Fighting Talk with Tyrone Nurse

PRIZEFIGHTER FINALIST 2012

B: First of all congratulations on 3 electrifying fights on Prizefighter (11^th February). I was wondering if we could start the interview with you talking us through those three fights and how you dealt with the different styles and strengths of each boxer?

TN: Fight 1 vs. Dale Miles

A big punching come forward southpaw……best way to start the tournament wouldn’t you agree lol

Round 1 I think was a pretty convincing round for myself as I used my movement, speed and boxing to hit and not be hit, round 2 on the other hand was the opposite…..the typical Tyrone Nurse in me decided to not continue with the round 1 tactics and found himself stuck on the ropes for wayyyyyyy too long, I planned to use them just not for most of the round; Which was a big mistake on my behalf. I came out and started round 3 the way I had round 1 and it was just unlucky that it ended with the cut, but as I stated in the fight interview after it could have been me who got cut; and was just unlucky it happened.

Fight 2 Vs Young Mutley

Big punching, experienced, ex-champ…..luckily he was an orthodox!

I stuck to my boxing used my jab and movement well and took the first 2, I knew in the back of my mind there was no way I had lost them so took my foot of the pedal round 3 which saw Young come back into it but it was already in the bag for me by that point.

Fight 3 Vs Adil Anwar

Awkward, elusive, back foot mover = one thing FUN

We opted for a front foot plan in this fight which obviously didn’t pay off in the end, but during the fight I felt like there was nothing in it and didn’t know who was going to get the verdict at the end. Having watched it back I thought he won and deserved to be the champion! 

Neither of us landed a great deal of eye-catching shots and I think it was him using his jab more effectively than me that won it for him!

B: Adil Anwar’s style proved to be a little controversial amongst fight fans. Many thought it looked more like dancing than boxing. What do you feel?

TN: He did what he does and it worked on the night, some people will like it and some wont. It’s a pain in the arse especially over 3 rounds but over the longer distance you have that bit of extra time to get to grips with it and get into a rhythm.

B: Would you take Anwar on again in a standard fight and if so, do you think he could be as successful over longer fights?

TN: Yeah! I look forward to the day we meet again! Revenge is always sweet so it’s a fight I hope happens in the future, especially with a title of some sort on the line! Would make for a big All West Yorkshire clash. Over 3 rounds his style was always going to be hard to get to grips with so over the longer distance would be better, and id fancy my chances!

B: Out of the seven other fighters there that night who would have been your chosen opponent and why?

TN: Everyone always asked this question but pre-prizefighter I don’t think anyone would have admitted whom they did or didn’t want! But if we was all going to be honest Dean Harrison would have been the choice for us all id expect!

B: Would you go on Prizefighter again if asked?

TN: It’s a tricky question to answer, part of me says NO and part of me says YES! Would I fancy losing in the finals again NO, but it would be great to go in and win the competition and take home the trophy! But I guess it all comes down to where I am in my career at the time the opportunity was offered!

B: The Prizefighter experience is pretty unique. Tell us what it was like and how you coped with the pressure? Also what did you take away from the experience?

TN: The pressure wasn’t an issue as im just that sort of guy; cool, calm and collected. I've never had nerves or been worried! So the pressure wasn’t a problem to cope with, it was fun if anything. The worst bit was having to piss about moving changing rooms every now and then due to who you was fighting, but I suppose it’s a lot of extra work for the sky team to set up 8 individual changing rooms all with cameras in also!

But f I was to some it up in one word id say FUN

B: What would you like to come out of the Prizefighter experience, career-wise?

TN: I think it’s opened a few doors and helped gain a more national set of fans. I got some good national press and as we all know any press is GOOD Press ha-ha!

So just to move on upwards from the tournament and see what happens next, im still young at 22 so the loss isn’t a set back in my eyes and 90% of the feed back since has been very positive from fighters, viewers, and promoters! It’s shown me the certain things I need to work on and these things have been set to work on straight away!

B: Finally, regarding prizefighter, what would be your advice to future participants?

TN: I couldn’t really offer out any advice as all fighters are very different in how they are prior to fighting, for example me and Adil are both laid back characters so the whole stood together for 5 minutes in a lift waiting to make our entrance was spent chatting as if we wasn’t about to punch each others faces in!

It’s a very emotional journey so be prepared for highs, lows and the in between id say, and enjoy it as Eddie Hearn told us all at the weigh-in!

Tyrone Nurse Prizefighter Highlight

B: Are you sponsored yet? IF you work, how do you balance that with your training needs?

TN: I’m lucky that im sponsored so can focus on training; my sponsors are Direct Golf UK! I do a bit of Graphic Design on the side when I want, but generally I scrape by with my boxing earnings!

B: How did you first become involved in boxing?

TN: My dad was a pro himself before becoming a manager and trainer, but I was never forced into it. It was a decision I made when Mark Hobson use to tell me I was soft as a kid, so I told him id come down to the gym and chin him, never been out of there since!

My dad use to give me the gloves when I was younger and me and my mates would beat each other to bits I the garden during the day, but it wasn’t until I started at the gym when he started showing me the ins and outs. I think I was about 10!

B: Which boxers have inspired you most in your boxing career and style?

TN: I’m not sure, I grew up watching videos of the Yanks but wasn’t a boxer at the time and as I began boxing amateur I started to watch the Live shows on Sky Sports etc. But im a massive fan of Roy Jones Jr, Floyd Mayweather, Diego Corrales, Sugar Ray Leonard, Julio Cesar Chavez and Tommy Hearns to name a few!

B: How do you mentally prepare for a fight? Do you have any last-minute habits or rituals?

TN: Prior to fighting I always have a bag of Skittles, done it since my amateur days! I don’t know why or how it came about but I do it! Nothing else other than that really!

B: Can you outline a typical training day? (This needs a short paragraph or so and can include working hours (If applicable) so that readers get a true sense of how hard it is to do what you do)

TN: Usually tart with a gym session in the morning weights a bit of technique, cardio etc!

Mid day head out for some running whether its sprints, steady trot, long hard run or up the hills.

Teatime back to the gym for boxing- bag work, pads, sparring etc

But obviously depending on other things planned such as sparring in other gyms or sparring coming over at a certain time the day can vary as to when we do which part of training.

B: What aspect of training do you least enjoy and why?

Most boxers say Dieting, but I find once you’ve got going with it; it tends to be less of a problem! I hate early morning sparring; my head doesn’t switch on until about dinnertime. Not a fan of press-ups either, but I get them done while I moan ha-ha!

Tyrone Nurse Boxing Training

B: What would you say are your greatest strengths as a boxer?

TN: My fitness, Jab (when I use it), I can fight back foot or front foot, and my speed!

B: What advice would you give to anyone thinking of starting boxing with regard to choosing a gym etc?

TN: Make sure your comfortable and in an environment you enjoy training in, there’s nothing worse than being somewhere you don’t feel welcomed in something as hard and demanding as boxing.

B: Who would you like as sparring partners for you’re next training camp and why?

TN: Certain styles of fighters call for certain types of sparring, if you’ve got a southpaw you need southpaw sparring! If you can recreate your opponent or something to their likeness then it helps, as preparing for a fight against Mayweather you wouldn’t want to be sparring with a come forward southpaw, who’s slow and plodding around the ring.

So which sparring partners we use would all depends on the opponent I was facing.

B: Who has been your toughest opponent so far (pro or amateur) and why?

TN: Different opponents for different reasons! 

As an amateur me and Ronnie Heffron had 2 wars, they were tough as they were demanding fights.

Against Adil it was tough because of his awkward style and elusiveness!

I boxed a welsh lad earlier in my career and gave away a stone in weight, I was only 18 at the time and he was a man and I decided to go to war……that was fun and tough!

So I couldn’t pick out a specific fight at the moment, but I expect there will be some tough ones down the line!

B: Can you suggest 2 boxers that would make for a great match with you and say why?

TN: Mayweather, think of the bank balance afterwards! Ha-ha

I don’t know who else, you never know how two styles will gel until it happens!

B: The light welterweight division is a great division at the moment. Who would you say are fighters to watch in the coming year in that division?

TN: It’s a very strong division, you’ve got Amir at the top followed by Paul McCloskey, then Ashley Theophane ruling the roost at the moment. But there’s likes of Adil, Steve Williams, Myself, Dale Miles, Woodhouse and Frankie Gavin. But at the same time you’ve got good seasoned fighters like Jason Cook and Lenny Daws in the mix, so 10st could be a very exciting division in the next few years!

B: So what’s next on the cards in the coming year?

TN: Just waiting to see what happens, I had a rest and went on holiday after Prizefighter and have had a minor injury that im just about over; so well see what the future holds!

B: Before signing off is there anything you would like to say to your fans reading this interview

TN: Thanks for all the support it’s much appreciated.