Real Life Boxing

🎙️ The Return of Nick Manners: A Champion's Journey Through Boxing and Life

In this powerful episode of Real Life Boxing, host Mark McIntyre welcomes back Nick Manners, one of British boxing’s most inspiring figures, for a heartfelt and raw conversation. From humble beginnings to champion glory, Nick shares the challenges, sacrifices, and triumphs of a boxer's life.

🏆 Hear about his transformative role as a mentor, including guiding Josh Warrington to world championship success, and discover how he’s shaping the next generation of fighters. With special appearances from his friend Cabriolet and trainee Torrance, the discussion touches on the importance of community, mentorship, and the boxing world’s highs and lows.

📖 Also joining the conversation is Matthew John Oakley, the graphic designer for Nick’s biography, who sheds light on the creative process behind bringing Nick’s story to life.

💬 This episode is packed with wisdom, reflections, and tributes to the resilience and camaraderie within the sport. Don’t miss this engaging conversation about the beauty and brutality of boxing!

• 00:00 Introduction and Catching Up with Nick Manners
• 01:22 Nick's Perspective on Life and Boxing
• 03:45 The Brutal Reality of Boxing
• 08:30 Coaching Philosophy and Building Confidence
• 16:14 Reflections on Personal Growth and Materialism
• 22:15 The Future of Boxing and Its Challenges
• 36:28 Boxing Board Responsibilities
• 37:09 Liam Cameron's Case
• 37:29 Cocaine in Boxing
• 38:56 Fighter Bans and Penalties
• 40:51 Commercial Value in Boxing
• 42:42 Promoters and Matchmaking
• 55:06 Youth and Boxing
• 59:35 Nick's Book Project
• 01:14:07 Heartfelt Compliments and Reflections
• 01:15:39 The Importance of Community and Support
• 01:16:26 Discussing the Book and Its Impact
• 01:21:32 The Value of Positivity and Manners
• 01:24:06 Training and Personal Growth
• 01:33:41 Boxing Journeys and Mentorship
• 01:44:31 Samir in Hull: The Commonwealth Title Journey
• 01:44:49 Building a Team Around Luke Campbell
• 01:45:49 Josh Warrington's Tenacity and Pride for Leeds
• 01:46:54 The Support and Skepticism Surrounding Josh
• 01:47:35 Acknowledging Key Contributors to Josh's Success
• 01:49:35 Challenges and Jealousy in Leeds Gyms
• 01:50:46 Parting Ways with Team Warrington
• 01:53:39 The Importance of Presentation and Class
• 01:55:50 Reflecting on Josh Warrington's Career
• 02:03:38 Tyson Fury vs. Usyk: Predictions and Analysis
• 02:17:12 Final Thoughts and Future Opportunities

In this episode we have the honour of speaking to the legendary Frank Gilfeather.

Frank Gilfeather (born 30 December 1945, Lochee, Dundee, Scotland) is a Scottish journalist and broadcaster. Gilfeather, a former Scottish amateur boxing champion from Dundee, moved to Aberdeen in April 1969 and began work on the Press & Journal and the Evening Express as a general news reporter. Later, when personnel was allocated to each paper, he was a news reporter on the P&J for some years before moving to the evening newspaper's sports desk as chief sportswriter and deputy sports editor.

His broadcasting career began in 1980 with the launch of the Grampian Television (now STV North) regional news programme, North Tonight. Gilfeather joined the programme as a sports correspondent although he would later also work on news coverage. As well as reporting for North Tonight, Gilfeather fronted the North Tonight spin-off Summer at Six and popular local quiz show Top Club which ran for nine years. He also worked on general election coverage for ITN and has been featured in out-takes on LWT's It'll be Alright on the Night.

Gilfeather also fronted STV and Grampian TV's shinty highlights coverage between the mid-1980s and early-1990s, for which the shinty matches were simiculast on both channels throughout this time.

REAL LIFE BOXING:

This week we chat with legendary former professional boxer John Simpson (26-11).

John Simpson (born 26 July 1983) is a Scottish former professional boxer who competed from 2002 to 2015. He held the British featherweight title twice between 2006 and 2010 and the Commonwealth featherweight title from 2009 to 2010.

REAL LIFE BOXING:

This week we chat with legendary former professional boxer Nick Manners (11-5-1) at Manner’s boxing in Leeds.

We keep it real with Nick in one of our most entertaining episodes yet. We discuss his family life, his positive attitude towards life, his worry for future generations, time in prison & his time with Josh Warrington.

REAL LIFE BOXING:

This week we chat with Professional boxer David Jamieson (9-2-0) at Priestfield Boxing Club in East Kilbride. We discuss his big upcoming fight, why he boxes, family life, the importance of boxing for young people, as well predictions for some upcoming big fights.

REAL LIFE BOXING:

This week we chat with rising star amateur boxer Robert McNulty at Colosseum Boxing in Glasgow. We discuss his first last few fights, why he boxes, positivity for his future, as well predictions for some upcoming big fights.

REAL LIFE BOXING:

This week we chat with professional super welter weight Josh Campbell (3-0) at his gym in Glasgow. We discuss his first pro fights, his time in the armed forces, positivity for his boxing future, as well predictions for some upcoming big fights.

REAL LIFE BOXING:

This week we chat with professional middle weight Aston Brown (3-0-0) at North Avenue Boxing Club, Clydebank. We discuss his first pro fights, his difficult recent past, positivity for his boxing future, as well as his time in Team GB at the Delhi games in 2010 with legendary boxers such as Josh Taylor & Anthony Joshua.

REAL LIFE BOXING:

We chat with professional light weight Josh Sandford (3-0) at his own boxing gym in East Kilbride, EK Boxing Academy. We discuss his first pro fights, excitement for his boxing future, as well as his disciplined & well rounded background with support from his family.

REAL LIFE BOXING:

We sit down with esteemed boxing coach Craig Dickson. We discuss his own boxing career, his style of coaching, work life balance & Kash Farooq’s unfortunate early retirement from boxing.

Craig hails from Pollock South Glasgow and after his own retirement from pro boxing in 2009 he has since become a renowned boxing trainer, most notably coaching Kash Farooq.

REAL LIFE BOXING:

REAL LIFE BOXING:

We’re delighted to sit down with fellow Scot, former professional Boxer David Brophy.

David Brophy made his professional debut in February 2011 defeating James Tucker on points in Wishaw, Scotland.

On 17 March 2017 Brophy beat Zac Dunn by TKO in the seventh round and won the Commonwealth (British Empire) super middleweight title.

On 27 November 2019 Brophy announced his retirement from professional boxing, following advice from doctors regarding a prevalent eye issue.

REAL LIFE BOXING:

We’re delighted to sit down with fellow Scot Tom Gray. Tom is Managing Editor of Ring Magazine, boxing’s No.1 publication.

From 1995 - 1997 Tom studied Journalism, Media and Communications at Bell College. Since then he has risen up the ranks of Boxing journalism before becoming Managing Editor of Ring Magazine in 2012, a role in which he is still present.

We sit down to discuss Tom’s career highlights, favourite fights & the numerous times he has met his boxing heroes.

TOM’S LINKS

We're honoured to have fellow Scot, Former International Amateur & Professional Boxer Stephen Simmons as our very first guest on our premier interview. We discuss his career highlights and how boxing has shaped his life.  

Stephen Simmons started boxing aged 12 and fought his entire Amateur Career out of renowned Scottish Amateur Boxing Club Leith Victoria AAC, being coached by his Uncle Kenny who boxed for Scotland at Middleweight. He won numerous trophies throughout Europe since 2004, having around 115 Amateur contests winning approximately 80 of them. Simmons competed in the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in Delhi, winning the Bronze Medal in the 91 kg Heavyweight Division.  According to Boxrec, in October 2016, Simmons was ranked 5th in the UK and 46th in the World at Cruiserweight level.  On 27 June, 2014, Simmons battled against Noel Gevor in Hamburg, Germany. Simmons was aggressive throughout the fight, while Gevor boxed well, but neither fighter looked like they did enough to win the rounds by a clear margin. In the end, it was a very close fight, and the judges scored it 116-112 twice for Gevor, and 116-113, awarding Gevor the split-decision win.  On 17 March, 2018, Simmons fought Matty Askin for the vacat British cruiserweight belt. Simmons was outmatched by Askin, losing the fight in the second round via TKO.  In April 2018, Simmons announced that he is retiring from the sport of boxing.