With two first round stoppages in his last two fights, Steve O’Meara next features in exciting contest against all-action Welshman Bradley Pryce on the big Wembley Arena card on Friday 16th March.
Boxing writer Glynn Evans talks to O’Meara about his training and background.
George Groves’ British Super-Middleweight title defence against Kenny Anderson headlines the show live on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 456/Virgin Ch. 546).
Name: Steve O’Meara
Weight: Light-middleweight
Born: Hammersmith
Age: 28, feel a lot younger
Family background: I’m the eldest of five and I’ve four younger sisters. Dad’s side are all Irish. Today I live in Iver, Buckinghamshire with my fiancé and our 14 month old son Oscar. We’re expecting another boy at the start of April. We intend to call him Sonny.
Trade: I’m a personal trainer but I hold back when fights are approaching. I’ve a BTEC National Diploma in Sports Science. I’ve worked in gyms for six or seven years and, in the summer, I often train clients outside.
Nickname: ‘Steve O’
What age did you become interested in boxing and why? My uncle John O’Meara boxed as a pro featherweight out of Hanwell (1989-90) and he’d always buy me boxing stuff for my birthday and Christmas. I also enjoyed watching Prince Naseem (Hamed) as a kid but I was far more into my football. I played for the county, then semi-pro as a left wing back for Uxbridge, and later Wokingham.
When I was about 17 I broke my leg and never fully recovered. It was suggested I go to a boxing gym to get it stronger. Someone invited me to have a spar and I never looked back.
What do you recall of your amateur career? I boxed for the Dale Youth, coached by Mickey Delaney, Peter Carson and Gary McGuinness. I was a small middleweight around the same time as James DeGale, George Groves and Simon O’Donnell and we’d all spar together. They were travelling the world with England at the time and they really brought me on. You had to be decent to survive. It was all pretty cordial until George beat James in the ABAs. After that, it went sour which was awkward for me as I’m still friends with both of them.
I didn’t have my first bout until I was about 21 but it was in the National Novice Championships. I won the tournament so immediately I was 6 and 0. I later won a London Open competition, for boys who’d not been in the ABAs, and I beat (reigning English light-middle champ) Erick Ochieng in that.
All told I had 18 bouts and lost three. I represented London a couple of times, beating Rick Goddings of the Army (now 15-0 as a pro). I also boxed Billy Joe Saunders. He beat me on points in a good fight. I only went in the senior ABAs once but got beat in the North West (London) Divs final by a good Nigerian kid from the Haringey club.
I made lots of great friends and had the good fortune to be coached by some of the best trainers in the country.
Why did you decide to turn pro when you did? I really wanted an ABA title but time wasn’t on my side and my heart was always on being a pro. I was already 24. In the amateurs, I wanted to box every week but there were always pull-outs, injuries, disappointments. Because I always trained so hard as an amateur, I’d often finish contests with plenty still in the tank which was frustrating. I always sensed more rounds would suit me.
Tell us about your back up team: Starting out, Jim McDonnell and Ron Boddy looked after me. Then I went to Hennessy Sports and was managed by Tony Sims but they lost their TV so, after Brett Flournoy beat me in Prizefighter, I signed with Frank Warren Promotions. Brett seemed a really nice family man. What happened to him was such a shame. (Flournoy, a suspected drug dealer, was murdered and burnt at a farm in Cornwall last year.)
Jim McDonnell has trained me throughout my pro career. He’s been there, done it and we’ve got a real connection. I’ve always enjoyed training really hard and Jimmy pushes us in every aspect. He’s renowned for getting his fighters superfit but is also very strong on mental strength and technique. A few days a week, I also do some work with a Russian guy called ‘Serge’ in a gym up by Heathrow. We do a lot of physical stuff and wrestling.
Because I’ve studied sports science, I know quite a bit about nutrition but a guy called Simon who used to work for Maxi Muscle has been a big help. I generally live clean, don’t drink, eat well and sleep well; do all the right things.
What’s your training schedule? Which parts do you most and least enjoy? I train two or three times a day, Monday to Friday, once on Saturday, then take Sunday off which is a joy!
I’m up at seven, have breakfast, then some days go to Serge’s gym for an hour. When I get home I have my supplements then make the hour long drive across the M25 to be at Jimmy’s gym in Loughton for noon.
We never know what he’s got in store for us; track sprints, hill runs, circuits and that’s what keeps us on our toes. Whatever, it’s hard! Still, I like that. Jim says I remind him of himself when he was boxing. His only problem is keeping me out of the gym. Whenever he gives me a day off, I’m stood around scratching me head.
I do my runs at 9.30 at night, all different, some long, some hard. In between sessions, I’m training clients myself.
You can’t beat a good, hard spar. There’s nothing closer to actually fighting. Earlier in my career, I’d attempt to win every round but as I’ve got more experienced, I set myself tasks and try to take something out of every spar, to help develop myself as a fighter. I enjoy all aspects of training but travelling to and fro on the M25 is a killer. Often my eyes are heavy before I even start training!
Describe your style? What are your best qualities? I consider myself a well schooled boxer. I’m versatile, can box a number of different styles. I’ve decent speed and move my feet well. People said I couldn’t punch but I’ve stopped my last two, Ryan Toms and Nathan Weise, in the first round, both in Southern Area title fights. I think that’s down to a combination of things. As I’ve aged, I’ve become physically stronger and far more relaxed. My timing’s better now and I’ve learned to put all my weight into a shot.
What specifically do you need to work on to fully optimise your potential as a fighter? All aspects but the main thing, I’d say, is acquiring more experience; stepping up the levels, getting more rounds. I need opportunities to transfer what I’m doing in the gym into the ring.
What have you found to be the biggest difference between the pro and amateur codes? Top amateur boxing is like fencing, collecting points not inflicting damage. Often after watching a bout, it’s the loser who you feel has the greater potential, might ultimately prove the better pro fighter.
Who is the best opponent that you’ve shared a ring with? Easy one. Floyd Mayweather. Jimmy is friends with (Cornelius) Boza-Edwards and he arranged it for me and DeGale.
We did about 15 minutes at his gym in Las Vegas. We did six or seven minute rounds. Floyd just calls time when it suits him. His feeling of distance and timing are just so accurate. Good fighters play with inches, Mayweather plays with millimetres!
Sure, he’s got real God given gifts but he also trains sooooo hard, sets a ferocious pace for two hours solid. Watching him train really opened my eyes to what’s needed to get to the very top.
How do you explain your loss to Joey Selkirk? I boxed okay. I think Boxing News had me nicking it but I probably needed to do a bit more up in Liverpool (Selkirk’s home city). Though I was physically right, the missus was due around the day of the fight and we had a few scares and false alarms so my mind weren’t 100%. Still, it was a good experience fighting as the underdog on his turf and I’m sure we’ll meet again down the line. Joey was good but hit no harder than I’ve been hit before.
All time favourite fighter: Oscar De La Hoya. I liked his style and he seemed the perfect role model till all that stuff came out recently about him dressing in women’s clothes!
All time favourite fight: Corrales-Castillo I
Which current match would you most like to see made? Got to be Mayweather-Pacquiao. For me, Mayweather wins.
What is your routine on fight day? I usually have a lie-in, in case I’m on late. I’ll drink all my supplements. I deal with nerves quite well and I’m not one for rituals or superstitions. I might play with Oscar or watch a movie but sometimes I might have to run around collecting ticket money which is a real pain!
I might get nervous before the weigh-in but, thereafter, the nerves just disappear. It’s a short career and it’s important you enjoy the moments. I actually look forward to stepping in the ring.
Entrance music: ‘White Stripes’ by Seven Nation Army
What are your ambitions as a boxer? By the end of this year I’d like to have fought for, and won, either a British or Commonwealth title. Ideally, the British. I feel I’m in the mix now, my name’s being mentioned (as a challenger). That’s my immediate goal.
My next fight against Bradley Pryce is a big step up but, to get where I want to be, I have to win. Bradley’s an out and out fighter who’s scored upsets in the past so I’ll not take him for granted but I’m well prepared.
Ultimately, I want recognition as a good fighter.
How do you relax? The odd game of golf but, essentially, I’m a family man now. I spend time with my son and my fiancé, walking in parks and to the shops.
Football team: Big Spurs fan. I go to half a dozen games a season and went away to Madrid last year.
Read: I keep buying boxing books but never reading them. Sugar Ray Leonard’s autobiography is the latest. I read Boxing News and Boxing Monthly.
Music: I like my music. Hiphop, house, indie….the lot.
Films/TV: I used to be really into films but no longer have the time. I liked ‘In Bruges’ with Colin Farrell. On tele, I watch the sports plus ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ and ‘Big Fat Gypsy Weddings’. I can’t help myself!
Aspiration in life: To be a good dad.
Motto: Hard Work, Dedication.
Groves v Anderson is live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 456/Virgin Ch. 546). Join at www.boxnation.tv
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