The Oltai Boxing Interviews: Mason Smith

The Oltai Boxing Interviews: Mason Smith

By Paul Oltai

When talking about the highly regarded Finchley ABC you may instantly think of it for producing heavyweight talent, with the likes of world title challenger Derek Chisora hailing from there and more recently the unified heavyweight champion of the world and Olympic gold medallist Anthony Joshua.

But Mason ‘Smasher’ Smith is hoping to change the heavyweight mantra associated with the Finchley name as he resumes his professional career on February 16th at York Hall, London having already moved to 2-0 in 2018 and looking to push on for 2019.

The 22-year-old super lightweight has already been boxing for 12 years having started out at the age of 12. Amassing over 100 amateur fights with over 70 wins which saw him fighting for England and making it on to Team GB. Also bringing him a gold medal in the Haringey Box cup and becoming southern area elite amateur champion.

In his first two fights he has found it difficult to be matched at 140lb with various promised fights falling through, having to then take fights at 147lb just to make sure he gets out and stays busy.

But he is aiming for 2019 to be the year to launch his name into my boxing fans first thoughts and establish himself as a force domestically in the talent rich 140lb super lightweight division.

We had a chat about his life in boxing so far and how he looks to make a name for himself in the boxing world.

So firstly what team do you have around you?

‘My dad is my coach, he has trained me now for around 8 years his name is Darren Smith. We have got James Dawson he does my strength and conditioning work and keeps me in top shape. I have a sponsor that lets me use their gym and one that provides me with all my supplements. I have Champion security they pay for all my fight kit. I also have Sean Murphy on my team helping my dad out in the corner, Eric Foley also who has just re-done his license. I have got a great team around me and have been around me for most of my career really.’

It is good to see you have taken the same team from amateurs to the pros. Do you think that has benefitted you?

‘Yeah because to gel with a new team can obviously take a lot, but these people know me best. Rather than going to someone new and taking a while to build the trust and relationship up and get all the bonding there between everyone.’

What would you say your style of fighting is?

‘I think I am a box fight sort of style, I can go out and have a fight but when I need to I can also box. I do like to have a fight and like the entertainment, in my first two fights I couldn’t really show this because they just come to survive which they all do at that level really the journeymen. It is all a learning curve for me and helps me build up in the pro game as I build towards titles who once I get there will come to fight rather than survive.’

With you having a large amateur background are you looking to be moved on faster in the professional side of the sport?

‘Oh yes most definitely, I will probably and hopefully look to fight for southern area in 2019 towards the September/October time. We don’t get paid for overtime and I am not here to be boxing journeymen like most pros do, because there is a lot of them out there who fight journeymen until they are 20 and 0. I am not here to do that, I want to fight the best of the best because I want to show that I am the best. You get comfortable fighting journeymen and can become complacent and that is when you can easily take a loss even if you are better than them.’

What would you say so far has been your best memory as a boxer?

‘It would probably be getting to the senior ABA finals and boxing in Las Vegas in 2010. In 2010 I went to Vegas and was 13 at the time I think, we went out there with Anthony Joshua and the other Finchley boxing members and it was brilliant. We won the match out there I think 11-8 and we went to Mayweather’s gym and Zab Judah’s gym, I sparred Devin Haney the next day after I fought which was a good experience. Obviously we where both juniors back then and it was an amazing experience to go out there, plus obviously me winning my fight out there as well was a great feeling.’

You mentioned Anthony Joshua, what is your friendship like with him?

‘I would say very good, I started boxing in 2007 and he started in 2008 so we had been around each other a long time, then obviously I was also on Team GB so was up at Sheffield with him and we have bonded really well. To see where he has come from and his background as well coming into the gym on his tag then you look where he is at now it just a shows everyone there is always a way out of trouble.’

What do you like to do outside of boxing?

‘I work for British Telecom. But I will be looking at leaving that maybe mid to late January and then that will allow me to train full-time. Once I start getting my name out there and can concentrate on training full time the sponsors will come that will allow me to be comfortable. So to answer the question not much really apart, boxing is my life.’

Having been around a lot of talent who would you say is the best you have shared a ring with so far?

‘It would probably be Sean McComb who is an Irish boxer, I fought him when it was an England vs Ireland thing. He is a tall rangy southpaw boxer and just couldn’t get near him and he looked two weights above me. Class boxer, very class. It also showed me I wasn’t meant to be at that weight.’

Who has had the most influence on your career?

‘It would have to be myself and my family really. I want to make boxing my career and be the best fighter I can be so have to prove to myself every day I want this. Also I want to win world titles and seeing where Anthony Joshua has come from being at the same gym is obviously increasing my hunger more.’

Who was your favourite fighter to watch?

‘I used to enjoy watching Ricky Hatton good fighter but more present right now I think Canelo is probably one of my favourite fighters. He is probably one of the best all round fighters, he can fight, he can box, he has the speed and movement. He can adapt to styles, when he boxed Mayweather I thought he was a bit drained at the weight.’

What one fact about you will not many know about?

‘When I first ever started boxing I was a southpaw. I got told by one of the coaches who was teaching me at the time to change over to orthodox. My dad was a southpaw and when he was teaching me before going to a gym he taught me and that is how I ended up being a southpaw.’

Does this then allow you now to switch in a fight when you feel comfortable to do so?

‘Yeah I can switch and box as a southpaw not my best but I can still do it that way. When I won my southern area title as an amateur I was moving back in a southpaw stance and seen a back hand coming from miles away and it allowed me to make him miss, then as I was stepping back into an orthodox and threw left hook then once in orthodox threw the right hook and knocked him spark out. It was good. It is not something you can really practise in the heat of the moment it just came naturally to me.’

Is there anyone you would like to give a shout out to before we finish up?

‘Yeah would love to give a big shout out to Liberty Supplements they have been helping with my supplements to keep me in tip-top condition in camp, also to Next Gen Fitness for letting me use their gym. Would also like to thank Colin from CM Boxing he plays a big part in getting me exposure in article and stuff and actively looking to being sponsors on board. Also all my coaches who help me day in day out. Recently I have also started working with Elite Clothing who will be supporting me in my career with clothing and will have some ticket and clothing giveaways coming up soon. Also I am proud that recently I become the first sponsored athlete for SpartnerUk which is a huge database of to help find your ideal sparring partner, physio, nutritionist, S&C coach and loads more.’

Mason will next be out fighting on the British Warriors show on February 16th at York Hall, London and looking to go 3-0. If you want to purchase a ticket get in touch with Mason through social media @masonsmith96_ on twitter or through My Fight Tickets on @myfighttickets also on twitter.

Photo Credit: Mason Smith