Home Boxing News In depth interview with John Thain

In depth interview with John Thain

Fast-rising Edinburgh star John Thain talks to boxing writer Glynn Evans about his background and career so far.

The exciting unbeaten light-middleweight features on the big Ricky Burns-Paulus Moses world title card at the Braehead Arena on Saturday 10th March, live on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 456/Virgin Ch. 546).

Name: John Thain

Weight: Light-middleweight

Record: 5-0-0 (1)

Born: Edinburgh

Age: 24

Family background: There’s just my mother, me and my two little sisters. Dad passed away in 2003. I still stay at home. Mum does so much to help me get ready (to fight).

Trade: My boxing is everything to me but I have to drive a private hire cab at weekends to make ends meet. We’ve still bills to pay at the end of the month.

Nickname: Hopefully I’ll have one by fight night!

What age did you become interested in boxing and why? I’d always been curious from movies like Rocky and Raging Bull. A neighbour was doing it and, when I was nearly 14, I begged my dad to let me go with him. I doubt I’d ever have had the courage to turn up by myself.  Initially Dad refused saying it was too dangerous, then consented on me going just once, to have a look. Instantly, it drew me in and I felt at home, like a light bulb switched on. It was almost spiritual!

What do you recall of your amateur career? I began at the Leith Victoria gym where Alex Arthur and Steve Simmons trained, then moved on to Gilmerton ABC at 19 and finally, at 21, to the Lochend gym where I still train today.

I had 60 odd amateur contests and doubt I won half! My record was very poor at the beginning because I couldn’t control my nerves. As I matured I won a Scottish Youth title and, after losing to Blantyre’s Joe Kelso at lightweight the year before, I finally won a senior Scottish ABA light-welter title in 2008, beating Eddie Doyle of Glenboig. That night, I also got the trophy for Best Stylist which was possibly the highlight of my amateur career. (In 2009, John was stopped in the Scottish quarters by S.Hill of Bellahouston).Another high spot was outpointing Frank Buglioni at the Repton.

I also boxed for Scotland quite a few times. I went to Finland twice, Germany, Canada, the Czech Republic and to the 2008 European Seniors in Liverpool where I lost in the last 16 to John Joe Joyce of Ireland.

I’d love for my amateur record to have been better. I was an international novice but you can’t go back and fix it, just learn from the experiences.

Why did you decide to turn pro when you did? A friend from our gym somehow managed to secure a meeting with Frank Warren. Apparently Frank had heard I trained really hard. He offered to sign me and suggested a title fight within three years if I kept winning. I liked the sound of that challenge.

Tell us about your back up team: Frank manages and promotes me and, since my time as an amateur at Lochend, I’ve been coached by Terry McCormack. He introduced me to a more pro style, adding things to what I had rather than trying to change me. He’s 100% the guy for me. I couldn’t have anyone else. He’s always there for all his boxers, picking us up to take us running, devotes himself full time yet gets little in return. He never has a day off.

A guy called Kevin Kirkland, who’s a qualified fitness instructor, helps improve my whole body strength on the days I don’t spar. Regarding nutrition, I’m quite good myself, read lots of magazines. For six weeks before fight night, no junk food passes through my body. It’s possible I could do welterweight for the right fight.

What’s your training schedule? Which parts do you most and least enjoy? I train Monday to Saturday, two or three workouts a day, then take Sundays off. I begin at 11 o’clock with a run, sometimes at the beach which takes us away from traffic pollution. Other times we’ll do repeat sprints at the running track which are very competitive, or go up and down the steps. Terry’s always trying to get the very best out of us.

Then, after a protein shake, I go to the boxing gym for 12.30. My routine there includes the bag, pads, speed ball, medicine ball, sit ups and a 10 minute skip at the end. I’ll often spar the senior amateurs at the gym on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and it gets so competitive. I might return to the gym for more sparring in the evening.

I most enjoy the pads because you get to brush up on technique and rehearse moves you can use in a fight. Plus it’s great for conditioning.  I could do without Terry’s 12 station circuits. I mean, who likes burpees?! Still, it’s what you have to do to get your hand raised.

Describe your style? What are your best qualities? Without getting into wars, I try to put on something good for the fans. They make the sport and hearing their cheering is priceless. I always practise a good left jab; that’s the base for me as I’m tall with a long reach. I’m also a good mover with good defence.

What specifically do you need to work on to fully optimise your potential as a fighter? More experience. More rounds with good pros. Saturday’s fight is over six rounds which is a step up. People speak about my lack of power but I just focus on winning the rounds.

What have you found to be the biggest difference between the pro and amateur codes? Got to be the training. It’s far tougher. Also, all amateurs try to hit and not get hit so they can stay ahead while pros have to land with bad intentions. In the pros, you can’t just be very fit, you also have to be very strong.

Who is the best opponent that you’ve shared a ring with? There’s been a few in sparring. Josh Taylor is easily the quickest while Gary McMillan and Alex Arthur are both very strong. On a trip over to Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym in California, I also sparred a very tough Mexican, based in Texas, called Roberto Garcia. He went 10 rounds with Antonio Margarito.

The best I’ve actually fought was a two time Russian (amateur) champion called Maxim Ignatiev who beat me on points in Germany.  He taught me you have to go out and be ‘The Boss’. I gave him too much respect.

All time favourite fighter: The Sugar Rays, Leonard and Robinson.

All time favourite fight: The Ward-Gatti trilogy

Which current match would you most like to see made? Yuriorkis Gamboa against Adrien Broner. I couldn’t pick a winner but I’d love to watch it.

What is your routine on fight day? I never set the alarm. I just sleep till I wake naturally. After breakfast I might take a little walk but I’m very conscious not to waste any energy before the fight. I try to stay relaxed, watch a bit of tele maybe and ‘fuel up’ without bloating myself. I may visualise and even practise a few moves from the gym. In the changing room, I like a bit of music to relax to. I certainly don’t get fired up, angry or aggressive. I conserve all energy and try to fill myself with confidence.

Entrance music: Not decided yet. Nothing too menacing!

What are your ambitions as a boxer? Always to make sure I win my next fight to keep alive my dream of eventually becoming a world champion. To gradually climb the ladder; lots of belts, lots of money and lots of enjoyment.

How do you relax? I like to hang with my mates and get crap food down me, pizzas and stuff. The morning after the fight I’ve promised myself a full fried breakfast. I also play guitar, go on the computer and enjoy a night out.

Football team: Scotland! When I was younger I liked Man United.

Read: Boxing News, Boxing Monthly and boxing autobiographies.

Music: My iPod has tracks from all different eras, soul, some dance, some rap.

Films/TV: Comedies. I liked ‘Life’ with Eddie Murphy. I love ‘Only Fools and Horses’ plus ‘Chewing the Fat’. I always watch boxing on tele.

Aspiration in life: To make enough money to look after my mum and her family back in the Philippines. I went six years ago on holiday. I’d love to build them better houses and pay for their education.

Motto: If you’ve trained hard, the fight’s fun!

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