PZ: It’s been 4 months since we last spoke Kevin. Before we talk boxing tell us about how family life has been going.
KC: All good! My little girl is now four and a half months old, and I also have a 15 year old, so having them keeps everything in perspective.
PZ: When we spoke in August you mentioned Frank Warren had given you the position of House Second, and it seems that every time I attend a boxing or match or turn on Boxnation, you are there in the corner. How’s this opportunity been working out for you in terms of experience and networking?
KC: Really good Paul. I’ve been very lucky, that Dean Powell, Frank Warren and Francis Warren who gave me the opportunity in the first place, and am very grateful to them. The position of House Second has not only got me essential experience, but equally essential exposure, which will help me with the money side of things. First and foremost though, I get firsthand experience of working the corner with some of the country’s best trainers such as the Tibbs’s and Adam Booth, and that’s experience which simply can’t be bought.
Although it’s only a House Second position, and most of the time I’m holding a bucket in the corner, but the experience I’m picking up is brilliant being around these guys. This will make me a better coach, which in turn will help my fighters in the future. I have a long career ahead of me as I’m only 30 years old, so the amount of learning ahead of me is an exciting prospect.
PZ: Name the top three boxing influences who have crossed your path in the last 4 months.
KC: Dean Powell. Although he’s the one who has helped me all the way to date, he’s the one who has given me the opportunity to be where I am and has been a big help over the last 4 months also.
The Tibbs’s. They are always very polite and fantastic with me every time I have worked a corner with them.
Adam Booth. I recently worked the corner with him for the George Groves fight. I learnt loads in that corner. They were very helpful and respectful.
I know you said three, but I’m including the most recent one, who will be an influence in my coming future – Enzo Calzaghe.
PZ: Your recent Twitter Feed tells us that you have been chosen to be a coach for the Celebrity Calzaghe Boot Camp! That’s a massive profile booster. How did the opportunity arise?
KC: To be honest with you, it was a bit of a bolt out of the blue! I was contacted by ‘Team Calzaghe’ and they said they had been looking at me for a while and wanted me to be one of the guest coaches for this show.
It potentially could be a life changing experience for me working with the likes of Enzo, Joe and the team, and in such a high powered environment in front of the cameras. A massive profile booster and a massive learning curve. I’m extremely lucky and privileged, not just to have been chosen, but that they could have chosen anybody and they went for me. There are many well qualified and known fitness trainers out there, so stressing again how privileged I am is an understatement.
PZ: Obviously the details of the show are embargoed at this point for obvious reasons, however, what’s it like working with Enzo and Joe, and can you tell us more about the crew involved with hosting this show.
KC: Enzo has been the man person I have been talking to so far. I haven’t spoken with Joe yet, but certainly look forward to meeting him.
Enzo has been fantastic and has welcomed me with open arms and accepted me as part of the crew as if I’ve been there forever. A humbling experience.
PZ: When will the show be live?
KC: Honest truth – not sure! Keep an eye on my twitter account and the Calzaghe Camp one and I’m sure it will be announced soon.
PZ: Last year, one of your fighters (Vinz Kuech) was scheduled to fight but had to pull out due to needing eye surgery. He seems to have made a full recovery, had a beautiful baby and is deep in training. How’s the camp going for his up and coming fight?
KC: After the eye and his recent baby, we had to put everything on hold, and when the decision was made to get back into full time training we started with 100% dedication to the schedule, and Vinz is showing that he is hungry to get into that ring and impress. Vinz has been getting himself in shape in the last few weeks, but the official training camp will start next week. He’s a great lad and has a great attitude. He has a lot to learn, but if he didn’t have anything to learn I wouldn’t have a job!
PZ: It seems like you are leaving nothing to chance in terms of being a great pro boxing coach. You are combining essential experience with theory and have been heavily engulfed into a number of courses. Tell us more….
KC: I’m constantly craving knowledge. With all this information and wisdom in my hands, I can then make a more informed and calculated decision for myself and those under my wings. Ruben Tabares is the nutritionist for David Haye and was for Amir Khan, and he is an elite level guy who has been a great guide for me, getting me to understand human biology, anatomy and the biomechanics of fighters. Some boxers to an extent have been and still are training in the dark ages, basically training themselves into the ground and hitting exhaustion. Getting a better understanding of how the body works and reacts will not only help me out, but my fighters also, ensuring they can maximise their full potential without hitting burnout.
There isn’t a day I’m not studying. I have a day job and every lunch time I have a book which I will read. I have downloaded university biomechanics lectures from the internet onto CD’s and will listen to them in the car. The fighters health is my number one priority and concern. In order to do that I need the most up to date knowledge.
PZ: Just a thought whilst on the subject of good health and nutrition. If you had a middle name of Frank, your initials would be KFC. (Kevin laughs!)
KC: What a great tag line that would have been!! I might need to speak to my parents and see if they are happy with that!
PZ: The last time we spoke, Angelo Dundee had just passed away and we reflected on the merits of this legend. Since then Emmanuel Steward passed. How much of a loss will he be to the boxing fraternity?
KC: Huge. He was working in the game for decades and right up to his last few days, and that proves his dedication to the sport. He has left an inspirational life behind, which acts as a big guide for many others such as myself. He will be sorely missed but will live on forever with what he achieved.
PZ: Jonathan Banks (under the request of the late Manny Steward), has taken over the reigns from training Wladimir Klitchko, whilst still competing as a heavyweight himself. How do you see this panning out?
KC: It’s really between the relationship of the fighter and coach. Fighters make coaches as much as coaches make fighters. There are so many great coaches out there who are unsung heroes, but just because they haven’t been coaching a high profile fighter does not mean they are any less of a coach than the next man.
There’s only so much a coach can do. The fighter will have a certain level of ability and intelligence, and if the relationship works between them both, then that’s what fundamentally matters. I wish Jonathan Banks good luck for his future as a coach.
PZ: You’ve been crossing paths with David Haye recently. How is the big man and what’s he up to?
KC: I spent some time with him on Saturday (5th Jan) and he was in great form. I think the stint he did in the jungle did him good as the general public got to see he’s a nice guy. I’m not long term friends, but from the times I’ve met him, he’s been very respectful and polite and generally a nice man. Obviously he had some bad PR with the Chisora press conference, but we all do things we regret, and he is now showing everybody the real him without any bravado, and I have to say he’s a pleasure to be around.
PZ: Last time we spoke you told me about your dream and how you want to dedicate your life 100% to boxing. I believe the dream comes to you 50% and you have to motion forward the other 50%. Looks like you have been throwing in your 50%, how much is the dream throwing back you way?
KC: I’m further along than I was 4 months ago, but I’m not there yet. To be honest, part of the reason comes down to finance. Unless you are at the top level, the money is not there. In the meantime I can only continue to do what I’m doing at the moment and embracing these excellent opportunities which Frank Warren and the Calzaghes have given me and take similar opportunities moving into the future with open arms.
I work a 12 and a half work shift for my day job and then do a 3 and a half hour shift at the gym. That’s a good 16 hours of day away from home, and then obviously I have a family to take care of also. Whilst I can, I will continue to do both, and hope the dream makes it way to me as much as I’m going to it.
PZ: Tell us two of your aims for the next 6 months….
KC: Boxing full time, and continuing to do what I’m doing by way of learning and networking.
PZ: As always Kevin. Great to catch up and always inspirational to see the speed of your progress.
KC: A big thanks to you Paul once again.
Follow Kevin Campion on Twitter @coachkevcampion
Find out more about Calzaghe Celebrity Boot Camp on Twitter @CalzagheCamp