Kevin McCauley: “What am I doing to do with my Saturday nights now?”

THE TARGET was to get to 301 fights after which retire.

I wished to get there to wind up Peter Buckley and Kristian Laight (who each had 300 fights) and I’d have pissed it as properly, if it wasn’t for covid. I reckon that robbed me of 60 fights.

So what am I going to do with my Saturday nights now?

I attempted consuming and it’s not for me – I get pissed after 4 pints – and telly is just too boring. The dream is get a health club, practice and handle fighters and spend my Saturday nights having banter within the away altering room once more. I wish to get some journeymen like me. They’re the spine of the game and there’s not sufficient of them round. There’s cash to be earned. However I need prospects as properly. I’m coaching my stepson, Frankie Powell, and he will be particular. He’s 15 years outdated, he can dig a bit and he’s spiteful. I’m placing numerous time into him.

He has simply had his first newbie combat and is beginning at a superb age. I left it too late. Dad had 70 amateurs round Coventry, however he by no means pushed me into boxing. He wished me to field, however thought: ‘Kevin by no means does what I inform him to, so there’s no level making an attempt to push him.’

If I had turned professional 5 or 6 years earlier and bought tickets I may have been a prospect. I’d have bought tickets if I had stayed in Brighton and turned professional at 21, however I moved to the Midlands and didn’t flip professional till I used to be 28. It was so traumatic making an attempt to promote tickets. Promoting tickets used to essentially drain me. I didn’t need the stress. I fought higher on the highway. I handled it like a job. I turned up, did my job, acquired paid and went dwelling. I realized out how the sport works by speaking to different fighters in the best way altering room and I had the appropriate crew behind me.

Errol Johnson used to inform me what the opponent was like and each single time he acquired it proper. He has a lot information and he’s handed numerous that information onto Paul Mann. I couldn’t have executed it with out them – and I most likely wouldn’t have had the final two years if it wasn’t for my lovely girlfriend, Hayley Storrie.

She went to each certainly one of my fights, even when meant getting dwelling at foolish o’clock within the morning. I want she had been there from the beginning. Maybe if she had I’d have taken it extra significantly.

I smoked all through most of my profession. I gave up earlier than I fought Dave Ryan for the Midlands title – and I gained. To do 10 rounds out of the away nook and win was a tremendous feeling and Dave went on to have a superb profession after the combat.

It depended what Kevin turned up. It relied on what else was occurring in my life. If I used to be joyful and in a superb place I put up a superb combat, however there have been occasions once I had been kicked out of the home and had acquired off a buddy’s couch to go and combat.

I’m planning to place all my tales in a guide. I’ve acquired an writer who needs to put in writing it and will probably be a superb learn all about somebody who spent 15 years dodging punches – and beloved each minute of it. Individuals say, ‘However you lose each week,’ but there’s no higher feeling than boxing. Nothing compares to the excitement of being within the lion’s den.

I’m gutted I’m leaving the sport I really like, however I believe I made the appropriate choice. I’m 43 so time is in opposition to me.

I acquired a bit disheartened over the past 12 months. I wished to get some wins and I positively gained a number of and didn’t get the choice. It’s been occurring for 15 years and I’ve lastly acquired bored of it! I ought to have 50 extra wins on my report, however no one does you any favours while you’re a journeyman. That’s simply the best way it’s.

I don’t wish to cease entertaining individuals, nevertheless it acquired to the purpose the place I assumed: ‘I’m executed with this.’

Some journeymen attempt, some don’t. I at all times turned as much as have a go and entertain. I wished to provide individuals their cash’s value. I wished them to assume they had been watching their mate in a 50/50 combat. Most people who purchase tickets for boxing reveals don’t actually know the way it works. I used to be there to entertain, however I knew that you may’t combat each week and have a warfare each time.

Dropping my dad [Tom] performed an enormous half in my choice as properly. Dad was in my nook for most likely 97 per cent of my fights and now he’s not there anymore.

I fought at a superb degree at judo earlier than I took up boxing. I used to be competing in large tournaments overseas, however I acquired a foul harm and fell out of affection with the game. I dislocated my left arm and it felt weak after that.

Humorous factor is, my left hand was at all times my robust hand once I boxed – nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to maintain off Liam Smith. He was among the finest I fought – actually skilful and slippery – and Ahmet Patterson and Danny Ball had been good as properly.

There have been some simpler nights. I used to be because of field on the undercard of the Ricky Hatton-Vyacheslav Senchenko present, however there was a curfew on the venue and I ended up getting paid for sitting across the altering room all night time, then consuming a cheese sandwich and driving dwelling!

I’ve acquired a level in criminology and social care and I used to be working with prisoners and other people popping out of jail, instructing them boxing and giving them recommendation, earlier than I moved again to Brighton. I solely acquired that diploma to show some extent to my ex-wife. She used to say I used to be thick and I wished to indicate her I wasn’t only a sausage who will get punched within the face each Saturday night time.

Once I was a child, I used to observe Rocky and beat my brother my up. I discovered the appropriate job for me. I’m glad I boxed and I ain’t executed too unhealthy.