Boxing Punchlines: Jon Pegg

Birmingham manager, trainer and the man guiding Sam Eggington

How, when and where did you start your trainer/manager career?

I started working with pros properly around 2006 with Richie and Len Woodhall. Before that, I just helped lads out in local gyms.

Who was the first pro to box for you?

As a team, Jimmy McKinly, Max Maxwell and Dee Mitchell. As a coach and manager, probably Max, Tommy Owens, Dee and Eddie McIntosh, as I took over the reins when Richie went back to the amateurs.

How many boxers do you currently manage and train?

Our team at Eastside train about 10 in our gym and I probably work with other coaches with about 20 fighters.

Tell us about your training team and their roles at Eastside?

There are four of us – myself, Paul “Soggy” Counihan, Louie Counihan and Marcus Daniel. Kerry Kayes is an honorary Brummie and Eastside guy, he’s been helping us that long with cuts. We all just mix in and do similar roles and, depending on who’s the main cornerman, the others just slot into the other roles.

Louie is an excellent padman, as well as coach, and does most of that work with all the lads. Marcus, a bit new to the team, is becoming a great coach. Myself and Soggy, we bounce ideas off each other and come up with plans for opponents.

Sam Eggington listens to Jon Pegg during sparring

Tell us about Sam Eggington and the other top talent in your gym?

Sam is just Sam, he’s been shocking people for over 11 years now. So many people told me not to waste my time, so many people are still saying he’ll have a short career even though he’s 10 years and 42 fights in. They make me laugh.

There’s plenty of other talent. Shakan Pitters, Steed Woodall and Kaisee Benjamin are all established, talented fighters. Nyall Berry, Musa Moyo and Scott Melvin are knocking on the door for their first titles.

 Then we have guys like Davian Daniel, Brett Egan, Ryan Whelan, Niall Farrell - trained by his dad Paddy. We are good friends as well as teammates. We have other fighters, such as Jess Barry and Lewis Howells, who come over a lot. And our Gloucester connection, Jon Pitman, brings his two fighters, Max Mudway and Shabir Haidary, over at least once every two weeks and River Wilson-Bent is frequently at the gym. The gym is constantly bristling with talent and they push each other.

Is there one, specific reason for the major up-turn in boxing fortunes in Birmingham and the West Midlands?

We have pushed for lads to box at home and have a home base - simple as that. Birmingham was known as a city of away fighters, all our good guys had to move away to do well.

Now we have grass-roots shows all the time, prospects coming through all over the place and TV coming here more regularly. Barry Hearn backed Sam Eggington live on Sky back in his early title fights.

Pegg with one of his first pro fighters, Max Maxwell

You work very closely with Birmingham promoter Tommy Owens. Tell us about that partnership?

Tommy was one of my boxers. He had to retire following a medical query. He wanted to stay in boxing, but couldn’t find a role that suited him. I don’t like the aspect of shows that requires all the fiddly stuff and showing off in a suit. Tommy loves that stuff, so it was a match made in heaven! We have gone far, strength to strength and continue to put on the best value shows around.

Who are the young Eastside boxers to keep an eye on in the future?

I have too many talented fighters to name one, as I plan on them all achieving their goals. But Nyall Berry has just won Midlands prospect of the year - you have seen him in action, fighting and sparring, so you know he’s got a lot in the tank.

 What is the best advice you have been given and could give to a prospect?

I’ve been given so much good advice over the years it’s hard to pinpoint one piece. What Matt Macklin said stuck in my head: ‘The worst thing about boxing is you’re only as good as your last fight, but the best thing about boxing is you’re only as good as your last fight.” I quote that a lot.

My advice to young fighters: watch the finish line not others taking part in the race. Usain Bolt never won a race looking over his shoulder. Focus on where you’re going, don’t worry about anyone else’s journey.

 Interview by DEREK FITZPATRICK

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