Quartermaine is Spa town new star
LEAMINGTON, the Warwickshire spa town that spawned world champ Randolph Turpin, has a new star in waiting.
And, judging by the ticket sales for his bouts, the community has joined Danny Quartermaine on his journey to the top.
Quartermaine is one of the few local fighters with the sales power to sell out venues, albeit he’s served his apprenticeship in small halls.
The 25-year-old former amateur star is taking the sport by storm. He’s won seven in a row, possesses a fan-friendly, all action style and is now hitting with real authority and power. His last opponent was wiped out in seconds.
London’s big promoters looking to establish a West Midlands base would do well to cast an eye over the crowd-pleasing prospect.
Now a full time pro trained by Edwin Clearly, Quartermaine goes for win number eight at Coventry’s Sports Connexion on March 11. An opponent has yet to be named, but the local favourite hopes the bout will be over eight rounds.
Danny has set a target for that date. “I want to do record sales for my career so far,” he said. “I want to sell between 300 and 400 tickets. I want to push the ticket sales very hard.
“Last time – at the same venue in December – it was all a bit hit and miss, I wasn’t sure if I’d be on it. This one’s a great, exciting card with all local fighters. That will help sales.”
The show is the start of a potentially big year for Quartermaine. He wants to have claimed both Midlands and English titles by the end of it.
“I’m looking at super-feather (junior-lightweight in old money),” he said, “but if the opportunity came at feather, I’d take it. A day before weigh-in opens up a whole new experience.
“I want to push faster. I want to get on bigger shows, break into TV shows. As an amateur, I competed for four to five years at elite level with the top lads in the country.
“The last time I fought was on the same bill as the James Beech-Raza Hamza featherweight title fight (won by Beech on points). No disrespect to James, but I beat him three times in the amateurs. It was nice to see him win because it allowed me to look at the levels and titles I can achieve.
“I look at the fighters I faced in the amateurs and what they’ve achieved and think it only brings glory to my name. Even back then I was always told I had a style more suited to the professionals. I’ve always had those energy levels, I’ve always been all action. After three rounds, I felt as if I was just warming-up.”
Quartermaine certainly has the unpaid pedigree to achieve very big things. He’s a six times Midlands champ and English titleholder.
As a pro, he’s faced opposition notches below the gifted boxers he beat on the amateur circuit. That will soon change, the hungry prospect pledged.
“I want to get on TV shows – I want the fans who have followed me to be at a show where they can see big names and big fights.
“But in boxing the circle is quite small. It’s who you know, not what you know.”
Early pro progress was stalled by Covid lockdown, but with the sport now free from the pandemic’s shackles, Danny’s climbing the rankings with all guns blazing.
“Boxing took a big hit during lockdown,” he shrugged. “I do think that if it wasn’t for Covid I would’ve had 10 or 12 fights by now, but everything happens for a reason and everyone was in the same boat.”
Quartermaine admits he’s a work in progress and each bout gives a tantalising glance of something new in the boxer’s locker.
“You’re starting to see the power come through,” he said. “My first fights, I was fighting people who were heavier, so the power didn’t show. My first opponent was eight or nine pounds more. Fighting lads at my own weight, it’s shown.
“I want longer fights, I want to show my ability and I’m only going to get better.
“All fighters suffer some sort of nerves – if you don’t, there’s something mentally wrong with you. It’s how you cope with them. Nerves can be a fire that warms your home and feeds you or they you can let them burn your house down.”
Being a full-time professional – thanks to a raft of sponsors – has given Quartermaine the time to reflect on such ring philosophies – and tweak his routines.
“I’ve realised the importance of recovery in training,” he added. “When I was working and training twice a day, I didn’t really realise how much that mattered. Sometimes the recovery is more important than the training.
“If you keep pushing your body, running it down, you’ll feel tight and drained during a fight. That’s why I now include infrared saunas and sports massages.”
Quartermaine is now a full-time fighter and burning with ambition. What’s more, he’s set to place Leamington – an unlikely fight hub – on the fistic map again.
*Danny asked to thank the following sponsors: Scott Simpson of Auto Fasteners, Jay Reeves, Max Biddle, SH Recruitment, Fix Auto, Ben Cadman of Tacs, Keith Patstone, Mani Sahota.