Exclusive Interview by Cathal Jennings – Recently I caught up with Tyson Fury’s new trainer Ben Davison. See what he has to say on working with Fury, how he began training the former heavyweight champion, Tyson’s punching power, why having the right man in your corner is pivotal, his relationship with Billy Joe Saunders and much more.
Q. Can you tell us how you and Tyson met and how you became his trainer?
A. My dad use to box so I have been involved in boxing since I could walk. I boxed at the same amatuer club as Billy Joe Saunders and I have been working with since 2012. At the time we were doing a bit of work together and he asked me to start working for him. Then I had to make a decision whether to carry on boxing myself or work with Billy Joe. I’ve always had more emotional pleasure out of the coaching side of things so I just found my niche which I am lucky to have done. One thing led to another I put in a lot of hard work, dedication and studied my craft. Then in mid 2016 me and Billy Joe went out to MTK Marbella for a training camp. As everyone know’s Tyson had an up and down period outside of boxing over the last couple of years so Billy Joe wanted to invite him out to help him get a bit of structure, routine and enjoy a bit of training. Sort of finding himself again. Tyson came out and we gelled straight away.
Q. Do you believe Tyson has found himself again?
A. When he came out to Marbella he loved it he was supposed to go back for his UKAD case to be sorted in a couple of days and then go straight back out to Marbella. Unfortunately things didn’t work out like that and the case got pushed back, then a couple of months ago he gave me a call he said ”my case should be sorted soon can we start working?” I said yes. I remember the first day we were up in Ricky Hatton’s gym and I got him in the ring he was on the pads and he couldn’t get the smile off his face, he was trying to hide it, which made me laugh and we just ended up standing there laughing. He loved it, he loves boxing it’s just the business and political side of things that he hates, but the actual art of boxing he loves.
Q. Are you going to be in Tyson’s corner for fight’s you are the lead man?
A. Yes.
Q. What do you believe you can bring to Tyson’s career that maybe he hasn’t had up to date?
A. I bring youth, Tyson is a sharp quick fighter and somebody young sharp in the mind and in the body can sharpen those tools. Tyson’s uncle Peter did a fantastic job with him. Tyson had some very hard fights coming through and he beat everyone that was put in his path. He beat a super champion in Klitschko but me and Tyson have just gelled and we know where we want to go. He know’s what I bring to the table but actions speak louder than words.
Q. When do you think we will see Tyson back in the ring?
A. We’ve got an idea of when would suit us but we are not in a rush. The important thing at the minute is getting Tyson in a good state, healthy lifestyle, back fit, back strong and back to where he belongs.
Q. Tyson has said he doesn’t need a tune up fight on his comeback and that he could fight the like’s of Joshua and Wilder right away. Do you believe he may need a tune up even just to get rid of the ring rust after being out of action for so long?
A. That’s not something that has crossed my mind to be honest, we are still in the process of getting back to 100%. We have come out here (Spain), we’re in the first week of training camp, Tyson’s brother has come out here he’s sticking to the exact same diet and he’s doing the exact same as Tyson which gives Tyson an extra boost. Things are better than we could hope for but we are taking it step by step we aren’t in any rush.
Q. Do you think fight’s with Wilder & Joshua can happen in 2018?
A. You never know. We aren’t at that point yet but we’re in no rush. We will make decisions on our timescale and nobody else’s.
Q. Do you believe a 100% Tyson Fury beats Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, do you think a 100% Tyson Fury can get back to the top?
A. 100%. Anthony Joshua is a very good fighter. He’s big, tall, strong can box a bit, can definetly punch and anyone with those assets is a danger. It’s nothing Tyson hasn’t seen before. Tyson has got what AJ has got, including the power, don’t be mistaken. Tyson has all the boxing ability in the world. He can box southpaw, he can box orthodox, he can do that going backwards, going forwards he can stand and fight, he can definetly punch and I think that’s something that is definetly underated.
Q. Why do you think people underate the power Tyson has?
A. The style Tyson has adopted and the opponents he’s faced, he’s not had to hold his feet. He’s boxed them and made it very easy for himself, he’s broken them down piece by piece. If any fighter had the ability to do that I’m sure they would choose to do so but not everybody does, Tyson has. If it comes to a point were he has to stand and fight he can do that as well, believe me.
Q. You have mentioned with Billy Joe Saunders, how do you feel working with Dominic Ingle has helped Billy Joe and will help him going forward?
A. Dominic Ingle has done a fantastic job with Billy Joe, it’s just suited Billy Joe the little things that were missing have been added in. The diet side of things and nutritional aspects have been a key factor and also the 24 hour surveillance that Dominic has him under is a massive bonus. He always had the ability to do what he did to Lemieux, I’ve seen him do that a thousand times over in the gym. The biggest test for Billy Joe is keeping motivated when he’s not boxing the big names, that’s his hardest test. He needs to be up for a fight to see the best of him.
Q. Billy Joe recently said he wanted to retire by 30, can you see him sticking to that?
A. You never know what the future holds, I’m sure he has his own goals that he wants to achieve. If he achieve’s them and he’s happy then that’s what he should do. Billy Joe has the love back for boxing, he went through a rough patch with boxing. He had things going on in his personal life but, he has things in order now and I think we’re going to see the best of him.
Q. You were a boxer yourself so why do you think some boxers fall out of love with the sport?
A. The biggest problem in boxing is the business and political side of things. A lot of boxers love the sport, the craft of boxing, the noble art it’s the business side that can really get on top of fighters. A happy fighter is a dangerous fighter. I believe that’s very true.
Q. Having been a fighter, now a trainer how important is it to have a strong trainer/ coach in your corner?
A. It’s very important. Certain things will work for certain people. If you trust your trainer, there is nobody more qualified than the person who put you through your training camp, the person who has been there with you, who know’s where you are at emotionally and physically. Myself and Billy Joe had that situation when he boxed Arthur Akavov, that night I knew where he was emotionally and physically. I played a big part in choosing the opponent that night, Billy Joe has made no secret of the weight issues he had at the time and how he wasn’t in love with boxing at that point. He had to fight or get stripped. We have seen it before, for example, James De Gale recently had a flat performance that he didn’t get through. I think that says a lot about myself and Billy Joe. We had a flat performance against Akavov, Billy was at 10% that night and he got through it. We got through a rough patch as a team and look where he is at now. The main relationship between myself and Billy is friends. We don’t have a trainer/ fighter relationship that comes second. If we had a trainer/ fighter scenario that would jeopardise our relationship.
Q. Do you have any plans to extend your stable of fighter’s or are solely focusing on getting Tyson ready for his comeback?
A. There’s no secret that there is a massive job at hand for me and Tyson. I am fully focused on that. It’s step by step but it’s all going very well, everything is on the right path. With Billy Joe and myself, friendship comes first and training role second, with Tyson it’s the opposite. You train the fighter first anything other than that is a bonus.
By Cathal Jennings.