Alan Dawson – London
Lauded by his peers as one to watch, Bradley ‘Super’ Skeete boxes for the fourth time of the year (his fifth overall) on Saturday, November 5 as he collides with Jay Morris at Wembley Arena, west London on the Gladiators fight card. On The Beak caught up with Bradley and talked amateur boxing, professional prizefighting, upping the training workload and the North London football rivalry between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
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“I’m down to box Jay Morris,” confirmed Skeete exclusively to On The Beak editor Alan Dawson this week.
Heralded as one of British boxing’s brightest prospects, Skeete – despite only competing in four professional scraps – has already won the backing of big-time promoter Frank Warren and Sports Network stablemate and occasional sparring partner James DeGale due to his tall welterweight frame, rangy style, sprightly foot-work, accuracy of punching, shot selection and the variety of punches he dispenses.
A combination-puncher, Skeete (4-0-0, 1ko) often works behind a clinical jab and, when on the defensive, he maintains a sturdy guard where he tucks his elbows in to thwart body-punches whilst also has showing intuitive head movement in order to evade attempted shots to the bonce.
Skeete only began fighting for pay a little over a year ago. As an amateur he was based at Earlsfield ABA – the same club former heavyweight world champion Frank Bruno learned his trade – and amassed numerous honours on the amateur circuit.
“The hardest thing from going from the amateurs to the pros is running around selling tickets!” Quipped the likeable lad when asked if he had any difficulties making the jump from amateur to pro. “In the amateurs I never had to do that. As for the boxing I’ve not really found the change hard its a lot tougher being a pro having to do the longer rounds but I think I’ve settled in well.”
Skeete, 24-years-old, makes a step-up on Saturday evening. Not only in terms of stage (his debut at Wembley Arena), competition (Morris is an improved kind of trial-horse/journeyman that Bradley has been aligned with thus far) but also because it’ll be the first time he’s due to box a six-rounder: “I’m up to six rounds now,” said Skeete.
How then, has training for this contest differed when compared to getting ready for a bout scheduled for four threes? “A typical day in the gym will be: 18 minutes skipping, six/eight rounds shadow boxing, six/eight rounds on the bag or pads and ground work for core strength.”
He continued: “I spar on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. Now I’m doing six rounds, I spar for six/eight rounds. On Sundays I do strength and conditioning, and sprints on the running track with my strength coach Bob McDonald. Now I’ve stepped up to six rounds my training has got more intense.”
Each fighter I’ve spoken to responds differently when pressed as to which aspect of training they prefer. Some love roadwork, being outside and jogging down a beach, up a mountain or in the woods. Not for Bradley… he relishes the fistic rehearsal: “My favorite aspect of training is sparring. I like to get good sparring and doing the rounds in the gym because that’s the closest thing to fight night.”
Regarding the change in venue, he said: “My four professional fights have all been at York Hall. It feels like my second home when I box there now! In May, I was meant to fight at the [London] 02 Arena on the undercard to James DeGale versus George Groves. I was really excited to get a chance to box at such a big arena in what was gonna be my fourth fight. I was gonna box just before the main event so it was a sell out crowd as well. Unfortunately I didn’t get to box because the venue had a curfew.”
The chance to fight in a high-profile setting on a strong card is now just one day away for the popular south London lad: “I’m really pleased to get another chance to box at a big arena on November 5 at Wembley Arena. I’ve sold over 200 tickets and I’m sure I’ll have plenty more support there on the night.”
Knowing Skeete was an Arsenal fan I couldn’t help but chat red-and-white and we agreed on one thing straight away: “We had a shocking start to the season! Hopefully we can sort it out now and start winning games,” Bradley told me.
Van Persie about to nail a penalty against Stoke City. Credit: Ronnie MacDonald
For Arsenal fans, the season’s low-point thus far was the 2-1 defeat to long-time rivals Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane at the beginning of October, however, it was perhaps offset by the stunning 5-3 triumph over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge at the end of the month. Have Tottenham surpassed Arsenal in the battle of local bragging rights? “No! [I] don’t think Spurs will ever be able to take over our North London supremacy,” Skeete said.
One of the Gunners’ greatest assets continues to be the relentless goal-scoring form of false-nine, Robin van Persie. In Premier League duty alone, the Dutch star has netted ten times and assisted twice in 814 minutes worth of action which ensures a rate of contribution once every 67 minutes he’s on the pitch. The stat is even more impressive when the only elite players in top-level leagues who surpass that figure are the consensus two top footballers on the planet: Real Madrid’s power forward Cristiano Ronaldo (one goal/assist every 56 minutes) and Barcelona’s diminutive artist Lionel Messi (one goal/assist every 41 minutes).
In the past, van Persie’s injury troubles have inhibited his ability to complete a full season. If he continues at this rate and stays out of the physio’s room, can he rival the aforementioned duo? “I think like you say if he can stay injury free and he keeps playing well and scoring goals there’s no reason why he can’t have the same goals/assists productivity like Ronaldo.”
Back to boxing, how’s Bradley going to do come fight night: “I predict I’m gonna win!” And, in a message to his fans, he said: “I would like to say a massive thank you to all my fans and to everyone who buys tickets off me to come and support me when I fight. I really appreciate all the support I get – I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without it. Thank you.”
Fight fans can follow Bradley Skeete’s ascent up the domestic and global ranks on Twitter.
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Tags: Arsenal, Boxing, Boxing News, Bradley Skeete, British Boxing, Cristiano Ronaldo, Frank Warren, Lionel Messi, Robin van Persie, Welterweight, Wembley Arena
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