‘There’s nothing I haven’t seen.’ The new cut-man in Tyson Fury’s corner

FRANK HOPKINS says his charges are as follows… “It’s £5 for an autograph, £10 for a selfie and £100 for an interview. However you’re a buddy, so it’s £50 to you…”

I’m one in all many associates Hopkins has in boxing and lots of extra wish to know his story after the 75-year-old from Portsmouth was given the job of being Tyson Fury’s cut-man for the Dillian Whyte struggle this month.

Jorge Capetillo, who helped Fury get by means of the Otto Wallin struggle in September, 2019 after he suffered wounds that wanted 47 stitches, is unable to make the journey to London and Hopkins takes his place.

“Folks of their thirties can be saying, how come that outdated man’s obtained the job?” mentioned Hopkins. “The reason being, I’ve been doing it for a very long time and there’s nothing I haven’t seen. I’ve had fighters come again [to the corner] with their eyes shut and I keep in mind Jazza Dickens’ jaw falling in half in my hand within the [Guillermo] Rigondeaux struggle [in July, 2016]. I saved calm and known as the referee over.

“I don’t panic. I simply get in there and do the job, whether or not it’s a four-rounder on the York Corridor or a world-title struggle.”

Fury-Whyte would be the thirty eighth world-title struggle Hopkins has labored on, and he says that Terry Flanagan gave him a few of his busiest nights. “I keep in mind Terry coming again to his nook as soon as and he had a horrendous minimize on his head that went to his cranium,” mentioned Hopkins. “He requested how unhealthy it was and I informed him: ‘There’s nothing there. Don’t fear about. Simply get on with successful the struggle.’ He went on and gained the struggle. He obtained minimize to ribbons in opposition to Regis Prograis in New Orleans as effectively. He misplaced that one, however I obtained him by means of it.”

Hopkins says he obtained to know Fury after a Flanagan struggle. “I’ve by no means labored with Tyson earlier than,” he mentioned, “however I’ve been in the identical altering room as him – and we’ve had a number of beers collectively as effectively. I used to be working with Terry at a struggle in Manchester and once I went again to the lodge, Tyson was there together with his dad, his spouse and Billy Joe Saunders.

“I began chatting to them and we ended up taking a crate of beer as much as my room. We stayed up all night time ingesting and speaking about boxing and horses. It was snigger.”

Hopkins says working with Fury is “the head” of a profession that began together with his nephew, Tony Oakey.

“I used to be all the time a giant fan of boxing,” he mentioned. “I’ve all the time made first rate cash as a automobile vendor and horse vendor and if there was a giant struggle within the States, I’d go.

“That will be my vacation, going to observe Lennox Lewis or Prince Naseem [Hamed]. I went to observe Lennox and Frank Maloney was within the bar one night time. I informed him my nephew, Tony Oakey, had gained the ABAs and he was going to win them once more. He gave me his card and it went from there.

“I used to be a automobile vendor and a horse vendor. I didn’t even know how you can put a pair of gloves on a fighter. Frank mentioned, Why don’t you do Tony’s cuts? I requested Dennie Mancini to show me and he mentioned, Why would I train you my job?

“I informed him I used to be solely going to work with Tony and he mentioned, come and sit alongside me, and that’s what I did. I did that for six months after which Dennie retired and gave me all his package.”

Oakey gave Hopkins a few of his most memorable nights, together with Jamie Moore. He charges Moore’s battle with Matthew Macklin in September, 2006 as one of the best struggle he has labored on.

“It was a humdinger,” mentioned Hopkins of Moore’s violent victory. “And three years later I used to be in Atlantic Metropolis with Jamie Moore when he was coaching Macklin. What a turnaround – however that’s boxing.”

Hopkins has seen most issues in boxing and charges unbeaten featherweight Ryan Garner as “good as anybody I’ve had within the final 30 years.” He added: “It’s story isn’t it? Considered one of us is handsome and charismatic and the opposite one’s obtained no appears or charisma in any respect. We’re the odd couple, aren’t we?”

Garner is aware of which half of the odd couple he’s and responds that Hopkins is “an fool… however a legend.”

Hopkins additionally works with the Chamberlain brothers, Mark and Jamie, who saved him busy on the York Corridor final month.

“After the primary spherical, Jamie’s left eye was minimize after which his proper eye went within the second,” mentioned Hopkins. “He got here again after the third and his nostril was bleeding. I mentioned to him, Cease coming again wanting like this! Hold your fingers up!”

Hopkins can be again on the York Corridor six days after Fury-Whyte, working with the Frankham cousins, Josh, Levi and Charles. “I’ve obtained six kids and 48 grandchildren and nice grandchildren,” he mentioned, “so each Christmas my spouse says she wants £2,000 for presents. Two weeks later it’s: ‘Have you ever obtained one other £2,000’ and two weeks after that she asks once more.

“So that you see, I’ve obtained to maintain working.”