JORDAN GRANNUM, 11-133-5
THE new professional was feeling good about himself when The Islington Gazette rang him forward of his debut.
“I believe I will be difficult for world titles in 4 or 5 years,” he instructed them. “I’ve received all of the photographs to take me all the best way to the highest.”
It was September 2015, and 22-year-old Jordan Grannum seemed a superb prospect. As an beginner with Islington and Finchley and District ABCs, he gained Haringey Field Cup gold and back-to-back Improvement championships throughout his 31-bout apprenticeship.
Grannum gained his first two professional fights as effectively – eight months aside – earlier than a 14-month break throughout which period he had a rethink. “I knew I couldn’t promote tickets,” he mentioned, “so I requested (the late) Greg (Steene): ‘What can I do?’” The reply was easy. Go on the street.
“I’d heard the phrase ‘journeyman’ earlier than, however I hadn’t a clue what a journeyman was. So, I did analysis on folks like William Warburton and Kristian Laight.”
Grannum found how the boxing enterprise labored and in solely his third battle, he took on 17-1 Ryan Brawley in Glasgow.
“I dropped him within the final spherical,” mentioned Grannum, “and when he received up, I helped him by it. As an beginner, I’d fairly die than lose, however I settled into this function so shortly.
“They put me within the worst lodge I’ve ever stayed in, and I bear in mind sitting there and all my cash on the desk and pondering: ‘That is me.’”
On Saturday, Might 4, Grannum is pencilled in to have his one hundred and fiftieth battle, although it could come earlier than then.
Grannum has proved lately that, when within the temper, he can battle. He upset 5-0 Tyler Rivers final month and mentioned: “I’ve let my fingers go extra this season. However I have to take minimal injury and the extra you open up, the extra likelihood you might have of getting caught.”
Grannum doesn’t get caught a lot. In 149 fights – 147 of them on the right-hand aspect of the invoice – he says the worst accidents he’s picked up are a fractured rib and a swollen eye, placing the latter right down to a automotive accident he was concerned in a couple of days earlier than he boxed.
He says Irish punching machine Aaron McKenna gave him one among his hardest nights in December, 2020.
“It was throughout (the) covid (pandemic) and I hadn’t boxed for 9 months,” mentioned Grannum.
“Your physique will get conditioned to taking punches and I hadn’t taken a punch for 9 months. I took the battle for some cash earlier than Christmas.”
He earned his cash the arduous manner, McKenna forcing him to retire after two rounds.
Solely 3 times has Grannum failed to listen to the ultimate bell and, due to that sturdiness, he is aware of solely too effectively that prospects “wish to make a press release by stopping me.”
He says his job has been made simpler by a change in life-style.
“For my first 120-130 fights I’d flip up after being out the evening earlier than,” he mentioned. “My expertise and expertise would get me by, however it might be uncomfortable. I made it extra snug for myself by coaching more durable.
“I nonetheless really feel recent. I really feel like I’ve had 49 fights, fairly than 149 fights.”
Grannum hasn’t totally given up hope of at some point fulfilling his potential.
“One large name may change every part,” he mentioned. “I’ve a foot within the door and they’re at all times going to want opponents on large exhibits.
“If I beat a prospect, the cellphone calls would possibly decelerate – or I would get one other likelihood.”
If that doesn’t occur?
“I’d fortunately battle on small corridor exhibits and choose up losses till I’ve the cash for a home,” mentioned Grannum. “I like preventing and I like earning money, so that is the proper job for me.”
Jordan Grannum beats Ali Wyatt
LEE HALLETT, 2-74-4
OUTSIDE the York Corridor final month, Johnny Greaves sucked on a cigarette and questioned the place it had all gone improper. The fighter he manages had gained – and profitable isn’t at all times good for enterprise.
Greaves was at all times within the enterprise of shedding fights – he misplaced 96 of 100 – and he’s passing on his data to Lee Hallett.
“There’s been many instances once I’ve thought: ‘I may flip this lad over,’” mentioned Hallett, “however then the cellphone gained’t ring and I gained’t get to my goal. I’ll by no means get to 100 fights if I begin profitable too many…”
The goal is definitely 101, another than Greaves.
Johnny met Hallett when he was a schoolboy at East Ham ABC. “I used to be a senior and helped him out with coaching when he was a younger child,” mentioned Greaves, additionally a southpaw from Canning City.
The pair had been reunited after Hallett purchased a ticket for Greaves’ final battle, a factors win over Dan Carr on the York Corridor in September, 2013. “I seemed as much as Johnny,” mentioned Hallett, a father of two who works in restoration. “I needed to do what he had performed. I had considered turning professional a couple of years earlier as a prospect.
“I met a supervisor once I was 25 and he instructed me the way it works with promoting tickets. I used to be unbeaten within the unlicensed circuit, gained a few titles. I did okay on the tickets. I’d do 100, however then the following battle it will be 30 or 40. I didn’t wish to prepare my coronary heart out for 2 or three months after which not promote sufficient tickets. I had a younger household to assist.”
Greaves instructed him: “Except you might have Frank (Warren) or Eddie (Hearn) backing you, the one option to earn a living is to go on the street.”
That was how Greaves did it.
“My first 20 fights I assumed I gained seven or eight and I didn’t even win a spherical (in response to the referee),” he remembered and that led to a rethink.
Greaves determined that if he was going to lose, he would possibly as effectively maintain himself secure – as a substitute of “going dwelling bashed up, reduce and overwhelmed” – and placed on a present.
“I attempted to entertain the gang greater than the opposite boys (journeymen),” he mentioned. “I’d speak to the gang, stick my tongue out, do the Ali shuffle.
“Lee will get much more concerned than I believe he ought to. We’ve a special mindset generally.”
Hallet mentioned: “I like to offer them a battle. I like to offer them a take a look at.”
A professional at 30, Hallett didn’t take a look at his first opponent, nonetheless.
“I went about it utterly improper,” he mentioned of the first-round stoppage loss to Callen McAulay in Paisley in April 2018. “I used to be obese and went out for a run at 4 o’clock on the morning of the battle to get the burden off. By the point I got here to battle, I had nothing within the tank. I received hit on the highest of the top and ended up on my knees.”
Hallett has been stopped solely as soon as in 79 subsequent fights. He ended a close to five-year winless streak when he outpointed Tyler Chambers on the York Corridor on March 16.
“Often once I (really feel like I) win, I get excited,” mentioned Lee. “I used to be shocked. There have been so many instances once I would get to the tip and thought to myself: ‘I would get this’ after which it goes utterly the alternative manner.”
As was the case in Coventry final month when he fought Leicester debutant Ali Meesam.
“I assumed I had gained each spherical,” mentioned Hallett of the 39-38 factors reverse. “I had my hand up after which I received robbed.”
Greaves mentioned: “Lee could be a arduous evening’s work for anybody. He has let himself down with a scarcity of motivation generally and he doesn’t have essentially the most confidence on the planet. He over thinks every part. He wasn’t as unfastened as I used to be. He doesn’t let himself go.
“He isn’t as good defensively as I used to be, however he’s the very best on the street within the nation for me.”
Hallett says York Corridor is “my dwelling venue, however I’m at all times preventing out of the away nook.”
Lee, who has daughters Macie (15) and Darcie (8) with associate Michaela, needs to complete his profession there, as the house fighter.
“I want to get a couple of folks there and present them what I’m actually all about,” he mentioned.
GENADIJ KRAJEVSKIJ, 1-69
SOMEONE’S ‘0’ needed to go when Krajevskij confronted Ryan Broten in Oldham. Krajevskij was 0-67, Broten 0-3.
“I felt like a famous person,” mentioned Krajevskij when remembering the aftermath of his factors win. “Everybody gave me congratulations. I can’t bear in mind the final time I felt like this. It’s arduous to get wins. If I battle folks at my degree, it’s totally different, however I battle individuals who have gained seven or eight nationwide titles. I battle robust, robust boys.”
Krajevskij is a tricky man himself.
He left Lithuania for England with two mates when he was 21 years previous.
“It was superb to begin with,” he mentioned.
“We noticed Huge Ben and we solely ever noticed Huge Ben on the telly. However we began dwelling a horrible life. It wasn’t dwelling. It was surviving. We had been dwelling in a squat with no electrical. I used to be sleeping on a grimy mattress and waking up as a result of I used to be chilly. We’d go to the outlets and steal bacon as a result of we’ve no selection.
“We had no mates, no connections, no work. My two mates gave up and went dwelling. I didn’t quit. I’m a tricky man.”
He made a connection who steered a transfer to Liverpool and Krajevskij received work on a farm in Southport.
“It was arduous work and stress,” he mentioned. “I’ve a nasty boss who say: ‘In the event you don’t work more durable, don’t hassle coming in tomorrow.’ It was seasonal work and after two months, I used to be left with out work, with none cash.”
Krajevskij received a job at a well-liked low cost retailer and rediscovered boxing.
“I did a bit bit in my nation,” he mentioned. “I had a good friend who lived on my avenue who gained the Lithuanian title twice. He mentioned: ‘Come to the gymnasium with me.’ It was nothing critical. I used to be younger. There have been events. There have been women…”
Wayne Smith was a neighbour after Krajevskij moved to Liverpool and he planted the seed a couple of return to boxing.
Krajevskij went on the white-collar circuit and mentioned: “I used to be incomes £100-£150 and I gained a title.
“It was Mickey Mouse, however I used to be a champion. I gained 27 of 28 fights and somebody instructed me I ought to strive beginner boxing.”
He gained 4 of six after which ran into ex-pro Shea Neary.
He instructed Krajevskij: “You’re a tricky man, beginner boxing doesn’t pay your payments. Try to be a journeyman.”
Krajevskij answered: “What’s a journeyman?”
He discovered the arduous manner.
“I used to be pondering: ‘What’s improper?’” he mentioned. “I win unlicensed fights and beginner fights and now I’m shedding.
“I understood they had been a special degree. They’d been boxing since they had been six or seven years previous. They’ve higher abilities. In the event you’re not match sufficient, you possibly can go to the gymnasium and work in your health, however they had been simply higher than me.”
Krajevskij has caught at it – and received his rewards when he beat Broten.
“It’s been an extended journey and other people say I ought to be happy with myself,” mentioned Krajevksij, who works for a safety agency run by ex-pro Stephen Harkin.
“I will likely be proud when I’ve a home and a mortgage. That’s my goal.”
Krajevskij in motion
