Debutant watch - Butch Goldhawk
Butch Goldhawk makes the transition into the pro game on the 8th October at Bethnal Green’s York Hall. The Hoddeston fighter who trains out of Chingford will be campaigning as a cruiserweight.
How did you first get involved in boxing?
The first time I went to the boxing gym was when I was 10. Because I was a chubby kid at school I used to get picked on a bit so my mother took me boxing to learn some self defence and get fit and I picked it up really well and it just carried on from there.
Did you have a boxing idol when you were younger?
I always used to watch boxing when I was younger and I would say it was Mike Tyson who was my favourite.
Did you do much amateur boxing?
I didn’t get my first amateur fight until I was 17 because I was so big. I used to box at super-heavyweight. In total I had 21 amateur fights, fighting out of the Cheshunt amateur club, mainly at super-heavy and a couple at heavyweight which was 91kg. I boxed twice for young England when I was 18.
How did you know the time was right to turn pro?
My last amateur bout was against Tom Dallas in the semi finals of the ABA’s about five years ago. Then I took along time out of the sport. My weight went up to 20 stone and I realised I had to do something about it. So I started training again two years ago and decided to turn over to the pro game.
Do you see a difference between the pro and amateur games?
Yeah, I think there is loads of difference between the two, I remember when I was boxing amateur you don’t tend to sit down on your shots, it's like tap-tap in and out to get some points in the bag. Now in training as a pro I’m getting used to setting my feet and rolling with the shots and getting stuck in there a lot more.
Do you work full time alongside boxing?
I’m a carpenter by trade, I do a lot of my fitness training in the morning before I go to work and do a bit in the gym some evenings. I’ve got a good routine at the moment where I get up at five o’clock every morning and all is going well.
What sort of fighting style do you have?
I like to be up on my feet moving around. I’m six foot tall which is not very tall for a cruiserweight but I haven’t got an upright style. I like to box and have a good defensive style for slipping away from shots.
What ambitions/expectations do you have for your pro career?
At this stage I wont start looking past British level. That’s my ambition now to be a British champion one day. I fought the best in the country as an amateur so I don’t see why I shouldn’t be able to do it as a pro.
