Winning The British Title Outright to Training World Champions | Bradley ‘Super’ Skeete

This Week On The BE FIRST Podcast, We Welcome Former British Champion Bradley Skeete. 

From His Early Days Of Watching His Idol Prince Naseem, To His Glittering Amateur Career At Earlsfield Boxing Club onto The Highs of His Professional Career, Capturing The British Title & Defending it 3 Times To Win It Outright! And That Fight Against Hamzah Sheeraz 

This Is Another NOT To Be Missed Episode, So Be Prepared To Step Into The Ring & BE FIRST! 

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

Everyone knows what happened in that fight, didn't they? Training your boy. Yeah, like opportunities and looking back, I'll I'll never regret it because I've still got that belt now and I can still look and say, uh I'm outright British champion, but winning the gold and standing on the podium here in the National, that was that was a that was like a real real moment. Wow, this is man, this is crazy like this sort of thing. And winning the British title, that that was always a problem growing up quite young. I was always remembered the British title and I said I was gonna win it. Not just win it, I wanted to do it properly and win it out. All the fights that I'm in and around now changing, you gotta make the most of it because it don't last for a long time. And it was a loss, but it was hard to take, really, because I I believe I won that fight and uh a lot of other people did, but it probably made me again, you know, like from the fighting that went welcome to the post that that first laugh that I knew the next time I'd get an opportunity that wouldn't be happening again.

SPEAKER_00 1:11

Yes, people, and welcome back to the Be First Podcast. Today's guest we've got the former British welterweight professional boxer, now turned professional boxing coach Mr. Braddy Skeets. How are you, lad?

SPEAKER_03 1:23

I'm all good, mate. How you been?

SPEAKER_00 1:24

Yeah, all good look. Good finally now at that intro. Yeah, lad. But thanks for taking your time out and come on the podcast. I know you're a busy fan here and there and everywhere at the moment. Yeah, jets. Yeah, lad. All expenses paid now, perfect. Can't complain, exactly. Well, you've earned it, lad, to the career that you've had, so yeah, why not? Why not? But yeah, thank thanks again for coming down. And um, if you can take us back to the start, a little bit about where you grew up and how you got into sport that you love.

SPEAKER_03 1:53

Yeah, uh taking it back a long way now. But uh I started when I was about seven, eight. Um my dad worked for uh Sid Khan, who's got Elsa Boxing Club in Wandsruff. So I was growing up in Battersea, and uh I was I remember being young and Sid's got two boys, David and Aaron, and I was growing up with them, and they was always going to the like the boxing gym, but my mum wasn't having none of it, she wouldn't she wouldn't let me go, sort of thing. And uh I remember yeah, I was about seven, eight, and she finally let me go. And then yeah, just I'd I literally from then that's all I that's all I remember. Like I just was always down there. Um Richard Williams was there at the time, so he he was still amateur, just turning pro. And I remember following his career, and then um I grew up watching Naz and I was like, oh, this is what I want to do. Like I wanna I wanna box, I loved all like the flashy and fun stuff of it. And uh yeah, I I just yeah, I was from from that young really I just got into it and uh yeah, didn't didn't really look back from then really. Yeah, so Naz was your inspiration of your like his he was he he was yeah he uh like I said I grew grew up watching him, he was like my my idol growing up watching watching Naz, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:10

Yeah, but he was some uh he was some fighter, wasn't he? He was him.

SPEAKER_03 3:13

He was yeah, and uh I got to meet him when he uh boxed Tom Tom Johnson. Uh I met him for the first time and then like got pictures and that I was young, yeah. I was just like, oh my god, this is mad. But then obviously, I know this is at the start but movement like fast forward and all being in obviously ending my career in the same gym where you come from and everything, so it was like a surreal moment for me, Joe.

SPEAKER_00 3:36

Yeah, mad. And just trying to think back fast forwarding a bit to your pro career. I don't I don't remember you ever having Prince and Zim shorts, did you?

SPEAKER_03 3:44

Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, didn't we? Not boxing when I was younger, but I remember like you know, if there was ever at like fancy dress parties or anything, I'd be like, Yeah, mum, sort of sort of cut up the leopard's print. Because I remember I had like leopard print one time one time, and it was all like Larry, like all like slits in them and that, so yeah, probably got them up in the loft somewhere.

SPEAKER_00 4:06

Yeah, that's to get them all, that's it. Get them all. So it started off when you when you were seven.

SPEAKER_03 4:11

Yeah, and then um I remember obviously I was always taking it serious, but I remember it it I I entered the school boys and I had a good run and it got to the final um and I got I got beat in the final, but I uh I remember there was like England selectors there, and I got a letter after, and then it was for the um three four nations it was at the time. It was four nations at the time, and then uh I represented England and then uh I won gold in that, and then from from then really it was like it was it was quite serious because I was then on the England team, on the England setup, and um yeah, trav travelling around with England and boxing in tournaments all around the world, and yeah, with with a like like to James DeGal, Billy Joe, Tyerson Fury, do you know what I mean? I was in in the squad like that's just a few of them have all gone and done massive things, you know what I mean, in the pros and I was always always in and around with them, and um yeah, and then I just I just that's I just knew that boxing was for me, do you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 5:14

For you certainly getting that England call up must have been.

SPEAKER_03 5:17

Yeah, buzzing, yeah. Because I I was still young at that time, I was school was like 11, 12. I was like, remember it was my first year in it, and I'd done really well. And that it was like they had they had I know it's all different now, they've got belts and all that, and gold and gloves and that, but our thing back then was like the unit, uh bad. Yeah, the badge, yeah, yeah. And I was like, oh I've got one of them. But unfortunately, I I got to three school boy finals and lost in the final every time I was few. So didn't get the badge, but yeah, I um yeah, like it from from young, from young, that's you know, when uh it started starts getting serious then, and like I said, but boxing for England and GB got involved and uh yeah, it was was was really good. Again, the ABAs as well. That that was like that going like moving forward. That's I went in the ABAs three times. I think the first year I went in the senior ABAs. Um I lost in the semi-final, and then uh I went in again, and then I lost in the London final to Dudley or Shaunsey, who went on to win it, and we had a good real good fight, and then I was like I I was thinking about turning pro around that time, and then I was like, I'm gonna have one more year, one more, one more uh crack at it, and then uh yeah, it didn't it didn't it didn't didn't happen but uh lost in the final to Ronnie Hefferin. So it was it was uh losing to good company, but then it was I thought right it's my time to go pro now and I'll just turn but what what's it did you was you boxing around Europe and the and the world with with England like yeah when came of that or when um yeah when when like we was going mad pleasing like Europeans world championships um Commonwealth Federations like it was in good tournaments being in and around good tournaments and uh but obviously the Olympic thing, but you know, like the Sugars every four years and their team was was was was now done then so I wasn't gonna wait around and wait for them. It would have been lovely to do that and um get that sort of a uh accomplishment. But that that was to be fair, I I'd have loved to it, but it wasn't ever like oh I want to go to the Olympics. It wasn't really, I don't know, it was I was in in the in and around the team, but it wasn't like my drive. But turning turning pro and and winning a British title, that that was always from growing up young. I was always remembered the British title and I said I was gonna win it. Not just win it, I wanted to do it properly and win it, win it outright. So to go on and and do that, that was that was a real good achievement and a dream come true.

SPEAKER_00 8:00

Yeah, well that's certainly your biggest achievements in the in the proles, maybe other than being selective for England. What what was your biggest achievement as an amateur?

SPEAKER_03 8:09

Amateurs, uh do you know what as a schoolboy winning that for four nations? I remember like winning the gold and standing under the podium here in the national anthem, and that that was that was that was like a real real moment of like wow, this is man, this is crazy like this sort of thing. That was that was a good uh one of my biggest achievements too, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:30

And a style of boxer, what was you like as an amateur? Did you have a bit of naze about yet? Do the flipping to the eight and stuff like that?

SPEAKER_03 8:37

Do you know what I loved his style and everything, but I wasn't really flash, probably like hands low style, but I was quite tall, always tall for the weight, so I was real tall, rangey, just the same, really, as in the pros, just tall, rangey on my jab. Um, but at the time, computer scoring back then was like hit and don't get hit, so you just literally on the back foot moving around. I had the really perfect style as an amateur, really, for that computer scoring. So yeah, just big tall as I was as a pro, really.

SPEAKER_00 9:05

Hit and don't get perfect. So did you were you at the same amateur gym throughout your amateur game?

SPEAKER_03 9:12

Yeah, yeah. So uh I grew I I lived in Batsy and grew up in Batsy, so else was in Wandsworth. Uh and but I like I say I I stayed and when I moved over to Penge but I just stay I stayed I stayed with Elswood all the way through, so I was with with Sid Garden all the way through my amateur career, yeah. So they didn't ever change gyms or anything.

SPEAKER_00 9:33

Yeah, that's quite unneeded of it. Yeah, nowadays you see people at gym up and out there to see what they can find and things like that. Yeah. Or or they say I'll go on to better myself.

SPEAKER_03 9:44

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I had a I had a real good relationship. Still have now, Sid's like Sid's like family to me. So um he uh yeah, I I I was I was always I was with him from start start to finish, and he he I can say all as an amateur travelling round up and down the motorway guy and this championship, that championship, all all around, he was always there, they were they was my best times because you you can't beat them times with your club and that as well. You know, you've got all the boys coming up in the in the minibus, and it's good, yeah, it's good, good times. Like a lads rehearned. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:17

Um so when you made that decision to to turn pro to turn pro, how how old was you?

SPEAKER_03 10:22

I turned pro, I was 22, but my debut I boxed like a couple few days after my birthday, so 23 on my debut, I was 23, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:33

And and was it something that was um I suppose you had age on your side experience? Was it welcomed?

SPEAKER_03 10:39

Yeah, return and pro by your amateur coaches and yeah, that's I uh I spoke with Sid and the year before when uh that was it. I lost to Ronnie Hefferin the year the year before in the final and I wanted to turn pro then. I just I I didn't have enough of it, but I thought ah this was my my thing. But then he said, have another year, you you'll win these ABAs, and then it'll be better you get a better deal and everything when you turn in pro. So I was like, okay. Then I waited, and it was the lun in the London, then I lost to Dudley O'Shaughnessy, who then went on to win it. So I I was I was then I was done with it. And Sid was like, Alright, yeah, it's yeah, he he said it's yeah, he couldn't turn it. Yeah, he was alright. He didn't he didn't mind me turning pro.

SPEAKER_00 11:20

So who did you who did you stand pro with at the time?

SPEAKER_03 11:23

Um I turned with Frank Warren and um Al Smith uh was training with Al Smith. But I was really I was really good friends uh with James DeGao, so uh I still amateur, but I was in and around when he turned pro, I was in and around the pro gym with him with Jim McDonald and with James, so done a lot of training with Jim McDonald as well. Um but when I turned pro myself, I um I I went and had a session with Al Smith and yeah, it was it was I had a real good relationship as well with Al and I stayed with him really just took my last two fights. I I'd I took a break and and left and moved up to Sheffield and went with Dominico. But I was with I was with Al for 31 of my 33 fights, so yeah, it was uh yeah, had a good relationship with him too.

SPEAKER_00 12:09

Wow, that's good. That's good. So you had that debut, yeah. Um what was that like?

SPEAKER_03 12:13

New core, um yeah, it was it was yeah, it was mad. Um you know that turning pro, it's that's what it was like a massive thing, it was a big thing, and I was quite quite lucky, like pressure boxing all about selling tickets and nothing I've had to do before, and it's all it's all new to me. And um being with Frank Warren, obviously growing up, looking at Prince and Zim, that's who he was with, and it was like it was all surreal to me. Like, this is like oh, this is I'm doing this now. Like, but yeah, um coming out to your course, I remember sold loads of tickets, so it was a good atmosphere, good buzz, and yeah, it was unbelievable. Um, that's one thing I wouldn't forget as well. My debut, I remember I tell me you only get one so go and enjoy it, sort of thing. Um, it was tough, it was like welcome to the pros. Uh I uh I remember had um he was like an old school German Billy Smith. Um he boxed everyone, like, and it was just tough, just keep walking me down. I was thinking, oh my god, this is hard. This is not like the amateur, there's no head guard. He's not fighting back either, so yeah, so um yeah, no, it was good. It was good, really enjoyed it. And uh yeah, I just yeah, just like it just seems now looking back now, it seems like it's it just like that's why I tell all the fighters now in and around now, training you you've got to make the most of it because it don't it don't last for a long time and like looking back now, that was that was like when I was 23 I'm 38 now, do you know what I mean? And time flies.

SPEAKER_00 13:42

Yeah, just literally blinking shit. Yeah. So that night in there, you were you just like, yeah, this is me, this is yeah, I just what everything I dreamt of, everything I thought it was gonna be.

SPEAKER_03 13:53

Yeah, it was it was it was good with real boxers and amateur in a York Hall, the the atmosphere was so different as a pro, like it was just completely different. I remember all the top was busy, but it just felt like everyone was looking down, and it it was just a bit more. I know it's York Hall, but a bit more glitz kind of all the lights, cameras was on, and it um yeah, it was it was good. I've I thought, yeah, this is I can get used to this sort of thing.

SPEAKER_00 14:20

And you were and you were farming like the buildup because obviously pros the buildup to a profile is totally different to an hour, yeah. So far the weigh-ins and all all the ways, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 14:29

It was only it was like as I was going on, it was more because you know when you're starting out, you're a bit lower down the bill, and then it's just as you're going on, and then like you're getting like day before weigh-ins and press conferences and media days and face-offs and like and then I remember um my I think after like my ninth fight, uh it was like a they don't do them now, it's like a master's title, and I boxed Pete McDonald. I think it was like yeah, my like my ninth fight was and obviously he's very was very experienced, he'd been around and that. So that was my first uh obviously that welcome to the pros. Like he he was in my face and talking and a little press conference and things like that. That's what was it's like oh wow, yeah, this is uh this is hard. We had a real good first fight, we had a real good fight. I was like, it was tough um being by a couple rounds, but uh he probably say to this day that he won, you know, but it was good tough. But that was like welcome to the pros. Got got got my first little belt, and yeah, thought I was a world champion.

SPEAKER_00 15:30

Yeah, did you not? Um did you win the sovereign area before that though?

SPEAKER_03 15:35

No, I won the top area it was like like that. Was like the master's title was like they don't do it now, but then I won uh the Southern area after that.

SPEAKER_01 15:43

Be Chad.

SPEAKER_03 15:44

Yeah, that that was that was a real good build-up because social media like you know how social media is now, like back then it was like I'm sound like I'm old man, but it wasn't like nothing like it was now. But it was a because we was local, I I lived and grew up in Penge, and he's from Croydon, so it was local. He knew like loads of people I kind of knew, and it'd been been around years and boxing years, and uh he had the southern era, so it was like it was getting a bit of needle, and it was a like build that was a good build-up. Um but yeah, I I I was adamant I was gonna like wipe the floor with him and yeah, yeah, got him. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Uh four rounds got in there and busted him. So that was good, that was good little bragging bragging rats for me. But um, yeah, then when the southern area then had a rematch with Pete. Uh one uh one I was I can't remember I was due to box, but they pulled out and Pete come in and then had a re rematch and uh with him, but yeah, weren't weren't as close to his time, but show them levels that time. Yeah, yeah, I was a pro I was a pro then. Like that's I felt like I was a pro then and probably could from the first fight till till the second fight, that's you'd got to have that there, all them like experience and them learn how to. So I told my fighters now, like it's you've got to have that experience because it's come it's different, like doing the rounds, and you know when you losing rounds and you're not used to it, and so the the the two fights, if you've seen them both, you'd you'd you wouldn't even see think that I was the same fighter. It's just having that experience of going 10 rounds. Yeah, so yeah, one to them on the southern southern area, and then uh went on to win the English, and then yeah, had a good little had a good little role. Um I went on went like a WBA Intercontinental Belt 2. Then uh I think first time I boxed with the British Tower, Frankie Gavin, that he was obviously with Frank Warren, he was a big name in the amateurs, he was a big, big name, he was Frank Warren's golden boy sort of thing at the time, and he was doing really well. And um the fight got spoken about for a while, it was building, building, and then they uh we boxed with it, and uh yeah, it was uh it was on a massive card, it was um Billy Joe uh Eubank. Yeah, Fury Chesora, it was like a it was a real big, big, big card, and uh yeah, I was part of that. And uh to this day I I I still believe I won that fight. I thought I won that fight, it was close, but it wasn't meant to be. And uh like the I thought my world was over like because that's the that's the belt I wanted, the British title. Do you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 18:24

And it was your first loss as a pro.

SPEAKER_03 18:26

First loss as a pro, yeah. And uh it was like uh that was that was that was a great experience too, like the build-up. And I remember Jimmy Dunn Jr. was introduced like introducing me and hearing my name and that on the like I seen him on computer games and on like Mayweather fights and that. Yeah, yeah, that fucking though. But it was that was that was good. But again, that that was like I say that was my first loss, but it was a loss that was hard to take, really, because I I believe I won that fight, and uh a lot of other people did, but it probably made me again, you know, like saying from fighting that went welcome to the pros. That that first laugh that I knew the next time I'd get an opportunity that wouldn't be happening again, and then had a good good little run, and then Sam Egerton at the time he he was British champion, British and Commonwealth champion, and he was a machine, he was smashy, he's still going out, and he's he was smashing everyone at the time, and I was thinking, oh my god, I've got to fight this lunatic. But I just I knew my style, I knew I'd I'd I'd seen, I'd been watching him, I'd seen him, and um I'd seen him in prize fight as well, and he and he boxed uh my my gym mate Johnny Garten and he stopped him. And John used to give me real good rounds in the gym, tough as they come, and he uh he went on and had a really good career. And uh I remember saying I ain't that ain't happening to me, sort of thing. I'm gonna I'm gonna show him and yeah, when it was on like a it was on a match room show, and it was I was obviously with Frank Warren and it was Box Nation at the time. And I remember I remember it was a bit cheeky because it was on Sky match and was obviously with Sky Sports, and I got shorts done and put the Box Nation logos all over my shorts. But I remember my manager at the time he was like, no, no, no, don't put them out on yet, just wait till the last minute, get the shorts on, and yeah, that ref ruffled a few feathers and yeah, went and went and boxed really well and got got the job done. And that that winning that that was that was that give you a full belief and conversation. Yeah, I I was I was buzzing with that. I was um I was Brit I was British champion. So everything you shut out to do, in you that's it, that and that that was a that was a big thing for me, and um that was like one like the highlight of my career, really. But then like I said, winning it was was wicked unbelievable, but to to win and that say I'm British champion, I wanted to win it outright, so you have to defend it then three times. And domestic fights are sometimes harder than like big, big fights. I mean, so I wanted to just get it done and get it done quite quick, and I'd done it, I'd done it quite quick, and then I was set out to do, but I probably missed opportunities and looking back, I'll I'll never regret it because I've still got that belt now, and I can still look and say I'm outright, British champion. But I was getting told, ah, move on, move on, there's this fight here, this fight. But I was I put my heels in, I was like, nah, I'll win this outright. And then I'll move on and get get these oppos. If these opportunities are coming now, they'll still be there when when when I've won this outright. So I would never I would never say I regret doing it, and because that like I say now, I'm still now people still know I'm I'm outright British champion. So um so yeah, when went on to defend that three times and win it outright. And then uh yeah, just I I after that I I had a good run. Um and then I I Got an opportunity to box for the European title. It was vacant at the time, and this is this is where like I started seeing like the business side of things and boxing, like thinking, wow, this is mad. Like I I I was boxing for a vacant belt and had to go to the his Kerman La Garage or his name is he um he was a he was a he was a killer, like he uh 20 second fights, 20, all one of them all knocked out, like he'd probably been to points twice. And then I was thinking, why am I fighting for a vacant belt in this lunatic's backyard? Like, what what's this all about? This like surely it could be over here, it could be all set up for me, do you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 22:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:43

But yeah, went over and he done a job on me to be fair. He done me in two rounds, and I just I yeah, I just I was I wasn't my I wasn't myself then any anyway. I just was not making no excuses, dumb me, dumb me well, but um, and then after that, I come back, had a had a good win, and then um yeah, I just I don't know, I did not I didn't say to fall out of love with it, but I didn't I just didn't have that same like buzz and I um I I had a fight and uh uh he's a guy from Argentina and he stopped me in two rounds, done me at Brentwood. I was like after that I was like, uh this ain't for me, do you know what I mean? I just need a break. Not I didn't want to stop boxing, I just thought I just need a break.

SPEAKER_00 23:33

You're so high. I was just yeah, I was such a high win in the British outright, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 23:40

And then two losses and yeah, it just went a bit st it just went a bit style, just went a bit like Well the things that were coming your way or yeah, like I after after winning the British tower outright, it just didn't I didn't like didn't really just nothing like so them opportunities that you said they'll still be there when you win this they weren't there, yeah nah they w they they strange that isn't it basically when you you just won the British outright you'd like to think that yeah you know I would I'd I would have moved moved on like quicker because it I there was a I could just like I went I won I won the British outright and then I didn't I didn't even defend it my fight after winning the British British title it wasn't a British title defend a box that I defended the Dobby Girl European like and then then I defended the Brit like it was just it was it's just probably business side of things, do you know what I mean? Yeah and then but going to Bill Bao fighting for a vacant European title against this killer, do you know what I mean? That should have never never been the case like um it just weren't set out for me sort of thing. It was like I was the opponent, do you know what I mean? So yeah, yeah, and then yeah, and then I took that that after getting stopped then I uh I just needed a break as well because I I I struggled I struggled with the weight that fight. I was massive for the weight and probably done done the weight wrong. And I just needed a break. I just I just I I took a break and then I I think COVID, I think that's around COVID times, and then uh it just like I was like I just weren't even gonna take that long out. And then I spoke with Al and then Al was like he he said I should retire sort of thing. He said I think I think like you've had a good go now and I think you should retire. But I'd in my head I didn't want to thought I'm not ready to retire yet. I just wanted to have a break, sort of thing. And um he so for him, like obviously I was even my coach, I thought he's obviously seen something maybe. Then I had a bit of doubt in my head and thinking, ah like maybe it is done, that man, maybe I'm done. Like, do you know what I mean? I'm getting beat by and stopped by these sort of people. I shouldn't be even the last guy shouldn't even have laced my boots, I mean I was like, what's this all about? But I took a break and then COVID came and then that put me back even longer. And then, you know, just thinking, ah yeah, mate, maybe this is it, mate. I'm I'm done now, and then had a long layoff. And then um I went up. I was doing a little bit, not nothing, I don't know, I was a little bit of PT and uh I was doing bits with uh Lightning Jr. And uh he he obviously had another he loved Naz, he's he's he's seen his style and that now um and uh I remember I I uh got a FaceTime and he was fighting and got a FaceTime and Naz spoke to him and and wished him well and everything, and he was like, Oh my god, this is mad. And I'm I'm friends with Naz's boys and they come down and done a session with me. And Naz come down, bought, bought the boys, and they was like, Oh, come up in come up to Sheffield. They was training up in in Sheffield in the England Gym. They was like, come up to Sheffield, like come up here. And I'd never I've no I knew who Dom was, I knew, but I'd never been to the Ingall Gym or nothing. Even when I was on GB, I was up in Sheffield, but I never ever used to go to the Ingall Gym. But I knew all about it and seen it and that because obviously growing up watching NAS. And then uh we I went up there for a week with I took uh lightning up there, went up there for a week and um spoke, bet Dom, spoke to Dom. And he I said, Oh, was it right for him to train? And he's like, Yeah, jump in, he can jump in, body spar, do the lines, do the footwork and everything. And I knew when I walked to that gym, like I just had a feeling like I just thought this is a good buzz. It felt like I was a kid again walking into Ellsworth, do you know what I mean? Like get that. And then uh Don was like, oh like you're not you're not jumping in, like you're not the body spine. I was like, nah, nah nah nah, I'm I'm just we're here with him. He was like, nah, that's not you don't do that here, like get get get your stuff and that. I was like, what? I did have training gear with me. So I got got jumped in body spine and I was like getting beat from pillar post figure, oh my god, this is crazy, never done this before. But um we went we went and had a coffee after I spoke to a dom and he was like, Well, like, what are you doing? Why did you why you stopped to that? What why are you ain't you boxing? He's like, he was he was doing really well. I just said ah, just I I think I think I'm done now. He's like, you're mad. He was like, what like why would you why would you waste all what you've done? Like you you can achieve so much more. What you what are you doing? You're still young enough to like go in and do it. And then I was like, yeah, he's like, listen, it's it's an opportunity that you you're gonna regret if you if if you if you if you turn this down, if you say no now, then and you stop and walk away, you're gonna you're gonna regret, you're gonna look back and regret it. And then I just I said, Well, if if if I come back, would would you would could I train here? Like, I'd want to change, sort of thing, I'd like to have a change and then have another go up here, and he was like, Yeah. So I remember going home and then I just was like, fuck it, I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna move up to Sheffield and live up there and train train there. So I come back, I remember come back, I spoke with Al and then I said that I'd been up to Sheffield and I spoke to Dom. I said I wanted to have another crack, but um I'm gonna like train up there. And he he was fine, like Al was fine. He was he just said like good luck and everything. Uh we're still close now, like I'm still helping Eddie Lamb with Sky and I watched Jim. I'm always out, but we've got to go there now after this. So it's we're good, we're all about we I left him on good terms, he was never on like a bad terms or anything, and then yeah, moved like moved up to Sheffield, was up there probably coming on a year, and then we got a fight uh had a fight with Dow Aerosmith, got just like a I'd been out of the ring for near you know near on two and a half years and got a fight with Dow Arrow Aerosmith, and it was still the back end of COVID, so you know when they was doing shows outside and it was in the car parking in one of the car parks in Sheffield and boxed Dow was again a tough journeyman, been around, boxed everyone, never get stopped, and boxed really well and got him out in three rounds, and not not many, not many people have done that, and I felt really good, moved up to super well, they call it now, and uh yeah, was Tom was like told me it was really like you you he I always remember when he said like if you'd have if you'd have come up here a few years earlier, like you would like I was like, oh man, but it is what it is, yeah. I just I just loved the style, loved being around the gym. Kid got up really close with got really close with him. Um Kel was obvious obviously in and out of the gym. Uh had a good buzz in the gym and all the footwork, the lines, the circle, the drills, the blows, the the body spine, that that I just it just suited me and I I really enjoyed it. And then after that, it was like nothing really was was happening. I was one in a fight, and I I I just said to Dom, like, listen, I'm I I'm ready to fight anyone, and then the the the Hamza fight obviously uh got mentioned and got spoken about. And Dom was like you know this kid, and I was like, Yeah, he's he's not bad, he's good, like he's young, but he's good, he's beating everyone up at the minute. But he was like, Oh, that like you fancy it? I was like, Yeah, no, no problem. I knew but because when I was years ago, he came down, I think he was still an amateur, and he came down to iBox, and I sparred with a few of them, and I it was like I knew, like I just I was like, yeah, I remember he's a kid, like to me, he was a kid to me. Like so I was well I was well up for that fight, and I knew my style was made made for him, he wouldn't have got near me, and yeah, that's so that that that fight come around and happened, and um everyone knows what happened in that fight, didn't they? I'd give him a boxing lesson and yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:07

Boxing lesson for eight rounds, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 32:10

He got frustrated, hit me on the back of the head, and while I was on the knee, yeah, done me three times on the floor, sort of thing. So I wasn't after that, should have never carried on. I was I was knowing in no way, shape, form to get up and carry on. I got felt like now looking back, just got made to carry on. And Steve, Steve Gray had a job to do and he didn't do it, do you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 32:31

No, he didn't, and I remember me and me and Ads were there that that night, and we weren't too far from from ringside, and um yeah, we were just like, Well, Brad's just like boxing and everything, like what's going on? Yeah, um, and then yeah, when he when he yeah, we were like, oh no, and then and then he hit you again and then again.

SPEAKER_03 32:50

It was just frustration, you could see it. Like, do you know what I mean? He was getting a boxing lesson round after round after round after round, and then like the initial shot weren't even a knockdown. This was this is what the thing is. This was it weren't even not, it weren't. I I remember seeing people going, oh he was coming on strong, he was doing this, he weren't doing nothing. He was not doing a thing, he couldn't hit me. I rolled out and hit him in the back of the head, and that's when I took a knee. It wasn't a knockdown. That wasn't I wasn't even getting counted for the knockdown because it wasn't a knockdown. No. So that was an illegal shot anyway. Then he then he just you could see like he just he was just like he was just like thinking, ah, like it wasn't he if he said he didn't see me, that's what he'd go with. But look looking back, I was like, uh it wasn't until like oh that's like what the fuck? Like this is this.

SPEAKER_00 33:38

Why didn't Steve Glay disqualify him?

SPEAKER_03 33:40

I just wanted there screaming and shouting, telling me get up. He's got all that going on around everyone's hand. If it was me and I'd done that to him, I'd have been out of the ring and police would have been in the change room saying I'd have talked to him. Yeah, like that's it was just it's but yeah, it's but people know this this boxing is the business side of things, and do you know what I mean? It's they're not getting that golden boy beat, are they? No way, by an old man, me. I'm an old man now, I shouldn't be doing that. What I was doing to him, it shouldn't be doing that. Like, oh my god, uh it it is what it is what it is, but it's they counted you, didn't he?

SPEAKER_00 34:20

He didn't do anything. Steve Gray started to count you, didn't he?

SPEAKER_03 34:23

No, and I didn't count he because he he it wasn't he didn't it wasn't even a knockdown because he it hit me in the back of the head, so it wasn't even a count, but then um he just he came over and then I remember being all day like I was thinking what like and I just remember looking round and then Dom, I was looking at Dom, and then Dom was like like stay down, like he was like scared me, stay down, stay down. Then he walked, turned Steve, turned his round and come and face me there. And so I couldn't even see what Dom's telling me now. Then I remember looking round and seeing Frank Warren banging on the thing, going, get him up, get him up. And then I remember him saying to me, you you you you getting up, you getting up, and I was like, nah, nah, nah, I ain't getting up, no way. And he said, If if you don't get up, I'm gonna have to stop the fight. So I'm thinking, stop the fight, you're mad. Like, I've won this. I got up and he seemed, he tells me, walk over there, walk back to him. Yeah, and even then you can see I'm not right. And then I think he took a point, went over and took a point of Hamza, come back, and then carried on. I think he might have, I can't remember, he I think he might have dropped me again, and then the bell went, I went back to the corner and then come out, and then that's when he stopped me in the night. I was I was gone. I was I weren't, I was the fight just changed from that. Like you could see, all before that, he couldn't even land a glove on me. Yeah, it was all from that. So, and do you know what do you know what really pisses me off about it all? Like, it just got all brushed under the carpet. The full fight, you won't see that now because it was on YouTube, it was on all everywhere, you could see the full fight. Yeah, you won't see that now. Like, you just see little highlights of the best bits of him, do you know what I mean? And probably him knitting me on the floor. Like, they took the full fight down, they took like do you know what I mean? They know what they're doing, but yeah. I think the biggest thing you you know the man you wasn't there that night is exactly what happens is coming back after like it was probably near on three years then out of the ring, stepping into a fight like that off the back of that. I knew, and even after that, I just I was just sick of boxing, and I probably could have still carried on now because still carry on now.

SPEAKER_00 36:28

I mean, I still stay fit and it now, but the talking the talking here, and certainly the talk when we left the copper box that night was he'll have it again, yeah, he'll he'll go again. But then the talk was Hamza's team at one and again.

SPEAKER_03 36:40

Yeah, now that so what what happened what was the fallout from the there was all there was all talk of rematch, this rematch, that they they but his man his manager at the time. I don't even know if if I don't think he's the same one, but I ain't even saying no names of everyone who knows and know who it is. But his manager at the time come straight into my changing room was that oh that oh that that that's that won't happen again, that's not gonna happen again. He's weight, he's drained up the weight, he's just making all excuses that ain't gonna happen. That no, oh my god, could never put him in the ring with you again. That's no, no, da da da. Then there was all talk of rematches, and then so in in my head, they're thinking I'm thinking his man is telling me he ain't gonna ever do that weight again, this, that, and the other. Then they're talking about rematch, but I knew that rematch they ain't gonna do it at that weight. So I was I just moved up to super world weight, so I ain't doing it at middleweight. So they I just knew they I've been round box, I knew what they're playing at. There's there weren't never gonna be no rematch. And then I I I proved my point. His next fight after me, what'd he box at? Middleweight. He didn't he weren't gonna ever box me at Super World rate again. Yeah, so as much as they can say this, that, and the other, whatever, I know exactly what went down. He wasn't he there was never gonna be no rematch.

SPEAKER_00 38:02

So And what are you, Hamza, like to this day?

SPEAKER_03 38:06

I ain't seen him, I ain't yeah, I ain't I ain't been around him or seen him. It's do you know um I'd be bitter and twisted this, but his over four years ago, do you know what I mean? It is what it is, but it's just it's it's but like he knows, do you know what I mean? I know, he knows. As a fighter, you know when you've been done, when you ain't been done. Like we know, I've I've I've been there and done it, do you know what I mean? I know I think I should have lost that really, but to do it in that sort of way and know, you know, in it, yeah, you know.

SPEAKER_00 38:36

I think he's got it got you got you to thank, I think, for where he is today because that night probably taught him something that uh obviously how you boxed and things, and almost yeah, giving that giving that lesson to to go on, and obviously then what he did to never do that again, yeah sort of thing. But yeah, it's it's sort of shame how that that that folded and um and that was your last time ever in a in a professional boxing ring. Yeah, but I don't think in in your mind it will be, but certain certainly mine that night, yeah, it won't be remembered for that, it'll be remembered for what you did in MA rounds.

SPEAKER_03 39:13

Yeah, that do you know what that and that's why I could I would retire and I'm I'm happy I'm not bitter and twisted with boxing. I could how I got trained and dealt and now all that went on, I could be bitter and twisted and hate boxing and not even being involved in it. But don't get me wrong, that when it happened though, I was, but yeah, yeah, taking time and looking back to be out the ring that long, to get in with someone like that who who was this big star and it was gone gone on and he and he is doing well, he's gone on to do good things, and it was my best performance to through my whole career. I I was happy, do you know what I mean? And I was I I I got no regrets when I've had a good good going. I I'm I'm happy like that performance there was was if not my best performance from my whole career, do you know what I mean? So you were happy to show up that way. I was happy, yeah. Um and then obviously doing what I'm doing now and giving back and training fighters now and uh being on the other side of it, it's all new, it's another journey for me now.

SPEAKER_00 40:13

And you know how how that come about? How did it come about with your training?

SPEAKER_03 40:16

Um I just I was doing a bit of PTing and then I just thought, oh do you know what I'm gonna I'm gonna get my do my trainer do my trainer's uh licence and then um I just yeah just thought I had a same to do and then um trained a young boy, I was doing PTs with him, he was still on my track at the time. But he went to turn pro, Rob Vincent, and then uh took him, he's just on on small hall shows and boxing round and he's he's doing really well, he's 9-0 now, and then um Michael Hennessy come to do a few uh sessions with me, just one-on-ones. And then um he was boxing, but he wasn't he didn't have um a trainer at the time. He was his dad, Mick, was doing bits with him, and he was just going around different gyms. And I just said, Oh Jeff, if you if you need a hand, I've got my licence, I'll uh I'll help him out in the corner. And uh we was doing we was doing sessions and like I say and he boxed really well, he stopped the kid and looked unbelievable. And uh we just like we just jelled from then and then from from that Fran come and was she was still amateur at the time and she she was doing bits and pieces with me, and then yeah, she uh she obviously wanted to turn pro and then turned pro and then worked with her um obviously still to this day. And yeah, just Ed Eddie Lamb uh had had obviously Sky Nicholson. He asked me, I need I need someone to help with Sky, can can you help? And that's how that came about and then yeah, it's just from there, yeah. Yeah, yeah, that's yeah. Now I'm jet set of travelling the world and going to Australia every other month, yeah. But yeah, no, it's good. I I can't I can't complain. I'm I'm happy and um I'm like as it's to go from that to this is is I've done I've done well, do you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 42:11

Yeah, massive, and and like I said, it's that you know you've certainly earned it from the career that you had, and yeah, you know, not a lot of people have won the British outright, so yeah, you know, and and yeah, you had a great career, so it's nice to see you still involved in the sport and passing your knowledge on. And um is it different working with female fighters to to male fighters or uh are they just fighters?

SPEAKER_03 42:31

Yeah, just to me as far as friend, like we're like we're like family, we we got a really good relationship with um like Mick like Mike being with obviously I started with Michael and but like they they treat me like I'm that one of theirs, you know what I mean? I'm always around the house, I'm and you need that, you need that when when you're with someone every day and you you you got that bond, like that bond, you need that to go to a certain level in this in this in this sport, you need to have that bond with with your training. You you you you've got to have that trust and that respect, and we've got it all. And like I say, we're like family, so it's it's it's a good bond we got. And same same with with Sky, she's we we're so close and we uh we we get on well and got we've got that that relationship there is you you can't you can't be beat that and at the level they're they're fighting that you you need that with the people around you and training you and yeah, it's good it's good. Um but they're girls and boys it's they're they're just they're fighters to me. They're not yeah, they're not they're not no different. I'll probably get in trouble saying that they're they're much better.

SPEAKER_00 43:41

Do they pick your brains on certain things like maybe oh how did you feel leading up to this fight?

SPEAKER_03 43:47

Or do you know what like they Fran Fran always ask um because sh she she always she's always answering questions, but I think with with with them with the fighters I I Train. I think sometimes they might not even know, but they just got that respect that knowing that I've been there and done it, and they know if I say something, or sometimes I don't need to say nothing because that I know how they're feeling. Because weighing getting to weighing or doing this or doing that, I know because I know how I was feeling, and sometimes sometimes I don't even have to say nothing, I just give them the nod or whatever, then they know that we just got that they know they know. So but yeah, like they Fran will always ask questions, and I'll always tell like how I dealt with something or if I had something doing this or doing that, and they've got that respect because they know I've been there and done it, and so some people haven't got that, they haven't. Some coaches never box, have they? So they don't see they don't know. So I think I'll always have that respect from them knowing I've I've I've boxed at a decent level and and that's exactly what they're going through.

SPEAKER_00 44:57

So, what does your future hold for Bradley super Bradley Speed?

SPEAKER_03 45:01

Training your boy.

SPEAKER_00 45:02

Yeah, Bradley.

SPEAKER_01 45:04

Yeah, he's gonna be your next obviously right there.

SPEAKER_03 45:07

Yeah, um, yeah, just yeah, just um Michael Michael's took a break, but he's back, he's back now. He's been training, he's been training really well, so it'd be good to uh get him back this year. Uh see him back and perform him how he should be and and where where he was at, get him back on it. Uh Fran, obviously she's doing really well. She she's smashing it at the minute, and uh she's um yeah, she's on a real good journey at the minute, she's doing really well. Uh Sky, she hopefully all going well, get get get world titled back and um get back to winning ways and then well she's back to winning ways, but get back to world level and getting the world world titles. And uh she's set up, she's always said she's future undisputed, so that's what we're looking at. We want we want that. And uh Rob he's he's he's still there, he's doing well, he's he's on the up. So yeah, they're they're the fighters I work with and train with, and and yeah, just the j the journeys the journey to the top continues.

SPEAKER_00 46:06

So the future's play for them and for you and for you. Perfect.

SPEAKER_03 46:10

Hopefully, mate, hopefully.

SPEAKER_00 46:11

Yeah, one thing I forgot to mention, yeah. Um because I I mentioned the start, you never went with Prince and Zim, yeah, coloured shorts, you always went with blue. Yeah, so where did the blue come from? And can you remember the first time you came to Boxfield when we did your shorts?

SPEAKER_03 46:28

Um the blue, the the sky blue was always uh my elsewhere colours, yeah. Yeah, my club colours, so yeah, I always kept I always kept kept. Yeah, always always wore sky blue, yeah. So um, yeah, I remember that day I always just had like even I might have changed it up and always have sky blue in and around or somewhere on my on my shorts. So yeah, and then with you guys, I think um I can't remember what fight I started working with you guys with, but I just yeah, I remember what fight was it can't remember the top man being punched too many times, but yeah, I was I was with you guys for for a long long time. You always helped me and uh got my kids looking unbelievable. So yeah, yeah, this is the place to be, ain't it?

SPEAKER_00 47:18

Yeah, it is lad, it is. And again, really appreciate you coming down and taking time out. I know you've got to shoot off to get to the team, right? Top man, really appreciate it. Nah, any time and best of luck with your sky out in Australia. Don't get some bitch. I'll try not to appreciate it, Vlad. Thank you, lads, and all the best for you and your fighting in the future. Thank you. Cheers, lads. Guys, absolutely fantastic. Listen to Brad's story there. Um, if you don't give us a like and subscribe on our YouTube page, uh give us a nice rating whenever you pick up your podcast. Um just that bed walking as always. Um if you don't give Brad the speed a follow there on his social media page, see the work he's doing with his fight, his death and energy, uh help us sky lift and change that world title yet again. Um and just and just and also have a look back at his unbelievable clear and that fight will have just your hands. Go go and watch it, go and watch it.

SPEAKER_03 48:14

You won't see it. They took it off YouTube.

SPEAKER_00 48:16

Oh, they literally have taken off.

SPEAKER_03 48:18

You won't see it.

unknown 48:19

We'll find it, we'll find it.

SPEAKER_03 48:21

Good luck. Show me when you do it.

SPEAKER_00 48:23

Yeah, I will. I will. I might have it on the phone, I might have it on the phone, but guys, definitely check check him out. Um he's a great man, one of the you know, won the British title outright. Not a lot of many people have done that, so it's been an absolute honor to have him on here today. And as always, tune in next week. Another fantastic guest on the Be First Podcast.