Latest news with #JordanGill
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Conlan blocking out jibes for 'last roll of the dice'
Belfast featherweight Michael Conlan believes he is "probably one of the most trolled fighters" in boxing but will not allow online jibes to distract him from his goal of reaching the top as a come up short in his two previous world title challenges, the 33-year-old admits this is his "last roll of the dice" as he prepares to build towards a third title will take on England's Jack Bateson in Dublin on 5 September in the second fight of a comeback that began in Brighton with a points win against Asad Asif Khan and improved his record to to that, the Olympic bronze medallist had spent 16 months out of the ring following his third pro defeat to Jordan Gill in December 2023 and had pondered retirement."I'm well used to it," he said of the online abuse."I'm a very selfish person when it comes to this game. It's very hard. "I've missed an awful lot of my own kids' lives, so the dedication is there for everybody to see. "The only person I'm doing it for is myself, my missus and my kids, to give them the best life I possibly can. It's legacy - that's what I want." 'Boxing will never love you back' Professional boxing is a cruel mistress and Conlan has endured some tough moments through the course of his career, none more so than in March 2022 when on course for victory against then WBA champion Leigh Wood and he was knocked out in the 12th round. Harsh lessons in the ring have helped give him a fresh perspective and now he acknowledges that, while still in possession of inner confidence, he is aware that he is not infallible inside the squared circle."Boxing is a sport which you can love as much as you want, but it will never love you back," he said."When you're younger in the fight game, ego is huge. You think you're unbeatable and you're never going to lose, but not everybody's Floyd Mayweather."Boxing can humble you, especially when you lose. You're losing in front of thousands, millions watching around the world. It's hard. "You get people talking. It's not a nice feeling but once you realise words are just words, the only way they affect you is if you let them."The 2015 world amateur champion has a route mapped for the next year and should he safely navigate the test posed by Bateson, he plans to return later in the year to fight "maybe in Belfast, Dublin or even New York" with the hope that could then open the door to another world title he is savvy enough to now know that such plans are worthless should he be defeated on 5 September."Jack's a tough opponent, so I think it's the right fight at the right time."If I was to lose and, listen there's every possibility in that, I would happily say that's it but until then I'm not done."I want to get a world title. If I don't reach it, I don't reach it, but I'm going to do everything I can to make sure I reach that goal."
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Knockout mural pays tribute to Chatteris boxing legends
A small market town that has produced three renowned boxers has paid tribute to them with a new bus shelter in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, is now adorned with the images of Dave 'Boy' Green, Eric Boon and Jordan Gill, all champion fighters in their mural in East Park Street was commissioned by Chatteris Town Council and completed by Peterborough street artist Nathan council said it was "pleased to honour the town's three most famous boxers". Gill, 30, a former European and Commonwealth champion, said: "I feel really pleased to be in the company of such great boxers: Eric Boon, one of the best fighters in British boxing history, and Dave 'Boy' Green, who went to America to fight for the World Championship with Sugar Ray Leonard."And then there is little old me."The boxer said he had lived in Chatteris for most of his life but had recently moved to nearby Wisbech, where he has opened a said he had no firm plans to fight again as he was busy with his gym who died in 1981, aged 61, was a British champion at lightweight who featured in the first televised boxing his retirement from the sport, he had a roles in a number of British films including Carry on now 71, had his last fight in 1981. He still lives in the town. The town council said one of its members, Sue Unwin, suggested the image of boxers would work well on the bus shelter, which has previously featured an image of The King in his Coronation year.A spokesperson for the town council said permission for the work was given by Fenland District Council, which owns the bus shelter. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
