Andrew Cain’s New Year’s resolution is to keep knocking out his opponents
On February 28, hard-hitting featherweight Andrew Cain (4-0, 4KOs) gets back in the ring at the Grand Central Hall in Liverpool on a Black Flash Promotions event, with staunch plans to knock out his unfortunate opponent.
The five-time national amateur champion from the Everton Red Triangle boxing club kicked off his pro career in 2015, aged just 18, and quickly KO’d his first two foes.
Czech Republic’s Patrik Bartos (3-3) lasted just five minutes and 16 seconds with the featherweight demolition machine on Cain’s pro debut in April 2015, and his following opponent, debutant Luke Fash, was also subjected to a second-round stoppage defeat.
However, family life got in the way of his fledgling boxing career and the youngster had to step away while family commitments took precedence.
Speaking exclusively to British Boxing News, Cain said, “The reason for the break was because I had a baby and had to go out to work and support my family.”
For three and a half years, he was absent from the sport but returned to the ring in May 2019, four years on from his pro bow.
Now 23, he picked up right where he left off and reeled off back to back stoppage wins in 2019.
He gave another debutant a harsh welcome to the paid ranks with a third-round stoppage win, before blasting through tough Nicaraguan Elvis Guillen (9-52-4) in just four minutes and 25 seconds in his last fight in September.
One day before the quadrennial Leap Year date of February 29, the Everton Red Triangle fighter gets back to the ring for the first of five scheduled shows in 2020 for the thriving gym.
“Training camp started Monday and it’s early days still but it’s going ok,” he said.
With four KO’s from as many fights, to say he has a ‘fan-friendly’ style would be an understatement, but does it bring added pressure to perform?
“There’s not so much as pressure on me,” He quickly dismissed. “What I’m thinking is that the way to get noticed is by making a statement by knocking these people out. I want to get to eight wins with eight knockouts so that people start asking, ‘Who is this guy?’”
His extended hiatus obviously hasn’t caused any ring rust as he quickly carried on the tradition of sweeping his opponents aside.
“Boxing has always been something I’ve been good at, so it feels like I never left. I feel like the rest might have helped me, to be honest, it’s given me the hunger back.”
The usual suspects at that level of the sport are often awkward, clingy and tricky to get shots off against, as they know through experience how to tuck up, survive and cause frustration to get through the rounds relatively unscathed in order to do it all again the following week.
However, Cain is somehow not succumbing to any of the survival tactics that his journeymen opponents are using and instead they are not lasting the distance with him.
The heavy-hitter explained his secret, “Just picking my shots well and making sure I’m training in the gym to get spite in every shot I throw.
“I’m not going mad looking for it, you know, going crazy to get the KO, but I am looking for it with preciseness.
“The best strength you can have in boxing is your brain. It’s the best muscle to have in boxing.”
February 28 is the first of five planned shows which follows with May 2; July 4; September 5; and November 14, of which Cain plans to perform on all.
“Unless any other opportunities arise then that’s what I’ll be doing. I just got a contract from Frank Warren, along with [teammates] Brad [Strand] and Nick [Ball], so there might be a fight on one of his shows during the year.”
Until then, the unbeaten powerhouse is fully focused on his assignment and promised fans they’ll be in for some more excitement.
“I’m training as hard as ever. On 28th February, I’ll be ready, and you should be seeing another knockout.”
Trained by Paul Stevenson, seven of Cain’s teammates at the Everton Red Triangle gym will be accompanying him on the card, all unbeaten prospects with the same aim to keep their perfect records running.
Unbeaten super-featherweight star Nick Ball (11-0) headlines the stacked show, as he prepares for inevitable championship opportunities this year.
Merseyside middleweight Harry Woods (3-0) will also be back in action, alongside European bronze medalist Connor Butler (3-0-1) and 24-year-old Haringey Box Cup winner Jonathan Walsh (3-0).
2018 Senior ABA champion Bradley Strand (2-0) also features, as does Carly Skelly (2-0) and Jack ‘The Ripper’ McKinlay (1-0).
Supporting cast will feature Liverpool super-middleweight southpaw James Heneghan (3-0); super-lightweight Michael Hedges (2-0); David Thompson (1-0), and heavyweight Karl Tierney (1-0).
Trainer Paul Stevenson commented, “People know what to expect at our shows and that is the spectacle of watching a stable full of hungry, dynamic professional fighters in the ascendancy.
“They’re all different, dangerous, highly-skilled and they’re going for the knockouts! There’s going to be some exceptional talent on display on February 28.”
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