Debutant Watch - Craig Hardy

Craig, 22, fights under the tutelage of trainer Paul Cook and has signed a three year managerial contract with Goodwin Promotions. He makes his debut at the York Hall on Saturday night, taking on fellow debutant Alex Bassa in a four round super-featherweight bout. What made you want to start boxing?

“I got into boxing through one of my best mates at school, he said he was going to a boxing class at Barking ABC after school. At the time I was playing football and all my family were football mad supporting West Ham, so I went home to tell my mum and dad that I was going to boxing and they didn’t believe me. I was about 12 and as soon as I started I got the buzz for it and never looked back.”

Did you have a boxing idol when you were younger?

“I used to watch a lot of Prince Naseem because he was such a good entertainer. My favourite fighter has always been Manny Pacquiao. I hope he can still pull off the Mayweather fight.”

Did you do much amateur boxing?

“I had 24 amateur fights, winning 18 of them. I boxed as a Junior with Barking ABC. I boxed in the London finals and fought in the school boys and also got to national ABA finals three years on the spin.”

How do you know the time is right to turn pro?

“I thought there was a lack of discipline in amateur boxing like when you turn up for a fight and your opponent doesn’t bother to turn up so you don’t get a fight. I took two years out of boxing but always kept fit in the gym, then I started training at the TKO under Ben Doughty and my hunger for the sport really came back.

“I was sparring pro’s there and Ben said I had the ability to turn pro. So I decided to have a few fights in the Queensbury League to prepare myself for the pro game. I had five fights there in total and it was a real good learning platform for me.”

Do you see a difference in the pro and amateur codes?

“Yeah, there is a big difference. You have to be much more on your game as a pro as that side of the sport is all about hurting your opponent, your not fighting just to score a point with a jab. It’s important to keep very fit and now I pay a lot more attention to the nutritional side as that can affect your performance.”

Do you work full-time alongside boxing?

“I do cladding as a full time job. I work during the day and train in the evening. Leading up to a fight they let me have time off so I can get important sparring in. I would like to box full time but because I have my son I need to work as well at the moment.”

What sort of fighting style do you have?

“I will have a mixed style. As an amateur I was a counter puncher but now we are working on fighting on the front foot too.”

What ambitions/expectations do you have for your pro career?

“Since I started boxing my dream has always been to become a professional boxer. I would love to win the British Lonsdale belt outright, that would mean the world to me. I have sparred Darren Hamilton and Kevin Mitchell and done well against them so that gives me the confidence I can make it.”

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