Journal Live - Blog Central

Haye was good Value for title

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:36:28 +0000

I'VE known David Haye since I was 16 so I was delighted to see him claim the world heavyweight title in Germany this week.

It's great for British boxing to have a world heavyweight champion after so many years, but it's also great for the sport to have a character like David owning the belt. He will become massive worldwide on the back of this because of his personality and the excitement he brings to fights.

Cancellation is a pain in the ear

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:15:29 +0000

INJURIES are part and parcel of being a boxer but my latest one has been especially frustrating.

My November fight in Nottingham has had to be postponed because I perforated an ear drum when I was sparring with Ovill McKenzie. I'm now hoping to get the all-clear to fight on the undercard of Lee Haskins' fight in Newport on December 11.

Quick return just what I wanted

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:58:30 +0000

I'VE had time to reflect on my points victory over Artem Solomko but to be honest it hasn't changed my mind at all.

I've watched the video two or three times and it wasn't very good compared to what I'm capable of.

DJ Jaffa in da house!

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:47:15 +0000

SINCE I won my Olympic medal I've got up to a few things I never expected to, like being a catwalk model and appearing on The Weakest Link.

Bellow at the Belorussian for me!

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:01:29 +0000

I HAVEN'T been able to do too much homework on my opponent this week, Artem Solomko, because there are no videos available of him on the internet but I did learn an interesting fact about him today.

All the Belorussian light heavyweight's fights have been in central or Eastern Europe.

So I'm asking all my fans at the Seaburn Centre on Friday night to give him a special Wearside welcome - and make him wish he'd stayed at home!

Taking it easy ahead of fight night

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:06:02 +0000

THE last week before my fourth professional fight begins tomorrow.

For those of you who don't know, I'm fighting Artem Solomko at the Seaburn Centre in Sunderland a week tomorrow (October 16).

It's been a tough build-up to the fight but this final week will all be about taking things easy and getting into the right frame of mind to record my fourth win as a pro.

Am I on a roll - you bet I am!

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:24:12 +0000

I'LL be at the official opening of a bookmakers in Seaham at noon on Saturday and if you can get there it might be worth your while if my luck rubs off on you.

Just a Bet are sponsoring me in my next fight at the Seaham Centre on October 16, so in return I'll be opening their new shop at the weekend. Since I'm in training at the moment I'll have to lay off the Chinese food they're laying on, but I might be tempted by one of their free bets the way things are going for me at the moment.

I'll cut down Rose then I'll get Bent!

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:30:57 +0000

I NEED your help.

If you're reading this and you're not signed up to my Twitter account, why not? I use this blog to write my more detailed thoughts on life as a professional boxer but this last year I've got onto Twitter too and I'm addicted.

Now it's caused a three-way bet between me, my training partner Brian Rose and the Sunderland footballer Darren Bent.

Farewell to a dedicated professional

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:44:44 +0000

IT'S been a tough time since I got back from my training camp in Portugal after the sad news about Darren Sutherland.

Darren had been due to fight on the same card as me at the Seaburn Centre in Sunderland next month but he died on Monday afternoon.

A shaggy dog tale from the camp

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:07:59 +0000

HELLO everyone, it's Tony's dad, Phil here.

Our Tony's busy training hard at his camp in Portugal so I thought I'd make a guest appearance on his blog to tell you about a funny incident which happened in training today.

I'll be a happy camper if I can fight temptation

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:49:22 +0000

I THINK flying is a good time to do a blog. I recently wrote a blog on the way to Las Vegas, this one I'm doing on my way to Villamora in Portugal, so I've put the Blackberry into flight mode and now I've got two hours left to kill.

I'm going to Portugal on an eight-day intensive training camp. I'm joined by boxers Brian Rose, who's been my training partner for my last two fights and also trains out of Bobby Rimmer's boxing academy, and top heavyweight prospect Dave Ferguson from Wallsend who my dad manages.

All set for a killer in the villa

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:00:46 +0000

PREPARATIONS for my first six-round professional contest are going to step up a notch today when I fly out to Portugal.

I'm heading to Frank Maloney's villa in the mountains for an eight-day training camp. It might sound good but believe me, it's going to be very hard work.

Some surprise holiday 'Weather

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:27:06 +0000

I'M back home now to prepare for my next fight, back in Sunderland on October 16, but before I returned I managed a surprise meeting with a couple of boxing legends.

As those of you who read this blog regularly will know, me and my fiancée Sara have been fulfilling one of her long-time ambitions by backpacking around North and South America.

The sad story behind my dream holiday

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:49:45 +0000

I'M one-and-a-half weeks into my travels with the missus, Sarah. We're halfway through and I'm writing this blog on the plane to Las Vegas from Miami.

I have got nearly five hours to kill so I've put my Blackberry into flight mode and I'm typing away while Sarah reads a book next to me.

I'm planning to give some celebrities a beating

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:55:58 +0000

I GOT more than I bargained for when I started the Great North 10k at the weekend.

I started the race with Micky Horswill and Bernie Slaven, from the "Three Legends" football phone-in.

It was a good turn-out and I really enjoyed the day. And while I was there they got me to sign up for the Great North Run in September.