By Terence Dooley
Former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world 'Smoking' Joe Frazier, 32-4-1 (27), popped into Joe Gallagher's Denton-based, CNP-sponsored gym on Monday to cast his eye over John Murray, Matthew Macklin, Paul Smith, Anthony Crolla, Joe Murray and Mark Heffron. The 67-year-old Hall of Fame fighter stayed long enough to chat with the fighters – watching them work and sharing his thoughts on their technique.
“He turned up to watch some of the lads train, he watched Matthew Macklin on the bags and gave him some good advice. Joe had a look around, he saw John Murray jumping the bar and was transfixed by it so asked what that was about,” enthused Gallagher.
“We talked about Macklin's fight against Felix Sturm [on June 25] for the [WBA] middleweight world title, he gave Macklin some advice and also gave [British lightweight titlist] Anthony Crolla some pointers. He really liked the gym. It was great. People talk about Muhammad Ali as the 'The Greatest', it was a proud day for us to have the man who beat Ali visiting us.
“All the lads have gone away to watch Joe's first fight with Ali. They will see an example of how far you can get with determination, desire and heart. They will take inspiration from this. You can't not get inspired by meeting Joe.”
Frazier was a rolling thunder pressure fighter, known for a lethal left hook when in his pomp. Both Murray and Macklin share the same style of fighting; Heffron and Crolla specialise in the left hook; all four fighters were given a few tips by Frazier.
“Mark Heffron and Crolla got time with Joe learning about throwing the perfect left hook and about how Joe used to prepare for fights. Joe showed them out to whip the hook in. Matt was full pelt on the bag at the time, he's a good pressure fighter himself so Joe appreciated that. It is hard not to be starstruck by a modern legend like Joe – a great man in and out of the ring,” stated Gallagher.
John Murray takes on Kevin Mitchell in London on July 9th, Kevin has not fought since falling to Michael Katsidis in three for the interim WBO lightweight title last May. The winner of Murray-Mitchell is expected to move onto world level. “John has got his fighting head on,” revealed Gallagher.
“He said my enthusiasm is infectious in training for this one. (Mitchell's football team) West Ham have had a miserable time with their relegation from the Premier league. John's looking to relegate Kevin from the lightweight rankings. John will win this one and then go onto bigger and better things.
“Kevin's a bit like our noisy neighbour domestically just as Man City are to Manchester United. We're looking to shut Kevin up, get out again before Christmas and put John's mark down on the world. His last fight saw him shake some rust so he'll be going in there against Mitchell to do the job better than Katsidis did. John knows he's putting it all on the line in this fight so that's kept him even sharper going into his training.”
Frazier's visit was a timely boost ahead of Paul Smith's middleweight contest against Hungary's Jozsef Matolcsi, 29-15 (20), at the O2 Arena on Saturday night. Smith begins his rehabilitation from December's loss to James DeGale on the undercard of Frank Warren's WBO light-heavyweight title headlined bill.
“It is nerve raking because it is my first fight with Paul and I want him to be successful. Paul's looking sharp on the pads, the training is done and we're just waiting for Saturday night.”
“I didn't know that”, says Gallagher when informed that Smith has been tweeting his delight at the new training regime, “it is great to hear. I'm pleased with that, he looks happy in himself. I feel I've got the best lightweights in Britain in John and Anthony and the best middleweights with Macklin and Smith.”
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