As a boxing writer an exclusive is pretty much the thing we hunt down, no matter how big or small. On a very drunk night I managed to, via the brilliance of the internet, secure myself one with a local fighter, Cumbrian based Heavyweight/Cruiserweight Lee Kellett. Lee's record of 4-5-1 (3) may not be impressive, though his honesty and openness is something that has to be valued.
Having done the interview after a very heavy drinking session in late December I first need to thank Lee for deciphering my drunken ramblings and secondly I need to thank you, the readers who are still there sat here reading this.
Firstly we started off with a few general questions, just something to get started on. Knowing Lee somewhat I've gathered that he has problems with the BBBofC, he was happy enough to indulge my curiosity over those problems. His views were that they didn't give everyone a fair shot, and went on to say they didn't know enough about the actual sport. Having followed the sport for a while it seems fairly obvious that the BBBofC (British Boxing Board of Control) are behind the times, they are slowly catching up to the rest of the world, though sadly it's too slow and Lee's view that they “Couldn't do a round of toast” seems rather apt, it'd just be burnt bread by the time they realised what they were doing.
When asked what the biggest problem of his career was again Lee was frank and honest, admitting he was an “underachiever”, though sadly the reasons for this is where he lives. Cumbria lacks the sort of options a fighter needs, local gyms don't have the facilities and with so few pros in the local area he's had to do most things solo openly admitting that “training alone is not a good way to do it”. Though even despite the limitations in regards to where he lives he recalls his first win (a 44 second KO over Gary Neville of Irvine, Scotland) as his favourite fight. A fight that was mentioned in one of the local papers in Paisley, giving Lee some acknowledgement north of the border. Sadly that same acknowledgement hasn't been found locally. The local press basically ignoring him, openly stating a rather obvious and blatantly annoying fact about the North West Evening Mail. “The media are shit, I box get nothing or few lines yet if you fly birds or are an OAP doing bowls (no disrespect) you get a full page spread”. It seems quite blatant that if you ask the local population who Lee was they'd sadly not know, yet ask them about the local Darts, Bowls, Pool or Cricket and you'd fancy them to have some clue. This comes as an annoyance, though is sadly proof that the local media (run by Cumbrian News) aren't that interested in helping a local guy go about making a name for themselves. It's said that any new is good news, and some publicity could help Cumbria unearth some real boxing talent, sadly one of the few professionals in the county is being totally ignored.
When asked about who did help, Lee mentioned one name of someone who stood out for him, Stan Dewhurst. Stan let Lee train at his gym in Barrow. The Flexappeal Gym was where Stan, a former Mr Universe made his name as one of the worlds premier body builders, was one of the few people who helped out and yet had others offered a helping hand Lee would almost certainly have had a better record than he currently does. Lacking the clout of a fighter promoted by someone like Frank Warren or Frank Maloney means that Lee hasn't had the best of luck in match making. With questionable stoppage losses to John Anthony and Joe Smyth being probably the two stand outs. However Lee the humility you may not expect of a boxer, admitting “Smyth I may not of beat but I'd of made it a fight if not weight drained, I had nothing in me.” Also admitting, and being very complimentary of Matty Askin, saying “he'll be British champ maybe Euro then who knows”.
The interview ended with a few more general questions:
Mayweather or Pacquiao?-”Mayweather, he just has everything, I can only sum it up as a gifted one above everyone else”
Haye or a Klitschko?-”If Haye lands its over but Klitschko will box his ears off”
View on Carl Froch?-”Froch has everything he just doesn't show how good of a boxer he is as he always has wars but the guy with the right head on can do it all.”
Fights you'd like to see in 2011?-”Froch against the other champions in his division or Amir Khan v the champions at 140.”
Again I'd like to say thanks to Lee for answer the questions asked.
Having done the interview after a very heavy drinking session in late December I first need to thank Lee for deciphering my drunken ramblings and secondly I need to thank you, the readers who are still there sat here reading this.
Firstly we started off with a few general questions, just something to get started on. Knowing Lee somewhat I've gathered that he has problems with the BBBofC, he was happy enough to indulge my curiosity over those problems. His views were that they didn't give everyone a fair shot, and went on to say they didn't know enough about the actual sport. Having followed the sport for a while it seems fairly obvious that the BBBofC (British Boxing Board of Control) are behind the times, they are slowly catching up to the rest of the world, though sadly it's too slow and Lee's view that they “Couldn't do a round of toast” seems rather apt, it'd just be burnt bread by the time they realised what they were doing.
When asked what the biggest problem of his career was again Lee was frank and honest, admitting he was an “underachiever”, though sadly the reasons for this is where he lives. Cumbria lacks the sort of options a fighter needs, local gyms don't have the facilities and with so few pros in the local area he's had to do most things solo openly admitting that “training alone is not a good way to do it”. Though even despite the limitations in regards to where he lives he recalls his first win (a 44 second KO over Gary Neville of Irvine, Scotland) as his favourite fight. A fight that was mentioned in one of the local papers in Paisley, giving Lee some acknowledgement north of the border. Sadly that same acknowledgement hasn't been found locally. The local press basically ignoring him, openly stating a rather obvious and blatantly annoying fact about the North West Evening Mail. “The media are shit, I box get nothing or few lines yet if you fly birds or are an OAP doing bowls (no disrespect) you get a full page spread”. It seems quite blatant that if you ask the local population who Lee was they'd sadly not know, yet ask them about the local Darts, Bowls, Pool or Cricket and you'd fancy them to have some clue. This comes as an annoyance, though is sadly proof that the local media (run by Cumbrian News) aren't that interested in helping a local guy go about making a name for themselves. It's said that any new is good news, and some publicity could help Cumbria unearth some real boxing talent, sadly one of the few professionals in the county is being totally ignored.
When asked about who did help, Lee mentioned one name of someone who stood out for him, Stan Dewhurst. Stan let Lee train at his gym in Barrow. The Flexappeal Gym was where Stan, a former Mr Universe made his name as one of the worlds premier body builders, was one of the few people who helped out and yet had others offered a helping hand Lee would almost certainly have had a better record than he currently does. Lacking the clout of a fighter promoted by someone like Frank Warren or Frank Maloney means that Lee hasn't had the best of luck in match making. With questionable stoppage losses to John Anthony and Joe Smyth being probably the two stand outs. However Lee the humility you may not expect of a boxer, admitting “Smyth I may not of beat but I'd of made it a fight if not weight drained, I had nothing in me.” Also admitting, and being very complimentary of Matty Askin, saying “he'll be British champ maybe Euro then who knows”.
The interview ended with a few more general questions:
Mayweather or Pacquiao?-”Mayweather, he just has everything, I can only sum it up as a gifted one above everyone else”
Haye or a Klitschko?-”If Haye lands its over but Klitschko will box his ears off”
View on Carl Froch?-”Froch has everything he just doesn't show how good of a boxer he is as he always has wars but the guy with the right head on can do it all.”
Fights you'd like to see in 2011?-”Froch against the other champions in his division or Amir Khan v the champions at 140.”
Again I'd like to say thanks to Lee for answer the questions asked.
