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Assisting Adam Booth on the night Andy Lee gave Ireland another sporting hero to cherish, Dave Coldwell finished a rollercoaster 2014 on a high as he celebrated late into the humid Nevada night.
The Sheffield multi-tasker’s first voyage to the fight capital of the world was one filled with success as Booth guided Lee to a sensational victory over the previously unbeaten Matt Korobov to capture the WBO middleweight title.
A year filled with countless emotions ended happily for Coldwell and the Yorkshire promoter believes the experiences endured have prepared him for stronger challenges within boxing’s unforgiving landscape.
“It’s been hard at times, it’s been amazing at times and there’s also been times when I’ve been really low and I’ve had to ask a lot of questions. The highs and lows in this game are unbelievable because they provide constant reminders that almost anything can happen in this sport and the impact it has on so many people is something you don’t really see until you’re actually a part of it.”
The year began well enough for Coldwell as long-time friend, Curtis Woodhouse, arrived at the unlikely destination he had been trying to reach since swapping the luxuries of the football for the boxing environment he knew nothing about. February’s British title win over Darren Hamilton was arguably the domestic boxing feel-good story of the year and it’s a moment that Coldwell fondly recollects.
“Wow, what a night. I was so proud of Curtis that night because he really fought like his life depended on it. The few minutes waiting for the scorecards felt like the longest period ever but once the ring announcer said his name then it just went a little bit crazy.
“Myself and Curtis went our separate ways later in the year but that night will belong to me forever. You hear stories about the bad of boxing but when things like that happen, it really is a special sport.”
As well as experiencing lofty heights with Woodhouse, Coldwell hit rock bottom in September when Coldwell Boxing star, and Coldwell’s friend, Jerome Wilson, was seriously hurt when facing Serge Ambomo in Sheffield.
Wilson sustained a head injury and was hospitalised for a lengthy period undergoing extensive treatment. Thankfully, Wilson displayed incredible resolve whilst making his recovery and the support from the boxing community confirmed that the sport pulls together in times of need.
“That hit me hard but I can’t imagine what it must’ve been like for Jerome’s family. That few days immediately afterwards really were some of the hardest times I’ve ever faced, but I thank God that Jerome pulled through and is still with us today.
“You can get involved in this sport so much that you sometimes forget what the really important things are in life and this provided a big reminder to me in regards to that. The support and generosity of everyone who rallied to support Jerome was something I’ll never ever forget and it’s what I try to recall most when looking back at a dark time.”
Dealing with the unpredictable hands often dished out by boxing’s warped dealer, Coldwell has managed to control his workload admirably this year and as well as coping with the contrasting faces of the sport, the promoter/trainer/manager has also managed to guide Tony Bellew to three straight wins, make friends in America and nurture some of the British scene’s best young talents.
Setbacks have also occurred but Coldwell believes he is in a good place heading into the New Year.
“I’m used to ups and downs in this game, I’ve had them since day one. I’ve got a lot more happy nights with Bellew and I’m convinced that ends with him becoming world champion. The media attention his fight with Nathan Cleverly received took me back to the days of working with David Haye and it was fantastic to be involved in the sport at such a level.
“There are bigger nights ahead for Tony and his profile is well known in the cruiserweight division so I definitely think there’ll be a couple of big fights for him over the next twelve months. He’s got all the ingredients needed to be world champion and I’ll be doing my best to make sure he reaches his goal.”
Coldwell added, “Fight Pass with Matchroom has allowed our audience to be expanded and that is something I’m always looking to build on. We’ve been putting on quality shows for well over ten years now and the feedback our events receive is always positive.
“We have the likes of Robbie Davies, Jordan Cooke and Maxi Hughes, who I’m certain will be competing for titles on a regular basis over the next two years and I’ve always got my eye on the unpaid code to see which young stars are breaking through from the amateur side. 2015 has the potential to be another massive year in British boxing and I definitely want to be a part of it.”
