Debutant watch - Sean Dodd
You don’t have to be born and bred into boxing to make a successful career out of it. 27 year-old Sean Dodd spent years playing football until he decided to quit the football to have a crack at the noble art.
After an impressive run in the amateurs fighting for the Venture ABC in Birkenhead, Sean now finds himself making his professional debut on the 3rd March in Chester. Sean will campaigning in the featherweight division.
What made you want to start boxing?
“I used to play football every Sunday and along with the football came a big drinking culture. My aggression was getting high and I was getting a couple of red cards. I came to a point in my life where I wasn’t happy with things and I needed to make a change. My uncle is friends with Sean Trodden from Venture ABC and he took me to a boxing show in Birkenhead, it was the first boxing show I had been to and I thought it was great so I joined the Venture the next Monday and have never looked back.”
Did you have a boxing idol when you were younger?
“I wasn’t a boxing fan when I was young, I was more into mucking about on the streets with my mates. I think the only boxer I knew was Mike Tyson.”
Did you do much amateur boxing?
“I had 19 amateur fights and won 17 of them. I was 2011 Senior novice ABA champion and 2010 ABA national Senior novice Class A champion. I took a team of 200 supporters to Portsmouth to see me box and win in the final.”
How do you know the time is right to turn pro?
“It’s all about my boxing style, I’m more than happy to stand in front of my opponent and pick my shots and trade blows if needed. The amateur style didn’t really suit me that much. When I was fighting amateur Danny Kelly advised me to shift some weight and get down to 60kg. This was the best move I could have made, I felt so strong at the weight and was more or less walking through my opponents as I was too big and strong.”
Do you see a difference in the pro and amateur codes?
“Yeah I see a big difference between them. It’s a lot more enjoyable in the pro ranks, there’s a lot of cat and mouse in the amateur game. With the pros you look at each other and think who’s the toughest and who’s got the heart to win the fight. It’s more of a mans game. Also I don’t think you get enough time in the amateurs fighting four, two-minute rounds.”
Do you work full-time alongside boxing?
“I’m boxing full-time. I’m looking around for sponsors and have a couple of things in the pipeline. I feel like this is my only chance and I want to do things 110% right.”
What sort of fighting style do you have?
“I have a very adaptable style, some fighters only know one way. If they want to come at me and give me the fight I will give them the fight but I wont stand in front of them and take unnecessary shots. If I come up against someone who likes to box then I will put on the pressure and press forward. I can fight any style needed to win.“
What ambitions/expectations do you have for your pro career?
“Just keep winning and taking every chance I get. Turning professional was a huge step for me and now I’m here now I have to go for it. I’m setting my self a high standard so would like to get to English/British title level. I’m taking hundreds of fans to my debut in Chester, they all believe I can do it and my coaches believe in me too.”
