Unbeaten Liverpool light-middleweight star Joe Selkirk features on the debut of BoxAcademy tonight at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Manchester.
Selkirk takes on Jason Ball over eight rounds with unbeaten prospects Rocky Fielding, Paul Butler and Calum Johnson also featuring on the card.
Watch tonight’s BoxAcademy debut live on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 456/Virgin Ch. 546) from 7.30pm. Join at www.boxnation.com
Name: Joseph Selkirk
Weight: Light-middleweight
Born: Fazakerley Hospital, Liverpool
Age: 26
Family background: I’ve a younger brother and a younger sister. I live by myself in Huyton after splitting up with me bird. I’ve no kids that I know of!
Trade: None. I’ve always been a full-time boxer.
Nickname: I’ve not got one.
What age did you become interested in boxing and why? All my family have been into the boxing. Most boxed and my granddad’s brother Tony Smith fought for the British and Commonwealth welterweight title in the 1960s (stopped in nine by Swansea’s Brian Curvis). The family tell me I was always hitting the top ‘n’ bottom (floor to ceiling) ball as young as two or three. I was going to the boxing gym regular from the age of six.
What do you recall of your amateur career? I started out at the marsh Lane club and won the national schoolboys there before moving on to the Rotunda ABC around the age of 13.
My coaches at the Rotunda were the late Jimmy Albertini and Mick McAllister. We had a great gym; all the Smith brothers (Paul, Stephen, Liam and Callum), Tony Bellew, Joseph McNally. They took me to the Junior ABA title, two NABC titles and two senior ABA finals. First time in 2005, I lost to Brett Flournoy who got murdered last year- shot, burnt and buried. Bad that. Then, in 2007, I won the welterweight title against M.Clauzel from Northumbria. Before that, I stopped Anthony Ogogo, who’s going the Olympics this year, in the semis and I also beat Kirk Kirkham, a good lad, in the North West Counties final. I beat loads of other good kids such as Sam Webb, Denton Vassell and John Murray.
Winning those senior ABAs was definitely the highlight of my amateur career, not just because of the calibre of the people that I beat but also because I did it with just one hand. I bust my right and basically couldn’t do any sparring or hit a bag or pad with the bad hand. I won the ABAS just shadow boxing. Injuries like that held me back quite a bit in the amateurs. I was down to go to the World Seniors in Chicago but had to pull out cos me hand was bad.
All told, I had between 80 and 90 amateur fights and I know I lost 10. I must’ve boxed 20 times for England and, in addition to winning the Four Nations, I got a medal at every multi-nations tournament I went to. I boxed in Italy, Germany, France, Poland…loads of places. The only time I went outside of Europe was to the (2004) World Juniors in South Korea but I got beat over there. On the same squad as me was ‘Swifty’ (Stephen Smith), Amir Khan, Bradley Saunders, (James) DeGale and ‘Big Pricey’ (David Price). Some team, that.
I did okay but I look back on my amateur career with disappointment really. I should’ve achieved a lot more. My dream was always to go to the Olympics. I was in pole position for Beijing but took a year out because of the hand. While I was away, Billy Joe Saunders qualified for Beijing and my chance had gone.
If I’m brutally honest, I weren’t as dedicated as I could’ve been. I had injuries, a few personal issues and also, as a young lad, I spent far too much time out partying, on the ale. I could be an absolute idiot. After my wins, even during the ABAs, I’d go out on the town. I was out until four in the morning the night before I lost to Brett Flournoy in that final.
Why did you decide to turn pro when you did? After I missed the (2008)Olympics, there was nothing really for me to hang around for. I’d already won the senior ABAs. I needed a fresh challenge.
Tell us about your back up team: Frank (Warren) manages and promotes me and today I’m trained by Mick McAllister and Mark Quinn back at the Rotunda amateur gym. It’s great being back around the young kids. Previously, I was coached by Georgie Vaughan, a real diamond who was more like family than a trainer to me. After George retired I had one fight with Oliver Harrison over in Salford, another very good coach, but then got back training with (Tony) Bellew.
Mick and Mark were both involved with me in the amateurs since I was 13. They know me inside out, know how to get the best out of me. Mick’s very good with the technical side and Mark really works me hard. Both really know their stuff. Tactically, they set perfect gameplans. They really put the time and effort in for me.
(Conditioner-nutritionist) Kerry Kayes kindly provides all my protein drinks and supplements.
What’s your training schedule? Which parts do you most and least enjoy? I pretty much train seven days a week at the minute. Four or five times a week, I go running with ‘Bomber’ (Bellew). He’s an absolute animal and a total athlete. I really struggled to stay with him the first few weeks but now I match him. We really bounce off each other.
Every day at the gym is different, if I’m honest. Some days I just go through the motions, practicing technical stuff, others I’ll be there for four or five hours, really putting it in. I really like to learn stuff so working the pads, then trying to implement the moves and shots I’ve been shown in sparring, is what I enjoy most. I like getting things right.
What I hate is the running, even though I’m pretty good at it. I love my bed and hate getting up in the morning. Me and Anthony (Bellew) do the track for 40 minutes and that’s really hard.
Describe your style? What are your best qualities? I’m a boxer-puncher who can do bits of everything. Everyone seems to label me as a banger and I suppose I’ve had a few good knockouts but I believe I’m a better boxer than I am a puncher. So far, I’ve really not boxed well as a pro. I’ve neglected my skills in favour of trying to put people to sleep and make more of a name for myself.
I think my jabs me best punch, everything comes off that. My right hand was always been the big shot but, because of the injuries, I’ve needed to adapt and now I believe the left is just as hard. It’s all timing and accuracy rather than brute strength. Now my fitness is really good, too. Me head’s sound now and I intend to give it everything on Friday night.
What specifically do you need to work on to fully optimise your potential as a fighter? Using my brain more. I know the ability’s there. I need a couple of consecutive fights, Friday then again in July, to build momentum. Then I should be ready for a title shot in September.
What have you found to be the biggest difference between the pro and amateur codes? It’s a bit slower and that definitely suits me because, in the amateurs, I always felt rushed. Now I can take my time.
Who is the best opponent that you’ve shared a ring with? I’ve sparred with loads; Amir Khan, Bellew, DeGale, George Groves, Kenny Anderson – a real tough man – but the hardest spar I’ve had was probably with Carl Froch. He’s so fit, so strong, so clever; knows what point of the round to apply his pressure. He’s a proper world class fighter.
The hardest fella I ever fought was a Canadian called Adam trupish. He sent Ryan Pickard fast to sleep in the amateurs and also knocked out Jean Pascal. I think he went to two Olympics. I stood with him and beat him over four rounds at a multi-nations in Liverpool but it was proper war.
All time favourite fighter: Oscar De La Hoya. I really liked his style and he fought everybody.
All time favourite fight: Probably the first Barrera-Morales fight. I was a Barrera man. Those fights were full of action, swayed both ways. Both were hurt several times.
Which current match would you most like to see made? Canelo Alvarez against Miguel Cotto. Not sure who wins. Possibly Alvarez. He’s younger and fresher.
What is your routine on fight day? I usually can’t sleep the night before. My mind’s pretty alive so I’m usually up by nine or ten. I’ll have a bowl of porridge but, after that, I’ll not eat much, just have me drinks. I don’t like to feel bloated. I might watch a DVD or some tele but I like to be around people. Me mates make me laugh which decreases the tension.
I used to get very nervous, doubting my fitness, worried about nagging injuries. I weren’t very confident but now I’m fit and well I know I can handle whatever the opposition brings. In the changing room, I’m pretty calm. No point wasting nervous energy.
Entrance music: I change every time. It’s usually a good dance track.
What are your ambitions as a boxer? I want to reach me goals, chase me dreams. I’m motivated by titles, more than money. That comes automatically with the success. Though I’m 26, I’m in no rush. I’m still fresh, in good nick. I’d like to be European champion in a couple of years.
How do you relax? Go out with me mates or a girl, for a quiet drink. I play a little bit of five-a-side and also like a game of pool.
Football team: Liverpool. I still go the match when I can. I went to Wembley for the (FA Cup) semi-final with Everton. (Toffee man) Bellew’s face on the Monday after was priceless!
Read: Just the Boxing News and the Boxing Monthly.
Music: Mainly dance and R ‘n’ B.
Films/TV: I like a good old gangster film. Goodfellas is probably my favourite. The funniest thing on tele is that Celebrity Juice. I wouldn’t mind a night out with that Keith Lemon.
Aspiration in life: To get the best out of me life. To enjoy myself and know I’ve done me family proud.
Motto: Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. I got that one off Bellew.
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