UNDISPUTED recently spoke to Southern Area light-welterweight champion Darren Hamilton ahead of his rematch with Derby puncher Dave Ryan. In June of this year, the 8-2 (2) boxer-puncher was disqualified in the very first round for a blatant head-butt to Ryan for the British Masters title. It was a hugely disappointing result for the Spencer Fearon-promoted fighter, who seemed to lose the plot after a heated build up. In his previous fight to that defeat, Hamilton had recorded his best-ever victory when stopping durable and cagey veteran Peter McDonagh in eight rounds on another ‘Hard Knocks’ show.
As an amateur Darren was an accomplished boxer, winning the West Counties title before turning pro late at the close of 2006. After five victories the unlucky prospect took over two years out of the ring after a series of management and training issues threatened to curtain his promising career. At one point the penniless and homeless puncher even slept in the gym as his problems continued on a downward spiral.
However, 33-year-old Darren has enjoyed a new lease of life since hooking up with promoter Fearon and trainer Harry Andrews as part of the ‘Hard Knocks’ crew, which continues to go from strength to strength thanks to a good stable of fighters and first-class promotions. Hamilton was looking in terrific form before the Ryan reverse.
Here’s what the super-fit contender had to say.
1. After an impressive amateur career you turned pro in 2006, scoring five straight wins before several issues forced you out for a couple of years. What happened?
DH) I was having some problems with my training and management. I’m from Bristol but I could see all the best sparring was in London. I was being asked to sign contracts but I insisted I wanted a trainer to be included in the deal, which they refused. I eventually moved to London to try and continue my career.
2. In your first comeback fight you suffered your first loss to Daryl Setterfield via fourth-round knock-out. You were doing well in the fight but walked on to a massive shot to put you down and out but he did have a weight advantage over you?
DH) Yeah he had a stone (14 lbs) on me in there. He won the first two rounds and I was doing well in the third, won that and was well-winning the next when I just got caught. One of those things but I think it actually helped me in a way.
3. A year (and two more wins) after that loss you were manoeuvred into a Southern Area title shot against Peter McDonagh. You looked a million dollars that night in stopping a man that rarely gets halted; that was some comeback win?
DH) Yeah that was a great comeback win. I won the Southern Area title, moved up the ratings and it did wonders for my confidence. The Spencer Fearon management team did great getting me the title fight and also getting me in great shape for it.
4. You have a lot to be thankful for to Spencer Fearon; could you talk a little about your relationship with Spencer?
DH) Well, I came to London with nothing when I moved here from Bristol. I wanted to go into personal training so I ended up giving that a go and staying with a few friends. I couldn’t find work but one day I went into John Rooney’s gym looking for work. He said he’d give me a job if I started to train to continue my pro career. Anyway I got back into training and I started sparring good fighters like Ben Murphy, Erick Ochieng and Anthony Small. It gave me a lot of confidence to try again.
I did personal training in the gym and kept my own training going. I didn’t have anywhere to live so I spoke to John who said there was a small room I could use in the gym. I also started cleaning the gym too as an extra job.
Anyway, six months later I had a fall out with John and left the gym. I had a little money saved but obviously wasn’t in a good position. Then one day Ben Doughty introduced me to Spencer, who gave me a boxing trial for ‘The Real Fight club’ (A white collar organisation based in London). Within two months I had enough money to get my own place.
Without Spence’ I don’t know what I would have done, I had no money, nowhere to live and no confidence.
5. How did getting with Spencer help your confidence?
DH) He said straight away “you can go ten rounds right now”. I’d never been beyond six! We watched tapes of all the guys around my weight and Spencer was saying which ones I could beat and I was blown away he had that much belief in me. He told me I could beat Peter McDonagh and Curtis Woodhouse and it’s only when you sit down and talk to Spencer you realise how much he loves boxing. He’s not like one of those managers who throw you in with anyone, he studies who you will fight and gives you the boost you need when you need it.
Harry Andrews has also been very good for me. He’s not the best known trainer but he’s got an incredible work ethic; he knows how to get you in superb shape and ready for every fight. Before I got with him I would spar maybe four rounds; now I can do fifteen with alternating opponents with ease.
6. You had built strong momentum before losing your last fight; did the occasion get to you?
DH) The occasion did get to me. I don’t want anybody saying I’m making excuses but that was totally out of character for me. It’s something I’ve never experienced, losing my cool like that. Usually for a fight I have just the right amount of nerves, but for this fight I didn’t have any; I just wanted to get in there and fight.
In the build up I was getting stick on Facebook from his fans, I can take banter but it got a bit much. Ryan’s promoter then said a few things to me at the weigh-in to get under my skin. I went out to the ring and it was deafening; like a gladiator’s arena. He had 40 fans from Derby, I had 200 yet all I could hear was the Derby lot; it was deafening. They even drowned out my entrance music that usually chills me out and keeps me calm. I tell you how wound up I was beforehand; usually Harry (Andrews) says a few words to me, last minute advice. I didn’t even hear him I just kept jumping up and down banging my gloves together. I totally lost my boxing; lunging in and rushing my punches with no control.
7. You get the chance to put things right on October 7, how do you see the rematch going?
DH) Yes it’ll be straight forward this time. Even through the madness of the first fight I saw plenty of mistakes I could capitalise on (with Dave Ryan’s style) . I don’t believe in starting slow; I want to go all out from the start. I’ve no problem with my fitness I’m always training hard; not just when a fight is coming up. I used to go on the p**s for a few weeks after a fight but now I take just two days off and then I’m straight back in the gym.
8. You are now 33-years-old; how much do you think you can go on to achieve providing you beat Dave Ryan?
DH) I think I can do as much as I would have if I’d have started at 21-years-old. People get the age thing all wrong; it depends on the fighter’s attitude, how many fights he’s had and how hard those fights have been. I’ve only had ten fights and none of those have been wars. I look up to people like (39-year-old featherweight contender) Tseveenpurev Choi for inspiration. I think he also turned pro late but is still a top fighter.
I can’t predict how far I can go but I’m going all out to achieve what ever I can.
9. Your part of the ‘Hard Knocks’ stable of fighters; it seems more of a family than a stable?
DH) We are like a family. We all live together and gel with each other. We’re always doing stuff like going to shows, training white collar fighters and attending events. I don’t think there’s a stable of fighters like ours anywhere else.
I also have to say, in the gym, Spencer keeps us all in tears laughing all day; it never seems like hard work in training. It’s obviously a business at the end of the day but it never feels like that, it’s more of a family atmosphere all the time.
10. After stopping McDonagh, Spencer compared you to Mike McCallum; that’s some compliment?
DH) It was a great compliment to me. I don’t go to the body like McCallum but I do see a few similarities between me and him. The way we jab and also jab to the stomach but it is an absolute honour to be compared to McCallum.
11. Any message to the fans for your next fight against Ryan?
DH) Yes; be prepared for a spectacular event. This will be the most one-sided beating you will ever see. I am not coming for anything other than a knock-out or a shut-out. This is redemption for me after last time. I could have easily taken another fight but I wanted to put the record straight.
I’ve sparred and done well against British champion Ashley Theophane and he is far better than Dave Ryan. Theophane is my ultimate goal; he knows what happened when we sparred. Dave Ryan will be just a stepping stone for bigger and better things.
Theophane actually avoided me because he was meant to take on the winner of me and Peter McDonagh in a voluntary defence but changed his mind after he watched me beat Peter. I’d still love that chance (fighting for the British title) but first I have to take care of Ryan.
Photo Credit: boxingrepublic.com
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