Byles back and still hungry for title belts
Mikey Byles…in action at the Excelsior Club, Cannock
WARWICK’S Mikey Byles – a true hardman in a very hard sport – harks back to the rough-edge days of pro boxing when fighters wanted to test their mettle against the best.
Paydays came first, reputations second.
On Thursday, March 21, the 36-year-old steps into the lion’s den with the odds again stacked against him.
In the plush setting of Scott Murray’s Cannock based Excelsior Sporting Club, Byles will face Liam O’Hare, an unbeaten Hereford fighter who has already claimed Midland title honours at super-middle.
O’Hare was to have fought for the middleweight belt at the Excelsior, but when that bout fell through Byles, one of the game’s true larger than life characters, filled the void at short notice.
A true road warrior, he knows the odds are stacked against him, but doesn’t care.
Byles, now living in Cardiff where he is studying for a degree, has sparred O’Hare and admits those gym rounds may give Liam confidence.
A true warrior, he refuses to goad O’Hare and has only respect for his opponent. But Mikey stressed Liam shouldn’t take too much from those behind-closed-doors sessions.
“If he takes it from the spar we had, he’s in for a shock,” said the veteran. “He was fighting fit, I was just coming back. There’s respect there, but I don’t think he’s got too much in there that will trouble me.”
He added: “He’s a fighting man and I have a lot of respect for him.”
Byles’ career has been curious. He had just five amateur bouts for Warwick Racing Club before turning pro in 2013.
He peeled off 14 fights, losing six, and appeared to have retired after a 2017 loss to RP Davies. The record shows a competent, solid pro found wanting when stepping up a level.
He moved to Wales, started a fitness business and seemed lost to the sport. But Byles was again bitten by fight fever after attending St Joseph’s gym, in Cardiff. He made an unlikely return this month, losing on points to Kyran Jones.
“I’ve never been out of the gym,” he said. “I’m getting on a bit. I always wanted a British title – that was my vision – and I still want to fight good, quality lads.
“I’m tough as old boots, strong, aggressive, durable and my boxing IQ has improved. I came into the sport to win titles and if I didn’t still have that belief I wouldn’t get up in the mornings.”