An Interview With Tom Ansell

An Interview With Tom Ansell

By Paul Oltai

Can you stumble into boxing? With Tom Ansell it seems he may have just done that. The 5-0 Goodwin boxer from Hitchin, Hertfordshire was running around a pitch chasing an egg shaped ball in the world of rugby. One pre-season he wanted to get himself into better shape for the new season and decided to try using boxing training to do this.

Trying his hand at a bit of sparring he soon found himself knocking people out which then ignited an interest in pursuing the sport of boxing.

Not knowing whether it was viable for him he tried his hand in the unlicensed side of the sport to begin with where he stumbled across Frances Warren who at the time was looking for fighters for his new concept,

‘Frances Warren came to the gym and was putting on a show called Total Combat on BT Sports and BoxNation and it was pretty much where you have a certain amount of money and one six minute round and as time went down the money went down. It was good and I won my first fight but broke my ribs, and when the Dr was checking me out I tried to hide it but you can’t hide broken ribs.’

Then seeing what a talent he was Frank Warren approached and offered to sign Tom but at the same time he broke his hand playing his first love rugby and was side lined for 18-months and not wanting to wait the offer was taken away. This may have been a blessing in disguise as he eventually ended up with what many would say is the best small hall promotional outfit in the south Goodwin Promotions.

Tom wanting to pursue a serious career in the professional game he went to a trainer in Essex called Mark Massow who at the time had multiple pro’s in the gym and had 3 fights under him getting to fight on Hayemaker shows on Joe Joyce’s debut at the O2 Indigo and also some Goodwin shows hosted at York Hall. But due to not being able to work out a schedule that would work for both fighter and trainer he had to part ways with Mark, on good terms though which is always good to see when there is a split from a camp.

Speaking to Goodwin Promotions founder Steve Goodwin he was advised to go speak to maybe not a household name in Tony Pill but one that Steve felt would suit Tom down to the ground. This was a great move for Tom in more ways than one as he feels a home has really been found in Tony’s gym having his last two fights under his new trainer and loving his time there.

I asked Tom to elaborate a little more on the team he has around him and why the move to Tony has worked so well:

‘I have Tony and Don Charles, but Tony does the main training. Then I have my strength and conditioning coach who is Scott Massey based in Chelmsford, then we have my nutritionist Paul O’Neil who has been an absolute god send he has been brilliant. He has got me down from my debut which was at middleweight down to super lightweight now so I am well happy. After my last fight I only had a week off and had two cheat days where I had pizza and put on half a stone. So yeah its good to have Paul because outside of training he tells me to relax so he can help me get down to super lightweight again. I hate being out of shape because as soon as soon as I blow up I blow up really badly.

‘When I was at middleweight I had power and fitness but now at 140lb I am a lot sharper and faster, putting together combinations a lot quicker.’

Do you now feel you are where you want to be?

‘Yes 100% in training wise with Tony and the team. It’s such a professional set up that it is what I dreamed of. I am lucky to be able to train full time and everything. I am really lucky to have a team that contains the strength and condition coach I have who does all the courses before me so knows exactly how I am feeling. Then Paul knows how I am feeling with the food I have and exactly when to up it like my carbs around training. Tony has only had an amateur background but has been around pro’s like Chisora and Buglioni all day every day so he knows his way around and it’s a brilliant team to have. It also helps that I am the most competitive person ever, even if my little boy beats me at a game I ain’t happy with it.’

So how do you feel your first year in boxing has gone?

‘It has been brilliant really, I have fought on a Hayemaker show at the O2 and although it was the Indigo not many have had that luxury in their career and that was only my second fight. Then to get called to another Hayemaker show for my 4th fight against a very tricky fighter in Fonz Alexander, he may have a losing record but he is such a tough fighter. He beat a prospect the other week on the same card as me and sparked him out (Jack Newham). He can just switch it however he feels. Then my last fight was a 6 rounder and all this within 5 fights which is perfect for me.’

‘I do feel how lucky this year has gone and am going to try and get out one more time before the end of the year whether that is on a Goodwin show or different just to kind not leave me stale so I can start the new year well looking for a title or eliminator.’

So what do you most want from your 2nd year as a pro?

‘I want to be fighting for a Southern Area towards the end of that year. I think if your goals are Southern Area title which I have always wanted to win to be honest but your main goal has got to be world titles, but you need to get these belts along the way and like I always say I am on my apprenticeship and I pass certain bits of that when I win belts. Whatever level it is. It will be my first stage complete when I win the Southern Area title.’

What is your life outside of boxing?

‘My life outside of boxing is pretty much me being a PT so I am in and around the gym at all times. Just over a year ago I got engaged so it is pretty much all about my fiancée and son. When I am in camp and I hate to admit it I am so moody and she has to put up with a lot of hard work with me. In camp I can’t go out, well I can but can’t drink and have to eat healthy so yeah I try to make spending time with her the best I can. It is the same with my little boy as well like although he is sport mad and I try to do as much as I can with him outside of boxing. Obviously when you are preparing for a fight it is hard to just chill out. But I do try to just chill with them two.’

What has been your favourite memory so far as a boxer?

‘My best memory is walking out at York Hall for my debut because I sold about 200 tickets and walking out you know how it is at York Hall with everyone on top of you and the atmosphere was brilliant. Also my most passionate moment was that stoppage win in my 2nd fight at the Indigo O2 because it was a brilliant night to get on that card and under a big name like Joe Joyce. Them are my best memories so far.’

Where would your dream location be to fight?

‘My dream location and I know it sounds daft as there is bigger places but it is the O2, because I have been there to watch Anthony Joshua so many times and the place is like a lions den and I would love to make it into my lions den. But on a world level I have got to say Madison Square Garden.’

As with every boxer to survive and do well in this sport it is vital they gain sponsorship, Tom would like to thank Sporting Icons, Hermit of Redcoats, Nick Ansell PT, Complete Physio and Fitness, Food 1 Consultancy, Red Lift Hire, BD Electrical Contractors, BFuelled, Macron Hertfordshire, Top Guard UK, Southern Grove, The Wheatsheaf Hatfield Peveral and Truth Barbers.

Without their support it would be a lot more difficult on his professional journey as a boxer.