‘Pro game was built for Danny’ - Cleary

Danny Quartermaine…back in action in Coventry in June

EDWIN Cleary, the man behind Danny Quartermaine’s raid on the super-featherweight division, thought hard before summing up the Leamington boxing hero.

“I think the pro game is built for Danny,” he stressed, “it’s not a case of him being built for the pro game.”

Quartermaine, a man with a huge following, is hot property. He sells a lot of tickets, has an explosive, all-action style, is undefeated in 11 contest and, last time out, collected a version of the European title.

Rather than wait for the major promotional players such as Matchroom and Queensberry to knock on the door, the 26-year-old has nailed his colours to GBM.

New promoters on the block, GBM have big ambitions. And, though nothing has been formally announced, Danny’s set to appear on their blockbuster, title-laden show in Coventry in June.

Cleary, who fought as a pro out of Sheffield’s fabled Ingle gym, has no doubt the move to GBM was the right one.

“I really like everything about GBM,” he said. “Everything I’ve moaned has been missing from (boxing on) TV networks, they just seem to be doing it.

“They need champions. Do Queensberry and Matchroom need champions? No. Danny is better off going with someone who needs champions. They are talking about all sorts of fights for Danny, but he hasn’t completed six rounds yet. As a coach, I’d like him to do eight or 10 rounds.

“But, in all honesty, if anything was offered to him now – and I mean anything – I would look at it.

“I’m extremely happy. Maybe GBM are seeing Danny as their flagship. They’ll push Danny all the way, whereas with big promoters he could be just a number.”

Not surprisingly, enticing top contenders to face Quartermaine has proved difficult. Clearly understands that. It’s business.

“No one is calling him out,” Cleary said. “He’s become a member of the ‘who needs him?’ club. If you look at those above him (in the rankings), I don’t see anyone who would want to fight Danny – they have their eyes somewhere else.

“If they were my fighters, I’d be looking for world titles, not fighting someone for not a great deal of money who’d give them the hardest night they’ve ever had.

Cleary is adamant that, in Quartermaine, he has the complete package – a fighter who learned his craft during an extensive, top level amateur career and has pushed on as a pro.

“He loves to fight, has an unbelievable engine, loves to learn and is in the gym every day,” he said.

“He was labelled a brawler in the amateurs, but now looks to box. When he spars, he tries to box – the fighting comes out in the ring. He’s easy to coach because he’s willing to do all the things other people don’t do.

“His last fight was his 100th. He boxed everyone. He boxed people who are now two weights above him in the pros. He’s done it the hard way, he’s done his time.”

Cleary added: “I’ve put my life and soul into Danny, but he’s also given me his life and soul.”

That two-way commitment is reaping big rewards.