New start, new team for warrior Beech

James Beech…returns to the ring in Wolverhampton on December 3

ON December 3, former British title challenger James Beech steps back on the road he hopes will lead to big fights and significant paydays.

It will be a fairly non-demanding return for Beech at Wolverhampton’s Hangar following July’s stoppage defeat to hot prospect Hopey Price.

But it is definitely a new beginning. He and Peter Hickenbottom, the trainer who has been with James from the beginning of his title-laden journey, parted company amicably and by mutual consent following the loss.

They remain friends.

Beech is now trained by Black Country Boxing’s team, with Paul Mann having the most hands-on involvement.

The decision is purely business based, 26-year-old Beech stressed.

“I love Pete for what he’s done for me over the years,” he said. “It’s just one of them – if I want to keep boxing and have another go, moving on is the best.

“My last one was not my best performance, I felt I could’ve done a lot better, Pete agreed. I was a bit flat in training. We both agreed it was the right time (to move on).

“I need something new. I decided to go with the BCB team, training wise, because of what they’ve done with Tyler (Denny) and Ricky (Summers). Neither were training with them at the start. When they did, they were on it and done good.”

Under Hickenbottom, Beech gained Midlands titles at two separate weights and, in 2020, gave a fine, gritty performance against British super-bantam champ Brad Foster.

Since then, Beech – a master-box lacking true lights-out power – has struggled when making the step-up.

He showed the old Beech to outpoint Raza Hamza, a featherweight with a long unbeaten run, for the IBO Continental belt.

But the best have beaten James. Nathaniel Collins stopped him in a 9st British title fight. So did Dennis McCann and Hopey Price, while Chris Bourke made the most of a lack-lustre performance by James, taking a points decision.

The Black Country warrior, who possesses a heart as big as a bucket, hopes a change will re-ignite the old spark. Only time will tell: next month’s outing, with James scaling around 9st 10lbs, is unlikely to answer the questions.

But he insisted: “I’ve got the spark back. Against Brad Foster I was biting down on my gumshield and that wasn’t there in the last couple of fights.

“I’m looking to get back in, get a win and then in the big fights that make a difference.”