Boxing Perspective: Munroe Ready For WBC Eliminator At Shinfield’s Gym
© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
On Friday, SaddoBoxing went along to Shinfield’s Gym in Somercotes, Derby, England to check on the progress of Rendall Munroe as he prepares for the WBC Super-Bantamweight Title Eliminator.
In a Frank Maloney promoted fightnight at Coventry’s SkyDome on April 23rd, Munroe – holder of the British, European and Commonwealth belts – takes on Mexican Victor Terrazas.
Terrazas – who has never fought outside of Mexico – will be flying to the UK ten days before the fight.
On Friday – the character-full gym run by Mike and Jason Shinfield was busier than ever despite the fact that it was Good Friday and most people were enjoying a day-off in the UK!
During the morning session – Munroe was joined by stable-mates Dale Miles, Scott Haywood and Elvis Dube. Welterweight Miles, with a record of 8 wins (5 by KO) and no losses, is scheduled to fight on the Coventry Bill but has yet to find an opponent.
‘Super Scotty’ Haywood was scheduled to fight Scott Woolford at Coventry but their bout has now been moved to sometime in May as Woolford is not available on the 23rd April.
Leicester Bin-man Munroe has been back in the gym full-time since the middle of March and is already looking in fantastic shape!
Apart from the usual stomach-crunching exercises and punch-bag work, Munroe sparred several rounds with Belorussian former European Super-Featherweight Champion Sergey Gulyakevich.
Young boxers Bobby Jenkinson and Ryan Fillingham, who had come up from Bracebridge Gym in Lincoln to spar with some of the Shinfield’s boxers, also did a couple of rounds with Munroe.
Sergey had flown in only the day before and despite not feeling 100% after his journey – gave Munroe a good session in the ring. Munroe’s body-shots though were crippling! And his uppercuts sharper than ever!
Stopping to share a bit of banter with the lads – Munroe lifted his t-shirt to reveal a ripped torso. We joked that I thought I could roll a marble down the groove of his six-pack if we tilted him a bit! With still three weeks till fight-night, Munroe (wearing a tshirt which stated “Whatever it Takes!â€) was already looking in great form.
When quizzed about the Terrazas fight – Jason Shinfield confirmed that he had looked at tapes of the Mexican (though Munroe is discouraged from watching videos of opponents). “You can plan, train and prepare for months, but at the end of the day there’s just two guys in the ring,” said Shinfield.
“And past the sixth round – it’s all down to heart and who wants it most. Rendall will train as hard as he’s ever doneâ€.
In fact, from following Munroe’s progress before – I know that they have a problem keeping him ‘out’ of the gym – because he constantly wants to train! With the morning session over, Munroe was off for the afternoon before going on a late run.
I waited around for the afternoon session. Wayne Batten and Michael Ballingall of the Millbank Gym in Southampton brought along middleweight Tony Hill to spar with Ovill McKenzie. Prizefighter Cruiserweights Champion McKenzie faces Londoner Tony Salam at light heavyweight in Coventry while Hill is scheduled to fight Matt Hainy. Four boxers from the same gym – Mark Atkins, John Fernandes, Matthew Tew and Matty Page – also came to spar.
Shinfield’s boxer Steve Jevons was also training that afternoon. With a four out of four winning record – he was waiting to hear of his next fight.
After power-skipping and punch-bag work, McKenzie jumped in to the ring with Hill and then with Atkins. It was a great sparring session from all three men. McKenzie – sporting his usual huge grin (!) – lifted his t-shirt to prove he had a well-ripped stomach too! He certainly looked in great shape ahead of his contest with Salam.
When I left the gym late afternoon, I was still mindful that the gym had been – as I call it – a ‘hive of activity’. There seemed to have been a real atmosphere of motivated excitement – boxers looking forward to their fights ahead. And with still three weeks remaining to fightnight – I wondered what the gym will be like next week.
One thing is for sure – you are always guaranteed a warm welcome and a good laugh when you visit the Shinfield’s Gym and I look forward to my next visit !