Shaun Ireland and George Rhodes Jnr have decided to take the plunge and test themselves as professional boxers, and they visited The Scarborough News to discuss all things boxing.
DG: It’s great news that you’re both turning professional at the same time. Will that benefit you?
SI: Yes it will. We’ve been good mates for a while now, I started at 12 and George was there before me.
GR: It’s brilliant. I was at the club when it was known as Eastfield Boxing Club. We’ve been good mates and have some good tales to tell. If we make it big time and I need some money I’ll have to sell my stories on Shaun to the tabloids.
DG: What’s your prediction for each other going forward?
SI: I think he’ll do very well. I’ve known him a long time and he has the ability to do it.
GR: He can definitely go all the way. He’s boxed semi-professional in Germany and his style is suited to the professional game. He’ll do very well, I’ve never seen him get outclassed before.
DG: What is your dream fight in your weight division?
SI: I’d love a good domestic tear-up with Josh Warrington or Lee Selby. I’d probably edge for Selby for a world title.
GR: There are some massive names in the welterweight division, it would have to be between Manny Pacquaio and Floyd Mayweather Jnr. I’ll go with Pacquaio.
DG: How far do you think you can get in the sport?
SI: I’m not sure. I don’t want to start thinking about fighting for British, European or World titles, it’s a long way off. I just want to take it one fight at a time.
GR: Very much like Shaun, I just want to take it fight-by-fight and see how far I can get.
DG: What will be your music for the ring walk?
SI: Dizzie Rascal’s Fix Up Look Sharp, I’ve always had that one for Westway shows, it gets me going.
GR: I’m not 100 per cent sure on that one yet. Maybe The Fratellis’ Chelsea Dagger or it’s been mentioned to come out to a Scarborough fog horn then going into music.
DG: What are your strengths and weaknesses in the ring?
SI: There aren’t many weaknesses (laughs). I would say my speed and my footwork are my strengths, as well as my dancing, and maybe that my hands come down a bit after an attack at the moment would be the weakness, but I’m working on that.
GR: My weaknesses would be pretty similar to Shaun’s really, I’m working on my defence when I come away from an attack. Fitness, workrate and hand speed would be my strengths.
DG: Who is your favourite boxer, both current and of all time?
SI: Good question. I think currently it has to be Floyd Mayweather Jnr. I just love his style, he’s a superb boxer. My favourite boxer of all time is Mike Tyson.
GR: This is another tough question. I’d have to put Paul Ingle up there with the best of them.
For a Scarborough lad to go and achieve what he did is just a phenomenal effort. There are a few names up there though.
DG: What is the best fight you’ve seen?
SI: There are so many to choose from. Obviously there’s the Arturo Gatti v Micky Ward battles and the Marco Antonio Barrera against Erik Morales series. If I had to plump for one it would be Gatti and Ward’s first fight.
GR: I’m going to have to say Tommy Coyle v Daniel Brizuela. I love watching Ricky Hatton’s fight against Kostya Tszyu. Coyle v Brizuela wins it for me, me and Shaun were there and we had our coats on a few times, we were ready to leave.
It was just a great fight.