to this day. “I seriously thought I won it, so did the crowd but I realise these things just happen, it makes you stronger, it made me a better fighter, it pushed me to train harder.” And that's where I find the story truly begins. This was not a man who would lie down and become a win some-lose some fighter, this is a man who truly believes he is a talent. This man sees himself as a title holder. This man threw himself into our beloved sport. “I started training so much harder, we do so much skill work at our gym and I can just feel it all coming together. I get so much quality sparring.” As well as being Kevin Buckley's chief sparring partner Goodwin has benefitted immensely from all the work with Stoke's Impact Boxing and their stable of up and coming fighters. Added to that, Chris got the pleasure of working with John Murray and John Fewkes in the build up to their aborted fight last month. A very rewarding time. “It went really well. Murray is so strong, throws loads of hard shots; you have to keep him at range. Fewkes is more technical, you have to keep your defence tight so he doesn't outbox you. I'm learning so much from sparring guys like this." Chris has gone on to compile a record of five wins and one loss. In the process he has been earning rave reviews from anyone who has seen him. The work continues in the gym, with Chris getting ‘far more strength work'. This ‘boy' is rapidly becoming a man and the British boxing scene is starting to take notice. Couple that with the fact that Goodwin is something of an intellect (starting a Sports Science course later this year) ,we have a truly rounded young man who the Chester public are certain to get behind. I did have to ask though, was there ever any resentment over the amount of attention Kevin Buckley has received from the outset of his career? Chris poured cold water any such theory. “No way, its great for Kev, he's a top lad. But it's also great for the gym. Whenever any of us get success it benefits us all. It gets us publicity; it gets us onto different shows. We are like one big family!” Chris continues his boxing education on the 6 June against hard man Chris Allen, a man who never stops trying and another good learning fight for Chris. So how far does Goodwin think he can go? “I'm still very young, there's no great rush, I want to take it one step at a time. I've wanted to be a champ from when I was six and with some hard work I'm going to get there.” And with those words I become convinced, having talent is one thing but coupled with that desire and belief, I truly feel that Chris Goodwin has come from under the radar and Chester has not one, but two prospects to take it into the new era.

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Round 2 Part 2 Jun 10th 2008, 09:52:10 by hitman You have brought up the Scott Miller fight for some reason, when it has absolutely nothing to do with my comments to Chris Goodwin, yet I will do you the courtesy of answering. Scott Miller did beat me - I won the first two rounds, I nearly knocked him out in the first, while he won the next four, and I totally respect him in that he beat me fair and square; hopefully he will give me a rematch in the future. Chris Mullen ( answered in two parts as the forum has a word maximium on each comment)   Round Two part 1 Jun 10th 2008, 09:49:20 by hitman Some serious accusations in that previous comment; I am not prepared to comment on anybody’s performance other than my own. The fact is that you have missed the whole point of the comments I directed at Chris Goodwin. You did not see my fight with Chris Goodwin so, fair play, you have not commented on it, but when I lose I do not go on a forum and bleat on about it; this is not the first time I have read on this forum his saying that he won the fight. I do not have to sell tickets - proof of this is my fight with Chris Goodwin - I took the Goodwin fight at four days' notice. People buy tickets to watch me box because, I believe, I give value for money in my fights, and have always had a good following dating right back to my days as an amateur.   BAD REFEREES IN THE North East Jun 8th 2008, 15:03:23 by paulsmith Terry Cole ,Gary williams and Andrew Wright are the worst referees I have seen.Tommy Conroy is keeping the boxing alive in the North East with the help of those referees.Chris I saw your last fight against Scott Miller at Temple Park and to be honest you were beaten clearly every round yet the referee scored it 58-56 against you when in fact 60-54 would have been more realistic.All the fighters on Tommy Conroys promotions have to sell tickets in order to fight so basically no one in the hall would argue with any home town decision because they are all your mates or your stablemates fans. But to be fair Goodwin needs to step up a level,after 2 years he is still fighting Z list opponents with not a winning record in sight.   Re above comments Jun 7th 2008, 06:59:47 by hitman yes this is Chris Mullen, I currently do not have access to the computer so I am using the one my manager has set up for the boxers to use at the gym.   pro debut Jun 6th 2008, 14:52:44 by hitman I have read with interest what you have stated about your professional debut. The fact is the fight was not even close, the referee, who after all is the only ones opinion that counts, scored it to me by three clear rounds. I do not recall anybody in the hall stating you had won. I myself was only nineteen and relatively inexperienced as I only had eighteen amateur fights and had not boxed competetively for three years. The thing that I cannot understand is that the fight took place in 2006 and you have never called me out for a rematch , if you had really thought you had beat me surely you would have wanted a rematch. The fact is you know I won so lets do the fighting in the ring not on the internet !! (One presumes you are Chris Mullen? Fair play for commenting - Ed.)