Connor: Hard graft will take me to a title
Connor Goodchild….light-middle working hard to reach the top
UP at 4am, road work, then a gruelling job as a ground-worker, then the bullet sweat graft of a gym session.
That’s the draining day that awaits Connor Goodchild, a new pro already building a reputation inside the ring.
The long hours and commitment are already paying dividends for the 24-year-old light-middle, originally from Stechford, now billed out of Kings Norton.
Trained by Spencer McCracken Jnr, managed by Spencer McCracken Snr, the father-of-two has won his first three bouts – all on points, all over the apprentice four round distance.
At Birmingham’s Eastside Rooms on February 25, he looks for win number four. After that, Connor – a big Johnny Cash fan – will walk the line towards title glory.
He believes he can go all the way. He’s a man not lacking self-belief.
“I want to win a British title,” he said. “You have to manifest it and believe it every day. The (Lonsdale) Belt is the most beautiful belt in boxing and I’d be so proud to have it. That is my dream.
“I’m fighting at 10st 10lbs, so they’re trying to get me ranked as a welter. The Midlands champ is Owen Cooper and I believe I’ve got what it takes to beat him, but I don’t want to call people out.”
Encouraged and helped by his older brother – the pair would don gloves and punch it out in living room scraps, Connor began learning the noble art at the age of six.
He probably came out of the womb slinging left hooks.
A product of Pat Benson Boxing Academy, he captured a string of Midlands amateur titles, but just fell short at national level.
Connor walked away from the sport aged 17 and returned five years later.
“I found my love for boxing,” he said. “I was 22, back in the gym, sparring pros and doing well. I was being urged to go professional and thought, why not?
“The professional game is great,” he said, “but it can be a bit cliquey. It’s a good lifestyle to have.
“I’ve got power. People I’ve sparred say I hit hard, they say I’ve got dynamite in my hands and I’m only warming-up after three rounds. I can’t wait for the championship rounds when you can really put your foot on the gas.
“I can mix it up. I can spar a lad and just use the jab in the first round, then go to war. I can box and I can beat up.
“I’m not slagging off any opponents, but some of the sparring has been harder than the actual fights I’ve had so far. I want opponents to put a bit of fear in my heart.”
The reality, lost on casual fight fans, is that it’s very, very difficult to budge survivors such as MJ Hall – the last opponent Connor faced – over four rounds. They know how to survive and spoil their way to the final bell.
We’ll know more when Connor faces an opponent also burning with ambition.
The future may be a matter of conjecture, but one fact has already emerged: Connor has a big fanbase that grows with each victory.
“I was a bit of a problem pupil at school,” he laughed. “I must’ve gone to six secondary schools and made good friends at all of them. That’s helped with selling tickets.”
What precious little free time Connor has is spent listening to Johnny Cash and relaxing with family. “Family is the priority,” he insisted, “family make the world go round.”
At present, it’s all graft for the new pro, but he’s prepared to endure the regime until a big break comes. And he’s certain a big break will come.
“All the hard work will be worth it,” he vowed. “If, through boxing, I’m in a position where all the hard work means I don’t have to work again, then it’s well worth it.”
Picture: Manjit Narotra