Best Journeymen in UK

10 wins, 85 losses and 5 draws = 100!

 

Another that certainly did.Believe he has retired now.

 

Just had a look at Arv Mittoos record and he lost a 4 rounder to Richard Swallow and it was scored 30-40. Surely a typing error ive never seen that score before he must of been put down in every round and twice in 2 of em

 

I'll ask him mate, does seem like an error doesn't it? unless points was also docked in a round or two in addition to being dropped several times throughout the bout?

 

Audley

 

Mick Hennessy new signing..... Nick Blackwell

 

Of recent years I would say Johnny greaves is in with a shout and I used to like watching Jody meikle when he was active although he is currently "away" from the scene for a couple of years.

 

Theres quite a few journeymen that are decent boxers.
Lets not forget they are paid to "move about"

 

I've always wondered whether trainers use them to work with up and coming prospect fighters to improve their defensive skills. After all they are masters at avoiding big punches and surviving which at times all boxers need to do in their career. For top prospects to work now and again alongside journeyman fighters and take tips on survival would make sense. I wonder whether Billy Nelson can shed any light?

 

I mentioned this bout to Arv, he says he recalled it being a tight fight, nothing in it, and that he never got put down in that one.

Whilst on the journeyman subject, he sent me a link to an interview, may be of interest to a few here who appriciate the journeyman boxer.....

HAVE GUMSHIELD WILL TRAVEL.
In days gone by it was common for pro boxers to have hundreds of fights but as time has rolled on there are fewer fighters getting to the magic ton. Maybe a few decades from now boxers having a hundred plus fights might be a thing of the past.
Arv Mittoo racked up 100 pro fights as a Light-Welterweight in 9 hectic years from 1996-2005.
Richy Horsley caught up with Arv Mittoo and asked the unsung hero about his life in boxing.
RH. How old were you when you started boxing ?
AM. I was training in martial arts from the age of 11, I was a very small guy so I thought if I trained doing this it would help me look after myself. I never had any intention of fighting. I was very good at throwing kicks but could never punch very well so a friend took me to a local boxing gym. I trained on and off at the boxing gym developing my punching and when I was about 18 I fell out of love with martial arts and trained full time in boxing and started fighting as an amateur.
RH. Any early gym memories ?
AM. After training our coach used to tell me to put the kettle on and make a cup of tea ! (Laughs).
RH. Any amateur memories or highlights ?
AM. I enjoyed my time as an amateur at Warley ABC. I trained with Kevin Bennett three times a week and he went on to become Commonwealth Champion. The highlight was when I won the Novice ABA title, that was an incredible feeling I'll never forget.
RH. 100 pro fights is a great achievement but what made you stop there ?
AM. I realised years ago that I was never going to be a champ. I had a pretty good job so I thought it would be a good achievement to get to 100 pro fights and stop.
RH. As a journeyman did the promoters expect you to lose ?
AM. Yes, they always expected you to lose.
RH. Did you approach every fight the same ?
AM. No. Sometimes I went to win and try hard to win but it usually went to the local guy. I used to use different tactics depending on how good the fighter was.
RH. Did you know after fighting someone whether or not they were going to make it ?
AM. Yes I knew whether they were going to go far, but saying that, I fought some guys who became British champs and I didn't think they would have gone that far.
RH. Junior Witter went on to become World champion, how good was he when you fought him ?
AM. He was very good. He'd already won the British and Commonwealth and European titles, then shortly after fighting me he went on to win the WBC World Title.
RH. What was your hardest fight ?
AM. It was a guy called Colin McNeil from Scotland. He was two weight divisions above me, he was strong and hit hard. He fought World champion Cornelius K9 Bundrage and went 7 rounds.
RH. What is the shortest notice you had for a fight ?
AM. I had just finished work for the day and went to the gym for a training session in Birmingham were I live and as soon as I went in my trainer said "There's a fight for you tonight in Bethnal Green if you want it" ? So instead of training I waited until he took someone on the pads then we headed off to London. I got weighed, saw the doctor, warmed up and headed for the ring to fight 6 rounds against a local boxer. Before I walked up the steps to the ring my trainer said "I want you to walk in and walk back out"! He meant he didn't want me taking any risks. I boxed well but lost the decision, then we headed back up the motorway home and I was up for work the next morning. That was all part of being a journeyman boxer.
RH. Most of those fights you knew you were going to lose but you still got in and took your medicine, was it because you loved boxing ?
AM. At first I didn't know but after a little while I realised so I just used to think I'll get in and have a move around because I loved the fight game so much. I knew one day it would come to an end so I set 100 pro fights as my target. I remember the promoters saying I would come back but I never did.
RH. What about boxers getting Title shots after a handful of fights ?
AM. Good luck to them. It goes to show they are getting looked after by the big promoters.
RH. Do you think journeymen get the respect they deserve or are they just seen as a punchbag ?
AM. Most get respect but you get the odd one or two who show no respect. Sometimes a journeyman will knock out a good fighter because they think they are gonna have an easy walk over but this depends on whether the journeyman is coming to fight or coming for a move around.
RH. Who was your favourite boxer ?
AM. Muhammad Ali. When he was in his prime he hit and never got hit, he was untouchable.
RH. Any funny moments ?
AM. I remember being in the ring waiting to fight a guy from the Brendan Ingle gym. This guy took a really long time to come out so my coach so my coach put a stool in the ring and handed me a newspaper and I was sat there reading the paper (laughs). It caused quite a good buzz in the crowd.
RH. Given the chance would you do it all again ?
AM. If I was a young man I would do it all over again yes but gone a different route. I rushed into the pro's because I wanted to learn what the pro game was all about. I would have stayed amateur longer and took my time. I enjoyed my amateur days but but looking back I wish I'd done things differently but I always say things happen for a reason.100 pro fights must be that reason.

 

Yep, Max has retired now and was a journeyman entirely by choice. If someone took liberties or came in massively heavier than agreed then he would beat them.

 

Great read and insight

 

I wonder if any journemen go in every fight trying to win?

 

I think Burns will be the best soon

 

Yep. Robin Deakin.