By Terence Dooley
Liverpool’s Joe Selkirk felt frustrated during his amateur career despite picking up an ABA welterweight title in 2007, the hard hitting prospect’s hand problems ensuring a staccato schedule and fostering a real fear that he could be left behind by his peers. Selkirk decided to leave the unpaid code behind in 2008, he hoped that turning pro would help him find consistency and perhaps give his fragile left hand an opportunity to heal.
Selkirk, though, only had four outings in his first two years in the paid ranks; his long-standing hand problems kept rearing up on him, threatening to derail his nascent career. The fledgling fighter sought refuge in boozy nights out, aiming to overcome the boredom of inactivity by socializing.
The 26-year-old now has two healthy hands, he picked up three fights in 2010 and looked impressive in his sole outing of the current year, a first round icing of tough journeyman Terry Carruthers in July. A September 17th date at Liverpool’s Olympia venue could be followed by a crack at one of the domestic titles and will allow the 6’ 1’’ pugilist to close out 2011 with another three or four Ws tucked under his belt. Not bad for a guy who once feared that his career had stalled for good.
“I’ve had a few months off and am feeling much fitter, stronger and better so can’t wait to fight again. Every time I punched my hand seemed to break or fracture easily and it kept happening all the time,” revealed Selkirk during a recent conversation.
“I kept trying to find out what it was and they found out by accident when I was getting an injection, the joints and my bone had moved out of place when I was punching so what they did was take some bone from my hip and grafted it onto the back of my hand so when I punch now it feels solid. I can’t feel any problems at the moment.
“I’ve been through a few fights now without any problems whatsoever so it is about confidence now because I’ve been holding back for so long that I tend to hold back when I don’t need to. I can go for it more and more because my punching is as strong as it has ever been.”
Selkirk has bubbled away for the past few seasons, often described as the biggest secret in British boxing, the fighter believes that it is time to substantiate this praise. “It is nice but I have to prove it, really,” mused Selkirk as talk turned to the plaudits placed on his shoulders ever since he turned pro with a point’s win over Matt Scriven on June 21st 2008.
“People say I can do this and do that but I have to show it and hope to get the chance to before Christmas because I hope to get a Commonwealth title fight by then [Writer’s note: Ghana’s Obodai Sai currently holds the belt]. People will see what I can do.”
Indeed, the undefeated 154lber is his own worst critic, telling me that his stoppage of Carruthers and the December 2010 decision win over Steve O’Meara, his most experienced opponent to date, left a lot to be desired.
“When I watched it [the Carruthers win] back I thought I made a lot of mistakes, my hands were down and I wasn’t as good as I could be to be honest. The first one I caught him with was a good shot but I could have finished a bit better by taking my time and picking my shots. It is all about improving all the time,” insisted Selkirk.
“I think I hardly threw a punch for three rounds [against O’Meara] and it was one of the worst performances I’ve ever had. Three or four weeks before the fight I was feeling great and trained hard for it but I think that may have affected my performance because I just couldn’t get going on the night. I wasn’t going through the gears, I was one-paced and felt gutted because everyone had been talking about me and I go and put in a performance like that.”
Both Tony Bellew and Stephen Smith had predicted that Selkirk could steal the show going into the O’Meara contest; the two titleholders have maintained their faith in Selkirk, with Bellew convinced that his townsman is set for the top.
“Tony and Stephen have seen me in the gym and when I boxed well in the amateurs so they’ve seen what I can do. My hands have held me back a lot really in my career – I just want to keep going now and reach my potential,” admitted Selkirk.
Both Frank Warren and Dean Powell want to move their charge into title contention. “They have, yeah,” Joe’s answer when asked if titles have been promised ahead of the coming season. “Dean told me I’d be fighting in September and again before Christmas so I’ll definitely be out twice before Christmas but am hoping for three.”
There were fears that Selkirk’s career would come to naught during 2008 and 2009. “It was the injuries,” answered Selkirk in response to questions about his admission that he had taken to partying during those dark days. “Every time I went to the gym or fought I’d have to take time out because my hands would go and I couldn’t punch. I was training with one hand all the time, it got frustrating for me and I got into going out and partying, which is a bit of a downfall on my side.
“My lifestyle now is totally different from how it used to be, I’m totally focused on boxing and where I want to be. My girlfriend turned my life around. I prefer going out for a meal or to cinema than going out to parties – I’ve turned into an old man to be honest. If you don’t live the right lifestyle you won’t last and hopefully by changing it around I can go on for longer. You have to life the life and that is what I’m trying to do.”
“There was,” his response when asked if thoughts of premature retirement had danced across his mind. “It wasn’t that I didn’t love the sport, boxing is my life, but I was getting let down with fights and my hands all the time plus I felt that I’d never reached my potential in the amateurs due to my hands holding me back so when I turned professional my aim was to fix that. Then I had my first few fights with one hand, didn’t think I’d get anywhere in boxing and it got me down until my hand was fixed. Hopefully I can now reach my potential.”
Prince Arron holds the Lonsdale belt, English titlist Brian Rose hopes to meet his Lancashire rival at some point in the coming season, former British boss Sam Webb is still around and Ryan Rhodes is eying up his old crowns after losing a world title tilt against Saul Alvarez earlier this year. The division is full of talent and could really catch fire during 2011-2012, with Selkirk hoping to play a part of the division’s future.
Saying, “There’s a lot of good fighters light-middle: Arron, Rose, Webb and Rhodes. There are good fights to be made domestically but I know that on my day I’m capable of beating anyone. Webb or Arron would be the type of fight I’d like. I have got another eight rounder but then think I’ll be ready for titles. I’ll fight anyone.”
Liverpool is becoming Britain’s capital of boxing, boasting current, former and future champions aplenty, there is a spirit of support within the Scouse boxing community and a sense that fighters such as Selkirk can add to the city’s title haul.
“I think a good crop of boxers have come through. Look at us all coming through now and you see the spirit from us winning ABA titles together and all turning pro around the same time,” Selkirk’s take on the current boxing boom in his hometown.
“Fighting at home gives you confidence and I’m a confidence fighter myself. When I fight in Liverpool the crowd raises me. Sometimes you can come in and try to impress too much but for me it is the best place to fight.”
Selkirk could have been forgiven for feeling frustrated when watching the likes of Bellew, Stephen and Paul Smith, Paul Edwards, Derry Matthews, Tony Dodson and Tony Quigley pick up various crowns. Joe, though, managed to put personal frustration to one side whenever his fellow Liverpudlians took part in title fights, believing that Bellew especially proved a lot to himself and the critics when barely taking a clean shot en route to a decision win over Ovill McKenzie last month.
“It was frustrating but nice to see. It makes you want to do it for yourself even more when you see Paul, Stephen and Bellew winning titles. I know I can do it because I’ve seen them do it and want to try for myself,” argued the 7-0 (4) stylist.
“There are a few Liverpool fighters who can do well. Tony gets too eager sometimes and tries too hard so I was made up with his last performance because he didn’t get hit much and defended his titles easily. It sets up the [Nathan] Cleverly fight nicely because he showed a different side to his game and showed he can do different things. You’ll see a different Tony when he does fight Cleverly because the better the opponent the better he boxes – I think he’s got Cleverly’s number.”
A member of the Vaughan camp, Selkirk feels that George and Danny Vaughan can guide him to the top, citing their experience as an essential part of their success. He said, “George and Danny have an unbelievable record, look at the titles they’ve brought to Liverpool – they brought Paul and Stephen Smith to titles and others as well. Georgie’s knowledge of the game is unbelievable and I hope it can help me.”
Outside of Liverpool and his domestic rivals, Selkirk has been keeping a keen eye on the recent rise of Alvarez, telling me that Saul and Amir Khan are his boxing inspirations. “I love watching Alvarez, he is brilliant, world class,” he enthused.
“I also like Amir, a good friend of mine who is doing brilliant. They’re the main two at the minute for me. Amir had a loss but it made him raise himself up and work in a way that is unbelievable. When Amir lost people thought he’d pack it in but he went onto win a world title and become one of the best in the sport so he’s turned it around unbelievably – I wish him well.”
As for Selkirk’s plans for the coming season, “I think I’ll be British and Commonwealth champion and moving on (by this time next year). I want the Commonwealth by Christmas and Arron before the end of next year.”
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