‘I’ve seen some sights. I’ve seen some bad stuff happen, but I never really feel in danger.’ Peter Haymer’s remarkable life after boxing

THEY say that also waters run deep, and interviewing former English light-heavyweight champion, Peter Haymer, is tantamount to being hit by one refreshing wave of revelation after one other. For instance, though he seems combating match, he readily admits that, because the first lockdown, he’s most likely “executed about 100 press-ups” and he doesn’t suppose he’s “run greater than 20 yards for the bus”. Though he does get pleasure from strolling his British bulldog, who is called Personal Poppy as a result of she was born on Remembrance Day.

On the age of 42, together with his blue eyes set above the excessive cheekbones, his 6ft 2in stature immaculately dressed, Haymer might simply be mistaken for an actor or a mannequin. However there is no such thing as a self-importance within the quietly spoken Londoner. In some methods, there may be nonetheless one thing of the little boy about him. Due to this fact, when he candidly discloses the truth that his ring-name was impressed by the brutal Nineteen Seventies movie, Scum, it delivers fairly a shock to the senses. Nonetheless, it’s uncommon to come across a boxer with out a playful however sometimes darkish sense of humour. Fighters must have that. In any other case, they couldn’t do what they do – and Haymer undoubtedly did his justifiable share.

He gained the nationwide junior and senior ABAs for St Pancras ABC. As a professional, he gained the English title from Steve “Spartacus” Smith in November 2004. “Me and Spartacus met as amateurs within the quarter-finals, and I believe I beat him by one level,” Haymer recollects. “He was a really huge puncher and he undoubtedly wished revenge. I used to be a intelligent boxer. I had chin, so I simply saved it lengthy. We had an excellent combat. It went the total distance, however I gained that title, and afterwards we went to a bar down in Camden and we had an awesome little celebration that night time.”

After the victory over Spartacus, Haymer went on to problem for the Commonwealth and British belts towards Ovill McKenzie and Tony Oakey respectively, each of whom he had crushed beforehand, but it surely was by no means Haymer’s night time when the massive titles have been on the road. “I boxed Ovill McKenzie the primary time a few fights earlier to the English title combat, and he was a really powerful, big-punching man. I consider I used to be the primary man ever to place Ovill down. I gave him a shot, however, as he fell, he kind of caught me by the legs. After the rely, he received a little bit of a telling off and that wound the clock down just a little bit. I prefer to suppose I may need been in a position to get just a few extra pictures in earlier than the top of the combat, but it surely went the gap and I gained it on factors.

“Once we boxed for the Commonwealth title in 2006, the combat received postponed a few instances and I by no means took a break from coaching. By the point it received to the combat, I’d skilled an excessive amount of and I’d overboiled, so all the pieces went flawed. He put me down 3 times within the second spherical earlier than the combat was stopped. I simply had no steadiness. Marcus McDonnell had refereed just a few fights of mine, and he got here as much as me and stated, ‘Pete, is all the pieces all proper?’ and I used to be like, ‘Yeah, I’m good, I’m good,’ as a result of I didn’t realise what was taking place. Then Ovill caught me with a shot and he got here in just a little bit together with his head unintentionally, which minimize my eye, and I believe that was the excuse that Marcus McDonnell wanted to cease the combat. I used to be devastated. I believe even Ovill was shocked that he beat me as a result of, at any time when we’d sparred previous to that combat, there have been by no means any indicators of him ever with the ability to do this. However I actually don’t need to take nothing off Ovill as a result of he was by no means, ever given any free rides. He labored his arse off for all the pieces he received, and I’m glad he turned Commonwealth champion that night time as a result of he’s good things and I give him all of the respect on this planet.”

However it was Tony Oakey who Haymer respects probably the most, naming the Portsmouth man as the very best he ever shared a hoop with. Haymer had been conscious of Oakey’s silky expertise since they have been amateurs and boxed fastidiously throughout their 2005 10-rounder for Peter’s English title. Haymer received the choice again then – a verdict the pair nonetheless playfully dispute to today. Three years later, although, issues have been totally different.

“After I boxed Tony for the British title in 2008, he ended up stopping me within the ninth,” Haymer explains. “It was so boiling sizzling in York Corridor that night time. Whereas me and Tony fought like hell, there have been individuals sitting at ringside with shorts and vests on and so they have been discovering it exhausting simply to elevate their pints of beer up! I gave Tony a lot respect within the first combat, so the second time I made a decision to only go in there and take it to him. I used to be marking him up and he was taking some huge punches, however Tony was an absolute machine. It received to the purpose the place I used to be hitting this man who simply wasn’t shifting. Ultimately, I couldn’t maintain my arms up. He clipped me as I used to be on my toes kind of making an attempt to pivot away. I went down and I used to be so exhausted that I couldn’t even get my bum off the ground. However I might have hit Tony all day lengthy with bricks, and he weren’t being denied. So I’ve received nothing however respect for Tony. The person is a superb, nice fighter, and I used to be delighted to share the ring with him on each events.”

Haymer retired in 2010 with a file of 18 wins, six losses and two attracts, becoming a member of the ranks of the multitude of boxers who might have executed so a lot better with the suitable individuals behind them, however there is no such thing as a hint of bitterness in his voice as he explains, “Initially, I signed with Sports activities Community, and my coach was my previous beginner coach, Chris Corridor. I’ve identified Chris since I used to be 15. He helped me in direction of the ABA title and came to visit with me into the professionals. After the primary 12 months, I left Sports activities Community and Chris took over as my supervisor. I used to be a fairly first rate ticket-seller, and we used the smaller corridor promoters simply to get some fights.

“My final combat was a factors win towards Danny Couzens at Newmarket in 2010. They have been telling me I used to be in line for an additional shot on the British title, after which all the pieces simply went quiet. The blokes that might have executed one thing with me have been at all times within the reverse nook, so my profession turned stagnant. Ultimately, no alternatives got here and I’d not lengthy had my daughter. So I used to be giving up all this time, no cash was coming in and I had just a little woman at dwelling that I wasn’t seeing. I’d completed on a win. I had run. So I made a decision to name it a day and develop into a father correctly.

“A number of the boxers are combating for his or her livelihood. All they’ve received is boxing, whereas I wasn’t that bothered about cash. I did need titles. I wished to achieve success within the boxing sport, but it surely wasn’t do or die for me. I had a very robust help system. My spouse, Katie, was an enormous individual to maintain me on the straight and slender, and she or he nonetheless is. My mother and father and my sister have been nice. I had my granddad, my nan and my shut buddies, so I at all times had individuals who mollycoddled me. I liked boxing, however I didn’t want it, though I do suppose I used to be blessed within the sense that boxing helped me develop into a greater individual.”

Whereas Haymer and Corridor by no means fairly set the boxing world on fireplace, their friendship has continued to burn vivid. Corridor is Haymer’s employer on the Footsteps Belief, a facility for 12- to 16-year-old boys who’ve been completely excluded from mainstream training in Tottenham, the stamping floor for a number of of probably the most harmful gangs in London. Corridor based Footsteps in 2010 and, to place it bluntly, the younger males who discover themselves there are ingesting on the Final Likelihood Saloon. The important thing goal of Footsteps is to steer their pupils in direction of additional training or employment, however the routine is underpinned by numerous totally different sports activities and Haymer’s “workplace” is the boxing gymnasium.

“We need to give the younger individuals a deflection from simply training, which is what they have a tendency to battle with, so we put some sports activities round it to set free their aggression and we attempt to mentor them into discovering a greater approach. I’m fortunate sufficient to have rapport with individuals normally. I’m fairly listener, and I’ve received a good bit of life expertise myself.

“I grew up on an property. I boxed, and I had plenty of respect from the children within the space as a result of I might deal with myself, be it on the road or within the ring. With the younger individuals these days, there’s no fisticuffs. There’s no one-on-one. It’s actually a free-for-all. Knives are getting used each day. There’s not a combat that occurs the place two individuals throw punches at one another. It’s six or seven guys with knives on to 1 or two.”

And as of late, six or seven guys – even whatever the knives – are extra imposing than they was once. “I don’t know what it’s however persons are undoubtedly getting larger,” Haymer explains. “The cohort we’ve received at Footsteps in the intervening time are common measurement. However we’ve had some absolute monsters, you realize, 13 or 14 years previous and 6ft 6in tall. There are occasions when I’ve to interrupt up bodily fights, however normally, due to the connection I’ve received with our younger individuals, as quickly as they see it’s me that’s getting between them, it doesn’t are inclined to escalate too far. They’re simply kids on the finish of the day. They want some nurturing and a little bit of steering. A number of them have come from damaged households and areas the place it’s very, very tough, so it’s not shocking that they lose their approach just a little bit. I’ve received plenty of empathy and compassion for these children. To see what a few of them have been by way of could be very unhappy.”

The vast majority of the pupils at Footsteps are concerned in gangs and it’s common for an enemy outfit to seem, mobhanded with dangerous intentions. “There’s been instances the place I’ve needed to go to the door and ship some guys away who’ve come to the varsity to work together with one other man who’s in a rival gang. I’ve been doing this job for therefore lengthy that I’ve learnt the best way to defuse a state of affairs. I speak to those lads respectfully and allow them to know, ‘The police shall be right here. Get your self away. Don’t do nothing silly.’ 9 instances out of 10, they don’t actually need to be doing what they’re doing. They really feel like they’re in a predicament, I’m positive. I’ve seen some sights. I’ve seen some dangerous stuff occur, however I by no means actually really feel in peril as a result of I deal with individuals how I need to be handled and, thank God, I’ve by no means had nobody activate me. They at all times realise I’ve received their greatest pursuits at coronary heart.

“The one factor we’re in need of at Footsteps is cash. Funding is hard, as a result of we’re a charity-run organisation and I do know Chris could be very open to anybody that’s in a position to assist out in that approach. He’s a proud man, so he’s not on the market begging for stuff. However clearly, if we might get a sponsor or just a little one thing to assist with stuff, that might be superb.”

Haymer nonetheless takes an curiosity within the present boxing scene, and he’s an everyday on the London Ex Boxers’ Affiliation, along with fellow St Pancras star, former British bantamweight champion, Martin Energy. “Me and Martin return to when he was seven years previous and I used to be 10, and our friendship goes so deep that he was greatest man at my wedding ceremony and his spouse was my spouse’s bridesmaid. We’re happening the LEBA committee now, which we’re very joyful about as a result of it’s so necessary that we preserve it going. The perfect individuals on this planet are boxers and it’s just like the saying that LEBA places on the market, “it’s good to belong”.