December date will kick start Chester boxing
On Sunday December 5th, at the historic Chester Racecourse, a new era in Chester boxing will begin. For years now, ever since the days when young (and sadly injury prone) starlet Kevin Buckley was being touted for stardom by trade mag Boxing News, the city, not traditionally a boxing capital, has been brewing up with a number of new talents just waiting to make their move. Still, there has always been one problem, a lack of a promoter to look after their interests specifically. Yes, they have had fights on different shows, but no-one has ever said, ‘Right, we have some good lads here, let’s just see what they can do’. That is until now, with Mick Carney taking over management rights to the entire Chester boxing stable and promising to promote shows in the area.
This will hopefully give likes of Omar Gumati, Paul Economides, Chris Goodwin and new pro and top notch amateur Joe Lovell a chance to make the impact that those around them believe is in their grasp.
BoxRec News was invited down to the new gym on Lightfoot Street to see how the lads were getting on. Though the surroundings were certainly larger and more becoming of a gym with such high aspirations, the style of trainer Steve Goodwin certainly hasn’t changed. Half loving father (literally to son Chris) and half strict drill Sergeant, he passes on the skills he was taught by legendary Brian Hughes during their five year relationship. Everybody still knows who the boss in the gym is and from what was witnessed he is doing a fine job.
First up we got to speak to Omar Gumati (9-4-2 2KOs). Omar, a stylish, yet hard hitting light-middle was arguably robbed blind when he fought Alex Matvienko for the British Masters title in September of last year. After the pain of that defeat, one expected Gumati to drive on and get a title his talent undoubtedly deserves. Things however were not designed to be so easy for the affable Gumati.
“After the Matvienko fight I broke my hand, that took me eight weeks to get over. Then I trained over Christmas for the rematch in March. It was then I came down with mumps, I was bedridden and in hospital, it completely wiped me out. By the time I got my strength back it was May. I missed the whole year because of injury and illness.”
Still, that time off has filled Gumati with a burning desire to make up for lost time.
“I have got a few big years ahead of me now. I actually think I have improved since my last fight, my skills are so much better; it’s now time to go out and show everyone. I would obviously love a crack at Matvienko again but I hear rumours he may be retiring, but that is one I definitely want before he goes.”
Also returning the ring, after a lengthy absence, is 22 year-old light-welter Chris Goodwin. Chris, who sports a decent record of 11-1-1 was, before his absence turning into a lovely box-mover. He had appeared on ITV scoring a victory over Jon Baguley, who later went on to smash Vinny Mitchell. From what was witnessed, the 17-month hiatus had done nothing to dim his skills or his fire. Chris was happy to explain his lay off.
“I had university to do, and it was hard going to lectures, getting my revision done and then trying to get to the gym. It’s not something you can do half-hearted, that’s why I took the year out. If I am not training up to the standard I should be then I’m not going to do very well, I’m not going in there to get hurt! I’m back now and I’m 100% committed.”
His return comes on December 5th, a date he is looking forward to, even if the training has been hard.
“Yeah, it will be great to get out; it’s been a long time. The skills are there but when you are overweight the training is really hard. When it comes down however, it becomes so much easier. It’s been a really good camp.”
But where does the future lie for Goodwin after this December date?
“We have this fight on the 5th, then we will do another four rounder, then a six, then an eight. From next up we will go for a little title and take it from there.”
Arguably the closest to a title in this particular gym, partly due to the lack of depth in the domestic division, is Paul Economides. The featherweight, who boasts a record of eight wins and one defeat, is no stranger to these pages. Just under one year ago Economides was one fight away from a big deal with Hatton Promotions. All he had to do was beat Scotsman Stephen Russell on the Hatton-Ndou undercard. Disaster struck when he was stopped in one round, his dreams were crushed. Such was the emphatic nature of the defeat some wondered whether he would come back at all.
When he did return he told this very website that if he lost his next fight he would retire, and being the man he is, I can guarantee that this wasn’t an empty threat. Thankfully he beat the dangerous Shaun Doherty and never had to follow through with his promise. The fact Doherty went on to hold VIP ticket seller and former English title challenger Mick Robinson to a draw (flooring him in the third) in his last outing makes that victory look even better than it did at first glance. Economides is looking forward to his return to the ring.
“I can’t wait till December 5th, I haven’t fought since March, so how long is that, half a year out? I have spent all that time in the gym; I haven’t been missing any sessions like some fighters do. It’s time to get out there and do the business.”
Economides, once a brawler who used brute force over skill, believes that, despite his lay off, he has improved immeasurably in that intervening period, turning into more of a box fighter.
“I have come on so much, as you know when I lost to Russell I switched trainers; I’m with Steve Goodwin now. Last time out I think I showed a bit of improvement but there were a lot of nerves. I need to go forward again now.”
Economides, always a man with high aspirations is delighted with the link up with a new promoter and believes that the future will bring some big fights that match his ambition.
“It’s great we are with Mick Carney. I have had my ‘experience fights’. I don’t want to be fighting any more guys I definitely know I can beat easily; I want fights that can challenge me now. I want to go for titles, whether it is a Welsh title, a British Masters title, even the English title. But first up its December 5th. We will see how much we have improved. It’s one thing doing it in the gym and another doing it in the ring. But I want everyone to know, I am ready to go, and this is just the start.”
For all the fighters from the Chester stable this could well be just the start. They have their promoter now and they still have their top notch trainer, it is up to them to show how far they can go. None of us ever know how a journey will end, but this ride is certainly going to be exciting.
