DAILY SPORT catches up with legendary boxing trainer and hot candidate for the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Jimmy Tibbs
PZ: A big thank you for taking the time to speak with me Jimmy. I realise how busy you are at the moment.
JT: No problem Paul.
PZ: Talk us through the training camps of Kevin Mitchell and Billy Joe Saunders?
JT: It’s going well. I’ve given Kevin and Billy Joe the day off today as they have been training hard. They have been going through a lot of pad work, conditioning and living the life of a boxer. Next week they will start with sparring, as for the moment they have been sparring amongst themselves. I have a big range of weights coming to spar with them, ranging from cruiser to welter. I can’t go any lighter than welter as Kevin is hitting so hard at the moment it wouldn’t be fair on the sparring partner and he also needs to get used to being in there with some hard hitters. The range of weights will give them the chance to experience different power, speed, styles and range.
They are both over their fighting weight, but that’s fine at this point in their training. Closer to fight night they will start to trim down as they mentally and physically become hungrier.
PZ: How important is it to take the likes of Kevin and Billy Joe (Saunders) and get them away to a private gym.
JT: The camp is in the countryside and unlike when they are training in the public gym, you don’t get people asking to take a picture, sign an autograph or anything else that disturbs their routine. It’s important that they live a fit and healthy life before a fight, but especially so if they are fighting at championship level. Having the camp away from the public is very important, if anything just to take away all the distractions of the public and their mates they share the gym with.
PZ: Billy Joe is fighting the week before. I’ve heard you say last year that that Billy is one of the most talented fighters you have ever trained. Do you still stand by that statement?
JT: Absolutely. He has real talent. He can slide punches, counter, hit hard and come from all angles. He will go a long way and every fight shows how much he is improving. Since turning pro three years ago he just seems to get better and better. He is currently Commonwealth Champion and could certainly go all the way to world level.
PZ: Is the training camp for Billy Joe that far different to Kevin’s?
JT: Not really. They have been training together and sparring together. Next week they will spar different people for their up and coming fights, but the discipline they get is identical.
PZ: How do you see the fight going with Ricky Burns?
JT: As the trainer I’m always going to back my man. That said, I really think Kevin will win on points or by late stoppage.
PZ: After the Katsidis fight Kevin got himself together mentally and physically and produced a world class performance against Murray. Do you think he will performing at that level on the 22nd?
JT: He will be even better this time. He’s been training really hard and the commitment he is giving in the gym shows. Kevin has been world level for a while and it will show on the 22nd September.
PZ: I’ve interviewed many of the lads from the TKO Gym in the last few months and they all believe that you should be inducted into the International Hall of Fame. You have trained some of the best champions ever to enter a ring. Is it an ambition to be inducted into the Hall of Fame or would it just be the icing on very fruitful boxing career?
JT: I have never had an ambition of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. You get that from how good a trainer you are and who you have trained. I have trained some great fighters in the past, but I would never put myself forward to be chosen for the Hall of Fame. I leave those decisions to other people.
I’m still training some great guys now with real talent, and my pleasure comes from training these guys instead of looking for a spot in the Hal of Fame. If it happens it’s a bonus.
PZ: Mark really seems to be making a name for himself as a great trainer. As his father and a top trainer yourself, what’s your thoughts on how he is doing?
JT: He’s doing great. In terms of how he’s doing, he will get better with more experience. If you ask me the same question in 10 years time I would still give you the same answer. He’s training some great guys at the moment that he is bringing the best out of, and it won’t be long before he has a champion under his wings.
PZ: Do you and Mark ever argue?
JT: We don’t really argue. We will sometime have a difference in opinion, but it’s always to do with improving a boxers technique or part of their game, and we will discuss it through with the goal of improving the boxer. This helps us both improve as trainers also. You must remember that both me and Mark were schooled at West Ham ABC, so fundamentally we have had the same training. We are very similar indeed.
PZ: Team GB did incredibly well at the Olympics this year. Was there anybody that really stood out for you?
JT: Anthony Joshua obviously looked very good. Fred Evans from Wales looked very promising. The first round of the final he started off very strong and showed a lot of skill. He seemed to run out of steam in the last two rounds, but did very well getting as far as he did in the tournament and getting a silver.
PZ: Anybody from the Olympics whose style you think would work well as a pro?
JT: Joshua could turn pro quite easily I think. He has mentioned that he wants to stay amateur for the next four years, but that’s a long time so anything could happen. Fred Evans also has the tools to go far. I didn’t see much of Anthony Ogogo, but he also looks like he has potential.
PZ: I believe you and Mark (Tibbs) are training Simon Valilly now. How do you think Simon would have done at the Olympics if he had not turned pro?
JT: He would have certainly have won a medal. He was a great amateur.
PZ: How’s he shaping up as a pro?
JT: Very well indeed. Simon hits very hard, has good movement and loads of ability. He’s 26 years old now, and is mature both as a person and a boxer. Mark does a lot of training with him and we are both very impressed with what he has to offer and how far he could go.
PZ: A big thank you for your time Jimmy and best of luck for all the up and coming fights.
JT: My pleasure. All the best.
