Unbeaten Teignmouth-born boxer, Ben ‘The Entertainer’ Day (7-0-1) clashes with Londoner Ryan ‘Crash Bang’ Taylor (10-5-1) on December 5th at London’s York Hall, competing for the vacant Southern Area super-lightweight title.
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‘A Night of War’
The Goodwin Promotions show titled, A Night of War’ includes two tantalising Southern Area title fights on a packed card featuring a total of 14 scheduled fights.
Two-time Southern Area challenger, ‘Crash Bang’ Taylor, 27-years-old, is trained by Johnny Greaves out of the famous Peacock Gym in Canning Town and despite being 10 years younger, he possesses the advantage in experience, competing in twice as many paid contests as Day, as well as boasting a decent amateur pedigree.
37-year-old Devonian boxer, Ben Day, now residing in London, only turned pro aged 32 with just a couple of white collar fights to count on as experience.
The London gym owner, unbeaten in eight fights and four years, is trained by Rod Julian at RJ’s Gym in Essex, it’ll be his second title fight after winning the International Masters Bronze lightweight strap with a first round KO of Latvian opponent, Ilja Sovdra in March this year, also at the York Hall.
Boxing News & Views caught up with the likeable lightweight at his London-based Ringtone Boxing Gym:
How have preparations gone for this fight?
“I’m back on the running again, I swapped it for swimming the last time that I fought for a title, but I’m beating my personal bests all the time. I’m doing 10k in 38 minutes, not sure if you know but that’s fast. That’s around Regents Park so not even on the track. I chase after foxes around Regents Park, if I see one I try to chase it. Rocky chases chickens, I chase foxes!”
What is like to work with Rod Julian and his growing stable of talent?
“Everything is great, what I like about Rod is that he is not changing me, he is enhancing me. He said in the press conference this week, “I’m not doing a lot with Ben, I’m just letting him be himself and adding to it.” Tyler Goodjohn, a former English champ, is three weight divisions above me and bigger, and he’s a very good fighter, and he said to me “I can’t work you after 20 rounds so how is anyone gonna’ work you out within 10! I did 10 rounds with someone that good and that big, and that was my last spar and it was brilliant and I walked away buzzing from it.”
How do you see this fight with an aggressive, forward-coming opponent panning out?
“He might not even come out like that, we all know he’s a forward fighter but he can’t outbox me. If he changes his game plan and goes on the back foot then that’s perfect for me also. I can’t see anything that he can do to beat me. He’ll need some gameplan, perhaps he’ll need a shovel! It’s his third time being there and it’s how he views setbacks really, it could go for him or against him. To me, it would make me hungrier but he could be different.”
We’ve seen an ageing Klitschko carrying injuries get outworked by a younger fighter last weekend, how are you feeling at 37-years-old?
“It’s getting boring hearing about my age now, I’m unbeaten still and knocked out my last opponent. Klitschko is ageing because he’s got the miles on the clock but I haven’t. This is will be my 10th boxing contest in my life and I’ll be going in with someone who’s had about a hundred.”
What would winning this title do for your career?
“I think I’ll break down and cry if I win! It’s not about my career, it’s about my life and what I can achieve. The winner could go on to the fight for the English title. This will inspire so many people it’s about my purpose and my life and it’s about others, which enhances the reasons. It’s about doing it for others and not just for myself which makes it all the more worthwhile.
He added:
“I’d love to say that I’ll be back out soon after but it’s not down to me, I’ve had opponents pull out on me and I’ve not been as active as I’d like. I’ve only fought on average twice a year because of setbacks in boxing and business, like Floyd Mayweather basically, he only fights twice a year! I’m gonna’ stay in the gym and do my best to stay ready, you have to at this level.”
Good luck Ben! Is there anyone you would like to thank?
“I’d thank Greg White for looking after my gym and my diet and being my running partner, and RJ for letting me be me and having a fun camp, and my girlfriend, Nerice Brosnan for being my backbone and putting up with all the craziness.”
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