Vaughan Jnr aiming to bring some good fights to Liverpool

One of my abiding memories as I was growing up in the 1990’s and falling in love with our wonderful sport, was the up and coming Liverpool boxing scene. Guys like Paul Hodkinson, Shea Neary, Paul Lloyd and Andy Holligan lit up the city with nights of valour and courage.

If I wasn’t yet hooked they tipped me over the edge making me the anorak I am today (I don’t know whether to thank them or not!). At the forefront of this movement was the then new Vaughan-Hyland promotions company. Fronted by Stephan Vaughan Snr and John Hyland they gave us many a night to remember before the dream died and Vaughan Snr went on to own Chester football club and Chair Widnes Rugby League club.

We could have been forgiven for thinking that was that, especially considering that the last few years have been tumultuous for the Vaughans. Chester FC went bust and Vaughan Snr had many well documented legal problems culminating in a recent fifteen month jail sentence for assault.

But some families are made of tougher stuff.

Now under the new banner of Vaughan Boxing, Stephan Vaughan Jnr is heading up a phoenix boxing firm and is intent on bringing the glory nights back to Liverpool. They have overseen the re-emergence of Derry Matthews as a championship level fighter and have high hopes for the future.

Still, boxing wasn't Vaughan Jnr's first sporting port of call.

“I was a decent footballer and captain of Liverpool’s reserves and turned pro at 17. Sadly I got released and went to Chester with my Dad. I had a good two seasons and then flitted around a few clubs. Unfortunately I did my Achilles twice and I have had to retire.”

You do however get the impression that boxing was always the first love of his life, and that was evident from a young age.

“We have always been a big boxing family; it was only me and my brother James who never fought. Liverpool legend Joey Frost is part of the family and my dad had 83 fights and was handy. From 1993 I went everywhere with my dad, we saw everyone fight, Nassem, Eubank and Tyson, we saw everybody. When all the kids were talking about footballers I was talking about Paul Lloyd and Paul Hodkinson. Boxing was in my blood and that’s where it always will be.”

As previously mentioned, the last few years have been very tough for the Vaughans. They were the victims of a vicious hate campaign during their time at Chester FC and the club went bust in March 2010. Vaughan Jnr however sees it rather differently to many vocal Chester fans.

“All my Dad ever did was put money into that club and keep them afloat. The thanks he got was to be forced out and made a figure of hate. All I will say is that there are two sides to every story.”

It is nice to hear that even through these trying times this has not caused the family to be ‘anti-Chester’. Cestrian boxers have figured prominently on the Vaughans' recent shows. Men like Paul Economides have been given an opportunity to showcase their talents on the size of bill they may only have dreamed of otherwise. The question does arise however; does Stephan Vaughan Jnr have the experience to run the ship in the absence of his Dad? The man himself has no doubts.

“I have been around the sport for ages and have been learning the game. I do still consider Dad ‘the boss’ but I want him to see how well it’s going. All he will need to do is turn up; I think he will be happy with that."

Now the future awaits. Vaughan has really high hopes for the coming year.

“We have Derry who has been a friend of mine for years. We want to get him a shot against Commonwealth champ Lee McAllister. Tommy Gilmour wants that as well, we just need to get the money sorted. We have Paul Davies who although he got beat last time out, has a really bright future, I feel. We will sign anyone in the North West who has good talent. At first my Dad wanted only to promote, not manage. He got burnt trying to compete against Warren and all them in the 90’s. Now we want to promote and manage, but we will do it sensibly.”

So does Vaughan Jnr have any message for those who believe that their family may have suffered one crisis too many and feel they will just float away?

“We are here and here to stay. We want to make a big impact, put on some good shows for the public who want and deserve to see good fights. We have made a good start but this is just the start. Things are only going to get better.”

One suspects that the British boxing landscape is much better place because of this. To the Vaughan family, welcome back. It has been far too long.