Max Maxwell: Brum’s tough road warrior

Max Maxwell in his fighting prime with Jon Pegg

MENTION the name Max Maxwell in fight circles and respect returns like an echo.

The rugged Birmingham light-middle/middle, who drew the curtain on his 69 fight career nine years ago, has more than earned the plaudits.

He faced the domestic scene’s real iron, fought for the British light-middleweight title and, in the latter years, earned well as a high-quality journeyman of sorts.

What’s more, the Chelmsley Wood boxer served as sparring partner for Amir Khan in the Philippines and also put Manny Pacquiao through his paces.

Unlike many, Max hung up his gloves on a high. He won his last two contests, manager Jon Pegg ensuring his final contest at Villa Park was a memorable occasion.

And he bid farewell while still dangerous. In his penultimate bout, Max outpointed Liam Conroy who would go on to claim the English light-heavyweight title and box for the British.

Maxwell retired without a hint of damage. He looks a decade younger than his 43 years, is fit and possess sharp intelligence.

Life is good. He is at the helm of Stoke’s Ten Count amateur club, is a PT instructor, teaches the sport in schools and helps troubled youngsters.

“I don’t have many regrets,” he shrugged. “People tell me if I’d sold tickets I could’ve been British and European champion, minimum.

Maxwell with Amir Khan and Manny Pacquiao

“Did I retire too soon? If I’m totally honest, in terms of my health, fitness and speech, one million per cent ‘no’.

“From a financial aspect, if I’d sat down with Jon and said I’ll just do four and six rounders, I could’ve done two or three more years.”

Max learned his trade in the Royal Navy. He began as an 18-year-old, had around 30 amateur bouts and collected naval, combined and inter-services titles.

On Civvy Street, a chance meeting with Pegg sowed the seeds for an eight year paid career. “Things I do, I do naturally,” he said. “I’m not a boxing fanatic, like Jon Pegg. It just happened I was with a mate at a football match and Jon was there. My mate was talking to him about boxing and, looking back, he was trying to fob us off. But he said he had a gym in Telford and we could come down.”

The rest is Midland’s boxing history.

Max’s fight CV is an A to Z of Britain’s best boxers, opponents including Junior Witter, Liam Smith, Prince Arron, Ahmet Patterson, Jason Welborn, James Metcalf, Mark Thompson…

There were wars. “Jez Wilson (draw, 2010) was an absolute barnstormer, I really enjoyed that, and Sam Sheedy (lpts6, 2013) was a good fight.”

The risks involved in facing Maxwell were underlined by his stunning 2010 six round victory over future British 11st champ Brian Rose.

It would be two years before the Blackpool fighter faced Maxwell again – this time with the Lonsdale Belt on the line – and the return was a very different story. Rose smartly boxed to a wide points decision.

That loss, says Max, altered his mindset. Pay days became paramount, he wanted to test rather than tame prospects and contenders. As a result, he stresses, many of the 47 defeats on his record should’ve gone his way.

Before that decision, Maxwell had been stung by decisions he felt were an injustice. He still speaks with bitterness over the 2009 Midlands light-middleweight title loss to Martin Concepcion, in Concepcion’s home city of Coventry.

“Sometimes it was heartbreaking because you know when you’ve won a fight. I beat Martin Concepcion and I think that was the fight that upset me the most. One hundred per cent I felt I beat Sam Webb.

“When I stopped Brian Rose he was already signed to fight for the British title, I was a warm-up fight for him. When I beat Brian Rose, I thought, ‘that’s my shot’. Instead, I got lost in a wilderness while he fought for the title.

Maxwell today with Shakan Pitters’ Lonsdale Belt

“The return, he beat me fair and square, but the two year gap was crucial. The game plan he had was a good game plan. He kept me at the end of his jab and after he threw a combination, he’d end it with double jabs going back. I think there was a bit of nervousness on my part, as well.

“After that was when I made the decision. I said to Jon, it’s time to make some money, put it away and come out of the game.

“Most of the fights I took on the road, I could’ve won 80 per cent of them – I didn’t work as hard as I could have. But there were a few lads who I thought were better than me.

“If they took the p***, they were going to have a hard night. Sometimes, I’d have my gloves high and walk them down, let them get used to the pressure.”

The game has changed dramatically since Maxwell’s departure.

“For me, it’s not like it used to be,” he added. “It’s a lot more about social media. I wish I knew then what I know now, I would have done a lot more talking, a lot more calling out people.

“I think boxers should be paid a lot more money, but that hasn’t changed. Only the top five per cent make enough so they don’t have to work.

“If you haven’t done anything, if you haven’t been to the Olympics or boxed for GB, it looks a lot harder to break through.”

Max Maxwell was a true road warrior, an ever-present threat to the best. Did he bow out of boxing at the right time?

The fact he can coherently and incisively discuss the pros and cons of that decision, the fact he’s brimming with health, the fact he is doing very well for himself tells me he did.

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