Understanding your inner ape

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by Henrietta Street Gym

Understanding your inner ape

By Neil Perkins

Our link to our ancient ancestors seems to dominate the thoughts of modern man. Nutrition is all the rage and paleo and vegan are two popular food choices that are surprisingly closely related despite their apparent differences as they are based on eating like our ancestors. Whole foods, raw foods and organic seem to be buzz words in nutrition. Thankfully regards to training, things like the Primal Blueprint are promoting heavy lifting, basic movements, HIIT training and ‘raw’ movements – I am glad the fad promotes the truth.

For those keen on personal development above and beyond your physical being (the two should go hand in hand) best selling books such as the Chimp Paradox and Sapiens give an insight to the development of man. Both relate to our animalistic nature.

 

With the growth of Henrietta Street Gym and Fighting Fit White Collar Boxing I’m starting to find ‘financial freedom’ for the first time. I still chose to ‘fight’ everyday, but I can assure you that money does not bring happiness – it only offers you choices. I am realising that simpler things bring happiness.

 

I am forever SWOT analysing my business and I understand why Henrietta Street Gym and Fighting Fit White Collar Boxing are enjoying such successes. To understand fully, you must understand a person’s inner ape.

 

Like the primal blueprint, we offer training that is raw and effective. When your focus is on combat training, lifting heavy weights and HIIT training you can not get more in tune with your inner ape. Our HIIT classes involve jumping, crawling, slamming, flipping and striking – what is more rewarding. Our Barbell Club promotes heavy lifting, massive adrenaline surges as you move raw heavy weights in compound movements. Combat training and boxing offers an inner peace that only persons who’ve done it can appreciate. Once the fear reduces so that your anal sphincter no longer sucks your pants up your backside, you’ll find a therapeutic inner peace as you realise ultimate concentration. Imagine the Palaeolithic man stalking a dear in the woods, nothing except catching the dear is on his mind – that is the level of concentration required from boxing, the satisfaction of landing the perfect shot must be how are ancestors felt when their spear penetrated the dear.

 

The ultimate reason for our success is an intangible asset that correlates with man’s ability to dominate the globe – it was when we formed bonds and encouraged tribes to work together. Our community is second to none. Our team and our members promote fitness and lifestyle, they share a goal and from bonds that go beyond exercise. Barbell Club is group led and engages a community, sparring is about developing and learning and our HIIT classes group focused. We enjoy so many people achieving their goals – boxing on a show, becoming fitter than ever before, lifting unprecedented weights and transforming their physique, we have the blueprint to make you achieve any of the above. We understand the support needed to achieve these goals and understand that these physical achievements are irrelevant to their physiological benefits to the person achieving them.

 

We’ve had three budget gyms open within a 1 mile radius, been hit with unprecedented numbers of ‘White Collar Promotions’ launching and even Brexit (if it ever happens) – yet we are busier than ever.

Company directors, solicitors, property developers, barristers, recruitment consultants, police officers and even a few ‘road men’ – all form our unique and successful community. The tribe is growing as are the people who champion the brand.

 

To everyone in the community, we thank you for making this a truly wonderful place to spend the week, there is no other tribe I’d prefer to co-ordinate.

 

The Alpha

Managing Fear

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by Henrietta Street Gym

Managing Fear

by Neil Perkins

 

Fear is an emotion that will result in one of three primal responses – Fight, flight or freeze. The fear we get from been involved with a conflict situation (a fight) will evoke the same neurological response that the fear we will face if we may have a redundancy at work – neurologically they are the same. Fear causes the release of adrenaline for a neurological super response of fight, flight or freeze. Think back to the days of the caveman, he was out foraging for berries in the bush and Sabre Tooth Tiger comes out to eat him. His body goes into fear mode, it secretes insulin and for the fight, flight or freeze response – he may choose to fight the sabre tooth, he may chose to run from the sabre tooth or he will freeze in the occasion and become the fourth ‘F’ (F****d).

For those of you ever involved in a car accident or conflict situation, you’ll recall the aftermath of shaking legs and trembling? I still recall a fight I had with someone (non-boxing) coming back to find I’d secreted (back end) in my previously glowing white Calvin Klein boxer shorts – your body does strange things under pressure. These are involuntary actions and primal – neurologically we are all the same.

Fear isn’t nice and the power of your mind can make the outcome far worse than the reality of the outcome. I recall fear once been described as

‘The minds chaotic projection of future events’

I recall a punch that pushed my bottom teeth through my lip in a spar resulting in 6 stitches, I can say that it didn’t hurt at all – my fear of needles and lying on a bed facing a doctor stitching me up, was a little more daunting. The fear of this would have been far worse than the outcome.

 

The words ‘comfort zone’ and are thrown around a lot, but this is true of fear. I was exceptionally scared of two things – aeroplanes and needles. I say two, I have been forced to overcome my fear of needles through rational thinking and routine jabs and occasional stitching has helped. I couldn’t run or freeze from needles, I would have to face them. Aeroplanes I have got far better at. I have contemplated doing a parachute jump, but my rational head says why would I need to? I can avoid that fear, who knows one day maybe?

 

There are three things you should do when faced with fear.
1. Think/ Strategy
Strategy is key to get you out of your situation. Here mentoring or coaching is key, I refer to ‘experience in the trenches’ get someone who has faced the same battle you face, they’ve experienced your obstacles and overcome them. There is a person that is better than someone who has faced their own fear – that is someone who specialises in getting others to overcome their fear and achieve.
2. Take Action
This must be complied with strategy. Take one step forward and take action. The reason why your ‘primal fight’ needs to be controlled can be explained by the caveman. He may be aware that he can’t run from the sabre tooth, so fight is his only choice. He needs to take action, but with strategy. He doesn’t fight the Sabre tooth with his bare hands? He pulls out his knife, picks up a stick and arms himself for battle – the strategy is slightly different because he rationalised his fear and thought about his foe.
3. Evaluate. Learn Your Lessons – you never lose, you only learn
Bankrupcy, a defeat in a boxing ring or not loosing as much weight on a body transformation might seem like the end of the world – all are can be overcome. Celebrate your losses, learn from them, dust yourself off and go again. The more battles you face, the more you learn and who knows one day you can be the coach who helps devise a strategy for other people’s success. Never enjoy ‘losing’, never role over and don’t let things trample on you – celebrate your losses and love your wins, they all form and enrich you.

 

Signing Off
I hear the words ‘comfort zone’ thrown around a lot in the fitness industry, the biggest muscle a gym should work is your mind. Exercise should transform the way you look, make you achieve things you didn’t think possible and push your comfort zone. This may be for health benefits, but these are related to how you feel. Set yourself realistic targets in the gym, push your boundaries and celebrate your losses and love your wins. Learn to go into battles, face them and overcome them. If you don’t get the desired results then take a step back, evaluate and go again – you never lose, you only learn. Remember, fear gets bigger if you run away from it, but gets smaller if you run towards it.

If its not working, invest in coaching

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by Henrietta Street Gym

If its not working, invest in coaching

By Neil Perkins

 

It was 14 months ago that I invested in some business coaching, this turned out to be money well spent. I was embarrassed that I was seeing a coach for guidance on running a business. Like all ‘Consultants’, you know what to expect?

Someone who is going to highlight all the things that you are doing that is wrong, tell you that you shouldn’t be doing it and then charge you a premium for it?

At the end of 2017, my energy levels had diminished, and I was burnt out. Flying solo, my emotional management with impulsive new strategies wasn’t working. I had got my gym to a break-even point and was paying myself a ‘wage’ every month with little profit left over – I was not ‘succeeding’. Along with my poor mental state, long hours and stress ensured that I was physically deconditioned too. Three budget gyms opened within a 1-mile radius and their aggressive marketing coupled with my operation still having weak links took its toll on my membership numbers. After a boom 3-6 months after opening, from July 2017 to November 2017, our membership numbers and revenue were shrinking month by month.

The reality of ‘business coaching’ was very different to what I expected and like a counselling session it was nice to vent to someone who was not emotionally attached to my business.

I still recall the meeting with a note pad and colouring pens to demonstrate weird and wonderful diagrams. For those of you who know my affliction to mind mapping and colouring pens, this could have been mistaken for a nursery school art lesson for someone looking in. Fuelled by Saint Kitchen’s coconut milk cappuccino’s we worked through our notepad’s each making notes in bright coloured felt tip pens.

Lesson 1. There are three things you must manage to succeed in business

  1. Know your numbers
  2. Your systems and processes
  3. People and how they relate to 1&2 – both staff and customers

I realised on lesson 1, that I knew nothing of my numbers. My systems and process where questionable and that I couldn’t quantify their success because I didn’t know my numbers. What do I take from this – KNOW YOUR NUMBERS.

These rules have been the blueprint to a 12-month transformation. I recall an exercise that we carried out in relation to my team. As I had no quantifiable data to support my reasoning (didn’t know my numbers), this exercise was based on emotion. I was asked to give every member of my team a 1 to 10 score with 1 been awful and 10 been a top-rated member. This could be applied to different aspects of skills required, so someone delivering Personal Training might offer have a higher score than the same person running group sessions. When I explain this exercise to people, they naturally start thinking of their own work environment and score their team or co-workers? Have you just completed this exercise in your head???

Now it is time for the catch, you can’t give anyone a 6 or a 7 – they must be a 5 (poor) or 8 (very good) – This exercise separates the men from the boys. You are looking for team of 8’s (very good), 9’s (outstanding) or 10 (exceptional)

It highlighted a few kinks in my arsenal, I identified a team member as a 5 and alarming me from a front of house perspective me as 2 in dealing with customers. I got to know my numbers and my hunch of my coach who scored ‘5’ was proved right with poor attendance in classes that I monitored over the next 3 months ( I knew my numbers) and I removed myself immediately from all front facing enquires – instead opting to utilise the skills of others who are far better to suit the role.

Putting a strategy in place from someone who knew more about running successful businesses was key to me evolving and progressing. I paid for this expertise, but I chose the right mentor and leveraged someone else’s knowledge for my own personal gain. The results far outweighed the financial cost. The knowledge ‘gained in the trenches’ and the systems and process that I applied transformed my business. I am very fortunate to have built up a network of people that has enabled me to leverage their knowledge for my own enrichment – some of it I have paid for and some of it I have extracted freely.

I can safely say now that my team is firing on all cylinders – the numbers proved it. Recently I’ve employed someone full time to market both businesses, I will know of the success of this acquisition because I can quantity the data. A combination of knowing my numbers, putting the rights systems in place and using this knowledge to identify the right people for these systems. I now have a community of flowing knowledge that is transforming the way people look and feel – I am truly grateful for the paid and free knowledge that I have acquired that enabled me to realise this ambition.

My recent catch up with Mike (business coach) enabled me to plan my next 12 months. My focus is on guiding people through white collar boxing shows, this is my specialist area and I love the journey I take people on – for this I score an 11 (god like)

My life has truly benefited from two major things – community and coaching, this is something that both my businesses (Henrietta Street Gym and Fighting Fit White Collar Boxing) excel in. If you want to change, you need to decide what you want to achieve and then find the right mentor/ guidance/ coaching to get you there. Ensure the person who guides you has either done it themselves or guided other people to realise your ambition.

I give thanks to a memorable 2018, I connected with some wonderful people, acquired some great persons in my businesses and strived towards success. I am moving forward rapidly and I am grateful to do something that I truly love. I am excited for 2019, as Mcfadden and Whitehead ‘There aint no stopping us now’. If you want to change your life, your body or your mindset the right coaching is worth investing in. Choose your mentors wisely, ensure that their success and desires match you ambition and keep taking one step forward.

Winners Mentality

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by Henrietta Street Gym

Winners Mentality

By Neil Perkins

There is a fine line between competing and winning. Having coached boxers at all levels from recreational to professional, the mindset of a person will very often dictate the outcome of a contest. I am talking about boxing, although I am sure this transcends to other sports and all aspects of life.

The world needs competitors so that we can assess where we stand in the pecking order of life. As humans we have evolved to compete, I am aware that despite been retired from boxing, I am still very much a ‘fighter’ – if someone tries walking past me in the street, I treat it as a race.

 

Boxing is the most primal sport of all. Competing in boxing for most indicates a massive personal achievement. Having guided over 350 people through this process I have seen many people learn to compete. Competition is about going through the process of preparation (training), battling the nerves in the build-up, showing up and giving an account of yourself and achieving the goal of competing. Competing itself is an achievement, the very fortunate will win on skill alone and will beat someone with a ‘winners mentality’ who lacks the necessary technical ability (‘coasters’ I call them) – Rocky was a falsify and wouldn’t have happened in real life. The exceptional have the winners mindset and sporting/ athletic talent. The mentality of winning is about the time in life when you must show your soul!

 

Winning is something that someone does at all costs, who refuses to lose and will go and go again. A winner will push beyond their comfort zone, not make excuses and will push on, a competitor is happy to have competed. Sports like ‘CrossFit’ show the mentality of winners and the ‘balls to the wall’ mentality needed to compete. I admire CrossFit athletes for their desire to push, but equally emphasise that they couldn’t succeed in a real sport (Crossfiters you can take that as a back handed compliment) I have lost count of the number of times I have looked at a boxer either at the weigh in, backstage before a contest, prior to the opening bell or during the contest and watched them switch from a ‘winner’ to a ‘competitor’ – equally I have also seen ‘competitors’ become ‘winners’ either down to exceptional coaching intervention or a pivotal point in a sporting contest – that bit of luck.
As coaches we look at our athletes at all levels and look how we can implement a winner’s mentality. Equally how we can stop our athletes talking themselves out a programme, fight or lift – ensuring they believe they can win and instilling that winner’s mentality. I have the joy of working with a talented coaching team I can recall the numerous occasions we have one rep max tested someone in Barbell Club and very often found they’ve added 20,30 or 40kg to a lift, only for the coach to come back and say, ‘there was more in them!’

 

Our white-collar boxing shows are some of the best matched shows I have seen (biased opinion I know) The theatre of putting two well matched individuals in an environment outside of their comfort zone and matching them up against each always brings excitement. I liken it the film ‘Trading Places’, but as opposed to the two Wall Street stockbrokers seeing if the street kid can survive in their world, I take the Wall Street stockbrokers and see if they can compete in mine. All of them compete and we have had occasions (more than one) where one has had to show their soul – the winners mentality.

 

Boxing Examples of Winners Mentality
Top athletes can sense this themselves and in boxing a refer to it as the ‘Fuck you’ mentality.

 

Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko was great example of this – wobbled, out on his feet and in danger of been beaten. AJ’s account of thinking to himself ‘you don’t want this more than me’ as he sat on his stool. He went on to knock Wlad out.

 

Lennox Lewis v Vitali Klitschko was an epic contest. Out jabbed, getting caught and out boxed. Lennox used one of his most overlooked assets – bravery and desire to win. He went toe to toe with Vitali, walking through solid jabs with the belief that the opponent would be stopped when he connected. Lewis was relentless.

 

Carl Froch v Jermaine Taylor. Froch never lost the belief that he could win this contest and trailing the contest got nearer the opponent and let barrages of punches go to force the stoppage.

 

The above three have a superb winners mentality, I believe that exceptional coaches (not athletes) can not only influence an athlete’s technical ability, but their mindset. Learning triggers responses and how to influence events are key in the coach’s arsenal. In a sporting contest, that ‘bit of luck’ can change the outcome of a contest, equally a tactical intervention or ‘whisper in the ear’ can see an athlete go from the mindset of ‘competitor’ to ‘winner’. Here are three of my favourite examples of coaching interventions…

 

Angelo Dundee. Sugar Ray Leonard v Tommy’s Hearns – ‘You’re blowing it son’, the influencial words of Angelo who rallied his man to the cause. A good talking to and Leonard comes out like a new man and stops Hearns to win the contest.

 

Kevin Sanders. Nigel Benn v Gerald Mclenan – ‘You’ve got him Nigel’ Overlooked due to the catastrophic outcome of the contest. Nigel Benn ‘the dark destroyer’ and been outgunned and knocked through the ropes in the opening round by the hyped American and one of the most feared ‘punchers’ on the planet. As he gingerly sat on his stool with wobbly legs Sanders in the corner wasn’t offering sympathy or defensive advice – ‘You’ve got him Nigel, his legs are gone, and he’s fucked, go out there and give it him’ Benn describes how he went from feeling trepidation and the worst fear in his life and in seconds had transformed to him saying to himself ‘wait till your feel one of mine’. Saunders re-ignited Benn’s natural ‘Fuck You’ mentality for a sensational comeback.

 

Teddy Atlas. Tim Bradley v Brandon Rios – ‘We are fireman’ A strange speech which had clearly been echoed through the strategy of fight camp. If you see how the boxer responds well to the ‘we are fireman speech’, watch the eye contact and relationship between the two – it surged Bradley to victory.

“The fire’s coming. Are you ready for the fire? We are firemen!” Atlas exclaimed. “The heat doesn’t bother us; we live in the heat. We train in the heat.”

 

The winner’s mentality must exist in all top-level competitors. It was Muhammed Ali that once said
Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision. They must have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.”

 

Equally another great quote if from Teddy Atlas again. This sums up the difference between competitors and winners.

 

“There comes a time in a man’s life when he makes a decision to just live, survive, or he wants to win. You’re doing just enough to keep him off of you and hope he leaves you alone. You’re lying to yourself because you’re gonna cry tomorrow. You’re lying to yourself and I’d lie to you if I let you get away with that,”

HSG 8-Week Photoshoot Transformation

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by Henrietta Street Gym

HSG 8-Week Photoshoot Transformation

Get yourself in the best possible shape and record your transformation with a professional photoshoot with Simon Howard (SNHFOTO) at the premium space that is Henrietta Street Gym. Partake in an experience of a lifetime, gain confidence, achieve happiness and join the list of top fitness models and athletes who’ve utilised our space to capture un-paralleled images of their physique looking at its best.

Under the tutelage of leading body transformation coach Nic Edgerton, you will be guided with personalised training plans and nutrition plans for you to attain the body of your dreams. You may not have the knowledge, but if you have the desire, we will make you achieve. These plans and this journey will engage our community vibe as we’ll support you to transform your physique over an intense 8-week period. We will nurture you throughout and ensure that you stay consistent and achieve your goals. This is not aimed at Fitness Models, this transformation if for everyday people who lack the knowledge and motivation to achieve their goal of a dream physique. This journey will peak with a premium professional photoshoot at our amazing gym.

Your package will include.

  • Personalised Nutrition Plan with adaptations
  • Personalised Training Plan with adaptations
  • Unlimited on-line support Q&A
  • 3 weekly Facebook live chats per week where any questions you or the other competitors have are answered in detail.
  • A full photoshoot at Henrietta Street Gym (we usually charge a minimum of £200+vat for a half day non-exclusive shoot)
  • Images taken from leading fitness photographer Simon Howard (SNHFOTO) (Minimum charge of £250 per shoot)
  • The option of discounted Personal Training from Nic Edgerton if you’d like that extra push through your programme – sessions from £30 per hour exclusive for photoshoot clients.
  • Transformations will be judged by leading fitness model TBC. We also have one of the many leading fitness clothing and/or supplement brands who’ve used the gym donating huge prizes for the best transformation (not the best physique)

Cost

  • Henrietta Street Gym Elite Members: £297
  • Regular Members/ Online clients: £327

This shoot is open to non-members, you do not have to train at Henrietta Street Gym.

Please note enrolment does not include access to Henrietta Street Gym. Only persons with a gym membership can use the facilities for their training regime.

Last enrolment on this transformation is June 9th. Training programmes and nutrition plans sent across on WC June 10th, the 8-week transformation begins Monday 18th June, with the photoshoot taking place on Saturday August 11th from 10am till 6pm.

Sign Me Up

Signing up to this couldn’t be easier. Fill in the contact form attached and then proceed to the payment screen.

I have a few questions first?

We understand that this is a big commitment. Please email Nic on nictdedgerton@gmail.com and he can either return email or schedule a call. Once you’ve committed, your fee is non-refundable.

Henrietta Street Gym as a shoot location

Our Javelin Block built space with reanimated and recycled features and industrial look has proved popular as a shoot location. Birmingham based clothing company P&Co had a small shoot to promote a new range of hipster style clothing prior to our opening. It was the P&Co promotional shoot that caught the attention of leading fitness photographer Chris Bailey. Chris was due to work with top Men’s Fitness Model Ryan Terry who was due to compete at the Arnold Classic. He contacted us and arranged for a promotional video shoot. Ryan won the Arnold Classic – the video went viral, people in the fitness community where impressed with the space and we became inundated with requests for shoots. We regularly hold shoots at Henrietta Street Gym

Fitness Models Who’ve Shot At HSG

Ryan Terry, Obi Vincent, Sergi Constance, Michelle Brenan, Tom Coleman, Joey Swoll, Ross Dickerson

Brands/ Companies

Gym Shark, Apple, VQ Fit, P&Co, The Gadget Show, USN, Nocco,

 

Sign Me Up

Signing up to this couldn’t be easier. Fill in the contact form attached and then proceed to the payment screen.

I have a few questions first?

We understand that this is a big commitment. Please email Nic on nictdedgerton@gmail.com and he can either return email or schedule a call. Once you’ve committed, your fee is non-refundable.

About Simon Howard SNHFOTO

Simon is a leading fitness photographer who has shoot a scope of fitness models from virtually every leading fitness brand across the UK.

Website: http://www.snhfoto.com/

Nic Edgerton personal shoot with SNHFOTO

Nic’s Transformation client with shoot SNHFOTO

Sign Me Up

Signing up to this couldn’t be easier. Fill in the contact form attached and then proceed to the payment screen.

I have a few questions first?

We understand that this is a big commitment. Please email Nic on nictdedgerton@gmail.com and he can either return email or schedule a call. Once you’ve committed, your fee is non-refundable.

Transformations By Nic Edgerton

Ash in prep for a fitness show

Sagona looking for rapid weight loss. 24lbs in 8-weeks!

Kyri dropped 25lbs in 8 weeks

 

Nilufar 8-week show for the bikini masters (40+) category

Farooq in show preparation for ‘Men’s Physique’

Tracy’s Transformation

Sign Me Up

Signing up to this couldn’t be easier. Fill in the contact form attached and then proceed to the payment screen.

I have a few questions first?

We understand that this is a big commitment. Please email Nic on nictdedgerton@gmail.com and he can either return email or schedule a call. Once you’ve committed, your fee is non-refundable.

Angelo Dundee Saved My Life

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by Henrietta Street Gym

Angelo Dundee Saved My Life

by Neil Perkins

 

The voice of Angelo Dundee was in my head, my visual mind was playing the fight between Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy ‘Hitman’ Hearns and the inspirational speech that Angelo delivered between rounds

‘Your blowing it son, your blowing it’

I was sat crippled in pain on a hotel balcony in Cape Verde, my tired body was broken, my mind was all over the place and I was having a word with myself. The playing of this video in my head and it’s words inspired me so much that as I rose from my balcony chair like it was a stool, then I took two steps onto the balcony like I was taking centre ring and began to shadow box – that was before my back reminded me why I was sat there in pain reflecting on my life, I quickly sat back down.

Boxing changed my life, the lessons I have learnt and that I have utilised have transpired to other areas of my life. I may not be a black American who is oppressed and rose from the projects to Olympic gold and world glory, I may not be from an eastern-block country raised near communist Russia who sought a better life through the pugilistic art and I am not from the Accra in Ghana fighting through tournaments to one day become world champion – my story is very different, but equally true and real.

The analogy of my situation in relation to boxing enables me to rationalise and solve problems, to win a boxing contest is simple – you have to hit someone more or harder than they hit you, life and business can be a little bit more tricky? To think of life as a ‘fight’ or a boxing contest enables me to solve the problem, a good boxer will always beat a good fighter (strategy and skill over mindless aggression), but a good boxer will have to be able to grit down and fight at times.

 

The first year in business at Henrietta Street Gym had taken its toll on my body and mind. I’d had a tough year and in the last 6 months of it I’d lost my desire to fight, I wasn’t thinking strategically how to box, and I wasn’t in the contest -If a referee was in the ring he would have stopped the fight as I had no desire to be in there. I could whinge about the issues in business that I faced with staff, council, landlords, customers, work load and bills – but the reality is that is problem others have faced and others have solved. When you run a business, like in boxing you are in control of your own destiny – the ring is a lonely place. Yes, you might employ a trainer for advice (many people in business use coaches or are inspired by blogs, books, podcasts or google), you may use an S&C coach (specialist) and yes you’ll need staff (no comparison) but ultimately you live and die by how you apply strategy and how much fight you have in you – my strategy had gone and I had no desire to fight.

I recall contest or spars I have had when an opponent runs at me at one-hundred miles an hour swinging punches. The round would be a blur and my strategy and plan would go out of the window, I’d trade on emotion reactively swinging, at times feeling my legs buckle and a punch would catch me on the temple making my vision blur – this is what my first year in business was like. A holiday to Cape Verde was a welcome break and it was like the end of a bad round. As I boarded the plane to fly abroad it was like returning to my corner in between rounds. As I jelly-legged stumbled back to my stool, I was trying to analyse what had happened to me in the first round – it was all a blur and no sense could be made – I was just glad the bell had gone to save me.

 

From April to December I’d dropped from 118kg to 104kg, that however wasn’t something that should be celebrated, stress had taken its toll on my body. As my patterns and lifestyle changed by November I’d regressed to missing breakfast and starting the day with coffee, surviving off flapjacks and take out food, my days where unproductive and then a new escapism habit crept in – alcohol or drugs. What started as a few beers or a joint on a Saturday night escalated into either/or/both been consumed every night of the week. When you lose count of how many days consecutively you have smoked or drank, you know there is a problem. Staying up watching shit TV (Teen Mum was my favourite stoned, and Family Guy with alcohol) until 1pm and then getting up at 5.30am every day took its toll. The lack of ‘ying’ reserves (sleep and rest) led to me dosing up and ‘Yang’ every day – I was drinking 10-12 cups of coffee per day. My holiday was needed, but unlike a boxer returning to his corner for advice, no-one knew the depth of my problem, no-one could understand the loneliness of my predicament. This break just gave me breathing time.

My daughter inspires me and fills me with joy. On the third day of the holiday and after some head space I decided to set out on a beach walk with her. Fifty meters into the walk and surprise, surprise she is tired, the logical solution is her dads shoulders to piggy a ride. Our destination was the next resort, a mile and a half down the beach. A beautiful day and some time with the most special person in my life is what I should cherish? A further 50 meters and I aborted the walk, the two-year old had crippled my back, a beach walk was too much for my body and I was broken. I limped back to the hotel room with a disappointed two-year old in tow and went in search of ibuprofen. Neil Perkins, former two-time midland heavyweight champion and sparring partner to multiple world class heavyweights, the owner of Britain’s coolest gym, the man who has a ‘straightener’ with a man dubbed Britain’s hardest man was broken – how the mighty had fallen.

 

I returned to the hotel room with my daughter, took an ibuprofen and limped out onto the balcony alone. I sat with a notepad, a coloured pen and began to mind map. I started with the centre of the mind map and wrote the words

‘What makes me happy?’

The arms that spun of this mind map enabled me to make sense of this predicament I was in. I am sure many words others would resonate with family, friends, debt free and success. What I missed is the key word in that sentence.

‘ME’

I had forgot what it was to wake up feeling fresh, to share what I had learned, to make others achieve and to be a positive influence on those around me. I had less talent than many boxers I boxed with as an amateur, but my burning desire to achieve enabled me to out-perform them. I had a clear vision for Henrietta Street Gym when I launched – to make my gym the best in the UK, I’d forgot my strategy (tactics) and the ability to grit down and fight. Before I could put my plan back into place, I had to get the bounce back in my step. Henrietta Street Gym was never meant to be solely about cool decor and reanimated space – that is the shell. The soul is and always will be its staff and its members. This culture and that heart beat must resonate from the owner, the heart had stopped pumping and figures showed it. For my business to succeed, I needed to put an organic smile back on my face, get my mind clear and think strategically (box) and still grit down (fight) when I needed to.

 

My decondition was greater than it had ever been and I needed help. It was from that hotel balcony that I sent out two SOS texts, Paul Gough and Steve Foster responded. Both are glad that I didn’t tell them I was looking to box again – that would have been a long project. What they have done is started to rectify the damage I’d done to my body. I couldn’t believe how deconditioned I’d allowed myself to become and am still along way off the physical condition I was in 2007, but my mind feels sharper, fresher and more motivated than ever before. I never asked for a discounted rate and if I’d have realised the positive effect that they’d have had on my life they would have been value at £100 per session, I can not praise them both enough.

 

In 2018, I have so far not consumed more than two cups of caffeinated drink per day (I live on de-caff), I’ve not consumed one drop of alcohol, I’ve taken one cannabis capsule, I’ve trained consistently three days per week, I’ve ensured I eat breakfast very day and I’ve made and effort to drink more water. My mind has been clear, and this has had an organic effect on business, we are less than 50 members off capacity, week on week we enrich something that enhances our service, we are more focused on improving customer experience. My business debt has reduced significantly, and I am planning my life. I have booked a holiday to Turkey in July, this isn’t me coming back to the stool after a terrible round, this round I took at a canter. This is just a routine sit down, wipe of the towel, swill of the gumshield and bit of water before the next round. There is a long beach where I am stopping, I look forward to walking with my now 19kg daughter down the beach to the next resort, if she want to get on my shoulder that’s cool – thanks to Paul Gough and Steve Foster.

I don’t know if Angelo Dundee saved my life or my business. But Angelo, I hope you can hear me when I say to you, thanks for the inspirational words. – I’m back and fighting.

Learning to lose

On
by Henrietta Street Gym

Learning to lose

by Neil Perkins

 

‘If you carry on you won’t end up getting hurt, you’ll be permanently damaged’

I still hear the words of my old trainer Paul Gough ringing through my ears. It was after what turned out to be my last competitive sparring session with a seasoned pro. The blood flooding out of my broken nose masked the hole on my chin that an uppercut had caused by pushing my teeth through my lip. This enabled me to spar a further two rounds, although I was aware what had happened I didn’t inform my trainer in the hope I could rectify my disastrous start to the spar. The hole required six stitches and caused some very awkward meetings when describing how the wound had occurred, especially when you are looking to promote boxing as a safe sport.

 

I had daddy issues, step dad issues and some other issues. Like many angry young men when I found my way into a boxing gym, I found somewhere to channel my energy. My formative years made me experience frustration, rage and anger that still flows through me to this day. Some people find god, I found boxing.

 

In my newfound church, like with any religious sect there is always a leader – that is what Paul Gough was to me. He taught, nurtured and developed my talents – not only making me a better boxer, but a better person.

 

The journey I had gone on to this point was remarkable in itself, somewhat of transformation from the boy who wouldn’t go on school trips because he didn’t like been away from home or who wouldn’t have his TB jab because he didn’t like needles – somewhat of an issue as a doctor has you laid back on a chair whilst stitching your face back together. If you were to ask friends from school is I would ever box, they would be surprised at the outcome – 21 amateur fights, 18 wins, 1 international call up (which I never took), 2 midlands titles and a national finalist. Considering I had two shoulder surgeries that kept me out for a combined 18 months my amateur career wasn’t too bad? I couldn’t deadlift 200kg, I wasn’t explosive, athletic or had natural movement – my asset was my determination – I think Paul Gough did a pretty good job? The pro journey although short lived was memorable, in hindsight I was in the wrong weight division, but I enjoyed my short career. Chief sparring partner for Big John Mcdermott for his fight with Tyson Fury – a fight most of the boxing world thought he won was an insightful 68 rounds where I earnt every penny. The ‘angry’ Cuban Mike ‘the rebel’ Perez who held 5 world junior amateur titles and accrued an impressive 358 wins out of 372 contests was keen to show the members and staff of Fighting Fit City Gym that he could knock me out in a 6-round spar. He unloaded that many shots on me in the first five of scheduled six rounds that he was knackered, and I started to push him back and won the last round. Mike called me the hardest man he’d ever sparred, a compliment I’ll take to the grave. I had the pleasure of meeting a gentleman and a miss understood character who I share a trait of not learning when to shut my mouth – Big Tyson Fury, a man who to this day still makes a beeline for me and shakes my hand and offers to buy me a drink at every boxing event I have seen him at since, he also tries starting a fight with security as he’s telling them I’m coming to sit ringside with him! And then there was the plethora of top class sparring partners I met whilst sparing with David Haye preparing him for his world title win against Nikoli Valuev – that is a book in itself.

 

My loss to Danny Hughes in Prizefighter was hard to take, the calibre of opponents who had detonated on my chin had never done that to me and the sensational knockout viewed by 6 million viewers was bad enough, but ‘Knockouts of 2009’ placing it at number three in knockouts of the year ensured it was re-run continually over the festive period for those that missed it. My desire for a return in 2011 ended in with a terrible spar to a novice amateur who pinged me from pillar to post, in 2012, I needed one last go. This time I threw myself into the deep end at open sparring at Eroll Johnson’s pro gym, no coach and self-trained I thought I’d see if I could exercise my demons. There I met Fraizer Clarke who on the first spar I got the better of. I’d like to think it was the nurturing I gave him, but the GB super heavyweight improved every time I made the trip over to Burton to ‘move around’ with him – he went from been the student to the master. Initially when I contacted Paul Gough after 3 months of secret training, he was impressed. As the plan for the plan of attack of five fights with the end goal of a British Cruiserweight title now in possession of Shane Mcphibin who I’d beat as an amateur and employed as a sparring partner as a pro. The reality was plane to see when I progressively moved up in levels that I would struggle to cope with that level of operator. My desire to win would ultimately be my downfall. Upon finishing the stitching, I asked the Doctor how long before I could spar again? I already had a date planned for my comeback.

 

My talk with Paul Gough was hard to take. Paul had seen me evolve, my setbacks and my triumphs. The inevitability for every boxer is that they will one day lose and if you stay at the gambling table too long, you’ll lose all of your winnings. Some losses your can bounce back from, they make you stronger and galvanise you, but the ultimate decision must be taken with a risk to reward ratio – in reality, I could have ended up damaged. Losing is something everyone fears, the moments of reflection at the end of a defeat is only bad in your mind – boxing teaches you to rely on you, yourself and I and the fear of ‘what might be’ is worse than the reality. Even with a hole in my face, I took solace in my attempted comeback of 2012, the journey was remarkable in itself. By facing your fears and tackling your demons head on you realise that nothing is as big as its reputation and you chop down any tree one swing at a time. By learning when to step away from the sport, you are not cowering away, you are simply looking for another tree to chop down or going back with a bigger axe, that is one of the lessons in life that the sweet science of boxing has given me.

The love of coaching

On
by Henrietta Street Gym

The love of coaching

By Neil Perkins

I am entering the final few days of preparation for three boxers who I have been diligently getting ready for their upcoming white collar boxing contest’s. This trio have become like surrogate children for the last 10 weeks as I have had thoughts about them, their training and their contest every day. My role is somewhat unique when preparing white collar boxers for a contest. I am the promoter and the trainer – somewhat of a conflict? For those who surround me, I never like to match ‘my boxers’ in what is perceived as an ‘easy bout’ and instead prefer to corner the underdog – it makes the victories far better.

This trio is somewhat diverse – I have the oldest average age of any team on the show. ‘The Badger’ Richard Willets from nine to five runs the courts in the city centre has been dubbed the badger by his opponent, testament to his vicious attacks. ‘The badger’, suits him down to the ground – he is happy in his own company, doesn’t suffer fools and can be a little cantankerous. At 49 he is one-year shy of 50, but not the oldest in the ‘2-Time Team’. Punter Southall’s Andrew Constantinou plans pensions as a day job and at 51, he should really know better? He should be planning his own retirement, but instead is battling on in a bout that is set to be cracker against the 8-bout (the most of any participant) veteran Matt ‘The Warhorse’ Davies. Hannah Wood works for the Arena Birmingham (former Barclaycard and NIA) and this shy character is the last person you’d ever envisage boxing, her knitting backstage prior to her first contest is testament to her unsuitability to the most brutal of sports.

I have to pinch myself at what I do for a living sometimes. Training and promoting events where people knowingly sign up for three rounds of combat in-front of a baying crowd in a gladiatorial arena. If the truth be told, I am fortunate (and a little surprised) that such successful and intelligent people sign up and follow me on these foolish quests and more importantly trust my judgement to guide them through this process. I am honoured to work with all three – they are inspirational for their own reasons. These three combatants are not first timers – they are all returning to the ring having boxed prior.

 

Andy and Badger share similar stories of joining the gym as an alternative way to get fit and progressing through beginners intro sparring ad then deciding to take the plunge to box on a show – Hannah I witnessed her transformation a lot more closely. Now if Hannah’s story was that of the caterpillar that went into a cocoon and came out a beautiful butterfly, the journey hasn’t been quite so simple. The caterpillar went into the cocoon, came out, stomped back in slamming the door behind her, cried for 30 minutes and came out again before repeating the process several times – we now have a butterfly that occasionally has panic attacks and threatens to stop flapping his wings and fall to the ground – she is a challenging client.

 

Hannah’s first session at then Fighting Fit City Gym still lives in my memory. There was some confusion as my Front of House had booked her in for an intro session with me – something that shouldn’t have happened and something I wasn’t aware of. I carried on and delivered the session. For those of you who have ever met ‘Bad Hannah’ the confusion caused her some upset – her face said it all. Hannah is not one that hides her emotions well and as I have come to know her, the lack of structure and order must have sent her mind into overload? A good recovery and the joy of punching recovered the session and by the end, she was hooked. The desire for self-improvement and challenge with her is huge, she secretly relishes challenges and her best asset is that she hates losing – no stone will be left unturned and she is a meticulous perfectionist. In her next contest she has her biggest task to date, and big by the fact that the opponent will be four KG heavier and five inches taller. This is a big physical obstacle to overcome. For her first contest against a shorter marauding opponent, I nicknamed Hannah’s fighting style as ‘the rabbit’ – she would run into the acres of space her superior footwork would give her before firing long-range counters, against this taller opponent her natural fleet feet and footwork will not win her the contest – she needs to fly into the eye of the storm. A polar opposite to the tools that have served her so well in her short pugilist career.

 

The Badger v The Pelican is a contrasting bout and a great clash, but for my fighter the plan is similar. Richard Willets has arms like a T-rex, where as his opponent stands several inches taller and has long arms that through raking shots – the badger needs to get close and get nasty. On the way in he risks been hit with punishing shots and at 20 years older than his opponent he is giving away every natural asset.

 

With Badger and Hannah, I have two boxers that the general consensus would consider my boxers the underdog – that is how I like. Andy v Matt Davies is a real 50/50 fight, in this contest I have the advantage of working with a boxer who has superior height and reach – these assets are great to use on Olympic scoring. There is a reason why Matt Davies is dubbed ‘The Warhorse’ in his ninth contest he is incredibly fit, technically sound and has the guile to fight it out with anyone – we don’t anticipate this will be easy.

 

All three have diligently prepared, they have taken onboard coaching and made necessary adjustments to their boxing – and most importantly executed them in sparring. They have been a pleasure to work with and it has been good to watch them evolve. I look to establish my business and work ‘on’ rather than ‘in’ my business, but the lure of training someone for fight night will always be a rollercoaster that I will always want to get on – I am addicted to the fight.

 

I am nervous for them as I am excited, I know what these bouts mean to all three of them. They have brought me much joy and productive time preparing them for their contests. To watch them evolve and prepare has been a huge pleasure, if they execute what I know they are capable of doing then I am confident that they can do themselves proud, all three re-ignited my love of coaching. Team 2-Time coaching for the last time……until the next time.

Boxing, my meditation

On
by Henrietta Street Gym

Boxing, my meditation

By Neil Perkins

Nothing compares to boxing. I am sure other combat sports such as MMA and Muay Thai give the combatants the same inner peace? I am not talking about the boxing workout of bag work, skipping and fitness drills, I am talking about sparring, fighting and combat. Recently as part of my self-development I have been listening to pod-casts and reading books, this is a desire to become a better version of myself. My downfall is sometimes I am so obsessed with getting ‘there’ that I fail to take stock of my achievements and also don’t necessarily ‘plan my route’ to success as I charge forward….or sometimes I forget where I’d actually like to be – my mind is always ‘busy’.

Combat offers me peace, it is the one place in the world I feel completely at ease. As an early teen I was petrified of violence, in my early 20’s I was fronting some of the most troublesome nightspots and by my mid 20’s I was trading punches with the most destructive punching boxers on the planet – a somewhat cataclysmic transformation. In my experiences, I have found that combat no-longer causes me fear, rather it gives me definitive focus.

 

Back to my current self-development and looking at the tools of successful people and there is one thing I am struggling to comprehend – a clear mind. I am aware that my goals would be more defined, my route would be better, and I would become more successful if my mind was clearer and less ‘busy’. Meditation is commonly used. The ability to ‘zone out’ and think about nothing is a powerful tool, and I like many other people really struggle to switch my ‘monkey mind’ off. I realise that during my early years at Fighting Fit (2008/2009) I was less stressed than I became from 2010-2016. My decision making inevitably became better with business acumen, but my clarity, stress and direction was better early on, recently I have understood why.

 

In 2008/09 I was boxing professionally, whilst running a new business. Admittedly, I was a little naïve to the depth of the task in-front of me, but I could switch off from it – how I ask myself? I had no choice but to. My dual career saw me regularly sparring with some of the most dangerous men in the world. Many people who run businesses or have stressful careers struggle to switch off from their work and the mountains of tasks they have to perform? When your driving to London to spar a world champion you have no other option but to concentrate about what you are about to do and during the 6,9, 12 or 48 minutes of combat time, one mistake could get you seriously hurt. Equally, ‘shit or bust’ and relying on your ‘monkey mind’ wouldn’t enable you to survive with a novice amateur boxer, yet alone a world champion. The only thing you can concentrate on is what is in-front of you – you need a definitive focus. After the event of sparring and competition my mind had been cleared – a bit like when you clean your house or desk from top to bottom – it is incredibly rewarding and refreshing. No other training has ever replicated this sense of escapism and release – it gave me inner peace. Even now, when I ‘work out’ business, work, debt and family are never far from my mind. Working out alone doesn’t do it for me and I am struggling to get full clarity even when I meditate.

 

When I do manage to have moments of clarity my objectives and targets are simplified. Switching off your mind gives it clarity – this is something boxing always enabled me to do – boxing was my meditation. I realise that for me that boxing is something I can’t do forever, although I am always willing to help out recreational boxers with sparring – providing I am not likely to get damaged. Switching your mind off from the stresses of the world and escapism is a very rewarding experience. That moment of ‘clearing your desk’ of all the clutter in your head gives you a new stating point and a fresh perspective on things. This perspective makes decision making easier. If ever you want to ultimate switch off, take up a combat sport and progress to sparring. Initially your mind will be cloudy and adrenaline filled throughout combat experience, but as you learn to relax it will give you a clarity of mind that you can not explain – make boxing your meditation. You are always welcome in my church.

Part of history

On
by Henrietta Street Gym

Part of history

by Neil Perkins

 

I have become very deep in thought about the direction of my life recently. I think with the acceptance of my official retirement from boxing, my physical condition reducing (although I am back on the comeback) fatherhood, a stressful few years with the launch of a business and approaching 40 I have thought about my ‘direction’ a lot more – Some would call it a mid-life crisis.

 

What would I describe myself as and more importantly what would others describe me. Well for those of you who know me would probably have one of the following three come to mind?

 

Lunatic, inappropriate or David Hayes sparring partner.

 

I am guilty of all those thoughts as it is my actions that have triggered these responses. In the last two years my cortisol levels reached new highs, but now my business is paying bills and out of the financial storm and I have had a little reflect before progressing on – I am entitled to that? This gasp of air after been submerged for two years allowed me to sit and take stock of my achievement’s and direction I am going. This reflection of where I have been, allows me to concentrate on where I am going and more importantly what I would like to do more of.

 

What do I do for a job? I am a business owner (Henrietta Street Gym), I am events organiser (Fighting Fit Events) and I am a boxing coach – all three are Neil Perkins and my passion runs through the veins of all three. Henrietta Street Gym had less of a direction that Fighting Fit City Gym did, and it ceased to become me, this is something I am rectifying and re-discovering. I understand the Javelin Block intervention for a cool space, but white towels handed out on reception and metal canteen water bottles to appeal to the influx of hipsters in the JQ should never have been my focus, yet unfortunately this was a direction I briefly moved towards. No matter how many tattoos you have on your hands, how much gin you sip or how much coffee you drink, a gym isn’t a place to look cool – it’s a place to work. This ethos is something that is back flowing through our veins and a culture I am going to nurture. I will focus on what I am good at, the fact that we are in a Javelin Block gym that looks the nuts will be a great benefit. I’m worried about getting our training on point, the rest will take care of itself.

 

This reflection has allowed me some time to think how I evolve my brands. I have the reality and not feeling morbid that one day I will leave this planet. I realise I am in a service industry and my goal is to positively affect as many people as I come into contact with, not to wow them with my reclaimed wood floor, lights form an Indian cargo ship or a recycled lift shaft – my job is to make them fitter, stronger, healthier and more confident than ever before.

 

The White Collar Boxing shows have always given me some of my fondest memories and I would like to think that of the 348 contest’s we’ve scheduled and the 400+ people who’ve completed this journey under our guidance have had a positive experience? Not just for the memorable night they have been a part of, but the self-challenge of the journey, the camaraderie of the fight camp and the ultimate sense of achievement. I would like to think that everyone who has completed this under our guidance rates it in the top 100 memories of their life.

 

I think that in continuing to run these events I will continue to be part of some epic nights (and I am not just talking about the after show party) where people can push themselves above and beyond their capability. These boxers aren’t boxing for world titles and there are so many memories I can take from the 35 shows we’ve run. These events will continue to enrich the Fighting Fit Events Brand, Henrietta Street Gym’s unique vibe and Neil Perkins boxing coaches achievements. I have never trained a boxer for a show that has disappointed me, some have under-performed, some didn’t follow instruction and yes some got beat – but I will share five of my favourite memories for cornering a boxer on a show.

 

Tim Hufton L v Dan Ricardo March’11 on Blood on the Canvas

After an impressive first victory I was happy to train Tim for a bout that many people in the gym thought he was out of his depth with? An expertly executed game plan saw him up at the end of the second round and protecting a lead. He listened to instruction to the letter and I think we were the only two people in the venue who thought he was capable of outboxing Ricardo? Tim had suffered in the build up with a virus and lack of energy ultimately led to his undoing as he couldn’t hold on to his lead in an enthralling last minute of a contest which saw Ricardo turn the tables and go gung ho. Ricardo can box and fight a bit – he also makes a pretty good website.

Julia Sturgess W v Julie Haycock November’13 on Ring Kings

The first lady of Fighting Fit and it was Julie v Julia in our first all-female bout. The actuary was calculated in her approach and ‘Tigger’ Julie Haycock with her BJJ background was the more natural fighter. Julia, like many of my clients wasn’t given an option about boxing – she was told she was doing it. I anticipated a high guard coming at her and not only did Julia adjust her feet well to marauding attacks, the body work was a master stroke that accrued points for a great victory.

Matt Davies W v Ben Mortimer December ’14 on High Voltage

I had the pleasure of preparing Stave Con’s MD ‘The War Horse’ for his rubber match with Mortimer. I didn’t feel a technical approach would work and instead opted to go blow for blow with Mortimer and out hustle the younger man. I was convinced that his opponent would tire and re-enforced the anticipation throughout fight camp. Going into the last round a point down didn’t concern me – I knew this is when his opponent would fade in a high paced contest – a high pace that we’d forced. When it comes to attrition and the desire to win – no one beats the war horse, we just had to bring his opponent down to that style of boxing.

Jenny Thompson W v Natalie Jonson March’17 on Broad Street Brawl

The most educated debut I have seen from any combat athlete – amateur or pro. As a writer on BBC radio 4’s The Archers, Jenny wasn’t your average pugilist. As a coach/ boxer relationship she never questioned instruction or reason, occasionally she moaned that something was ‘dumb’. On fight week, she had a focus that I have never seen from a novice boxer and on fight night warming her up I genuinely felt sorry for her opponent. I’ve seen this before, but also seen it fail when the bell goes. A ram-rod jab was prevalent throughout her contest as she controlled the contest off an educated lead hand.

Richard ‘The Badger’ Willets L v Brindley March’17 on Broad Street Brawl

Giving away 20 years is a big ask for anyone! This task is even harder when your opponent captained the rugby team and has a steely intensity. The battleplan was drawn up and the objective was to step right away from the right hand and drive his opponent backwards. On the opening bell Brindley pushed Badger back with the jab and volleyed concussive shots of his jaw. You can talk about white collar boxing with big ‘over-size’ gloves been safe – but this was venomous and brutal. The onslaught didn’t stop there, I had the towel in my hand throughout and contemplated throwing it in to stop the contest. I did genuinely see something that gave me hope and a bit of kidology in the corner between rounds seemed to resonate ‘You’ve got him Rich, he has punched himself out. Step right and drive him back’ The second round was a much slower pace and towards the end Badger had started to execute the game plan and Brindley was slowing. Eight points down going into the last and it was something that only certain boxers respond to –  the headbut onto the headguard and lots of obscenities – Badger came out like a man possessed. Brindley to his credit resisted folding with the turn of momentum and fired back when he needed to neutralise the scoring attacks and ran for the large part of the last session to win by one point before collapsing at the final bell.

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