Interesting stuff from a Journeyman.

From Tony Booth http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=004216&cat=boxer&pageID=3 I started out with the Ingles. I used to do a lot of body sparring with the likes of Bomber Graham, Johnny Nelson and Naseem Hamed. Nelson never had any bottle: he used to nick fights running away. But Naz was ****ing brilliant - so elusive and he hit really hard. Even when he were just 15, he told my uncle to get his autograph 'cos he were going to be a superstar. Nigel Benn used me seven times over in Tenerife, including for the Gerald McClellan fight. I had a big bet, three figures, on McClellan to win in the first round at about 10-1. And he would've if the ref hadn't kept interrupting. Nige and me would spar half-an-hour a day, then both go out on the piss. We always had a headguard and 16 oz gloves and often I'd outjab him. Nigel weren't a liberty-taker. But the best I've been inside the ring with was Joe Calzaghe in sparring. Beforehand, I thought he were quite boring to watch and looked as if he slapped but, **** me, he punches hard. If he slapped, Bernard Hopkins would've stood toe-to-toe with Joe, but he got on his bike, didn't he? If Joe and Nigel had fought, I think Joe would have been able to take the pain and would've ended up hurting Nigel, bit like Michael Watson did. Another article BBN: How would you describe your style? I'd like to think with all my experience, I can adapt to almost any style. I can box or stand and trade if I have to. I've sparred with Carl Thompson, Joe Calzaghe and Nigel Benn. When Benn fought Gerald McClellan, I was his only sparring partner (WHAT? - Ed.) so I developed an excellent jab. I boxed Derek Chisora on the undercard of the Calzaghe v Peter Manfredo Jr. bill at The Millennium Stadium, and he weighed about a stone and a half more than me so I'm used to giving weight away. BBN: You have fought some very dangerous opponents throughout your career, who would you say lived up to their reputation? Tony: For me I'd say Eddy Smulders was a dangerous fighter. I boxed him in Holland in June of '92. Haye was good but I've never seen his chin tested really and he had his first contest against me in my twelfth year. I thought Maccarinelli was very skilful. People couldn't believe it when I defeated Omar Sheika, I said Omar Simpson would have been harder. No, seriously, that was a good win for me over eight rounds. The fight I took in Algeria was in a very hostile place. I accepted a last minute bout against Mohamed Benguesmia and on the way into the ring, they were all threatening me. I could have won easily but I wanted to get out alive so I thought I'd better lose. I find this interesing stuff, journeymen like him will tell you the truth, there's no reason for him to lie, it's good to read perspectives from fighters that arn't saying it to brag themselves up.