Paling: I love boxing in the away corner

Logan Paling (right)…fights again tomorrow night

A YEAR after his professional debut, Logan Paling is an older, wiser man. He understands the sport.

He realises there’s little romance or razzmatazz at the level he competes at.

Paling know what’s expected of him. He knows his place.

The Birmingham fighter has lost all 10 contests. He will, in all probability, have lost 11 come tomorrow (Friday) night following his encounter with Walsall newcomer Hamzah Ahmed, a lightweight tipped for glory.

The pair meet on BCB’s Holiday Inn bill topped by Ijaz Ahmed’s British super-flyweight challenge.

In interview, Paling has a very different mindset to that of the man I interviewed on the eve of his debut.

Back then, he was hungry for glory. Today, the goal is to fight and earn regularly. He knows stoppage defeat stalls the steady cashflow.

Under the guidance of astute trainer Shaun Cogan, he is doing that. After tomorrow’s bout, there’s another in seven days time.

Paling, a boxer with a Muay Thai and white collar background, is a tough, rugged, thoroughly likeable individual. I have a lot of time for him.

He is, in boxing terms, a realist.

Logan always come to have a go, but, if the task ahead is too demanding, knows how to see out the full distance. Only one opponent has stopped him – with a body shot.

“When I started, I said I didn’t want to be known as a journeyman,” he told me. “After I got stopped, Shaun sat me down and said, ‘you’ve got to take it seriously’. I want to be known as a tough fighter, I want to have a lot of fights on my record and cause upsets.

“Going down the other route, there’s a lot to it – selling tickets…This way, there’s not so much pressure.”

To that end, Paling no longer works as an electrician and gives the bloody business his full attention.

“I understand the game a bit more,” he said. “I always come to have a go, but if it’s getting a bit risky, I can play safe.

“Boxing needs people like that. Without people like me, Hamzah wouldn’t have an opponent tomorrow night.

“It’s a business, everyone knows what the crack is. It’s a cut-throat business – I’ve been in fights I’ve known I’ve won and the crowd have known I’ve won, but haven’t got the decision.”

Logan stressed: “I still love what I do. I’m still smiling because I’m getting paid to do something I love. The wins are going to be there.”

He added: “I’m 32, with not many miles on the clock. I don’t go out drinking, I train, eat and sleep. There are years left in me.”