Apprentice star Tom Skinner reveals his altruistic reasons for joining The Box Off
Tom Skinner is a man of many talents, but now he adds ‘elite boxing coach’ to the list
Speaking Exclusively to “The Box Off”, Skinner is fully confident his London “Guvnors” will triumph over boxing legends Ricky Hatton, Johnny Nelson and Rapper Jaykae.
The Apprentice star is determined to lead the London team to win a unique boxing competition called The Box Off – which will see teams from Manchester, Leeds, London, and Birmingham go head-to-head.
The brand-new unique event will see the four city-based teams compete in an exciting knock-out competition, which will pitch some of the country’s best up and coming talent against each other.
Fighters will clash over four rounds in the semi-finals in Telford, with the winners of each progressing to box off in the final to see who will be crowned Box Off Champions. Finalists will also earn four points for their team, with the winners in the final stage also gaining a further six points. The team with the highest points total amassed over the two stages will be crowned Box Off team champions.
Captain of The London Guv’nors, Tom Skinner, revealed his benevolent reasons behind joinint The Box Off:
“The beauty about The Box Off is that it gives real boxers opportunities and allows them to further their careers. One of the biggest problems facing boxing today is that big-ticket sellers are often given opportunities ahead of talented fighters. This card is full of talented fighters, and The BoxOff gives them opportunities without the need to sell tickets. Not only that, but Ricky Hatton, Johnny Nelson, Jaykae, and I will support, promote and push them forward, and that's how boxing should be. These are actual fighters who want to succeed in a unique format, and that's what I love about it.
“These are upcoming fighters who don't have big promoters behind them and are competing to showcase their skills. In my life, I have never given up, and that's the honest truth; it was only ten years ago that I used to sleep on a pull-out futon on my mum's floor and had no money in my pocket, but I went to work, I believed in myself and grafted. Now I live in a £1 million house and have worked hard for it. In boxing terms, I never had a big promoter behind me pushing me, so I understand everything my team is going through. I'm getting behind them and giving them my platform to help promote themselves.
“The Box Off is not about me, Hatton or Nelson; it's about the fighters, and I love it. We are here to help these raw talents who want to improve. We are getting behind them, and we're pushing them. I'm going to show them how to believe in themselves.”
Skinner is sanguine about his London team’s chances:
“The first date is in Telford, and if you like real fights involving raw talent, why would you not go? There will be 2000 people in the venue, cheering on my team, “The Guvnors” and I will be in the crowd having a beer with everyone. My fighters will make London proud. They're a talented and hungry bunch, and I'm backing them 100 per cent to win the tournament.
“In fact, I'm so confident of my 'Guvnors' beating the Birmingham team and then going on to win the tournament that I will say right here and now – I will never set foot into Dino's cafe ever again if my team does not do the business and win The Box Off. I'm so convinced of their ability and the team spirit that I will give up my Breakfast of Champions if my team loses. There will be no more spicy Korean noodles, sunshine curry or Pie, Mash & Liquor with lashing of Vinegar at 5 a.m. There will be no more gravy-pouring masterclasses at Christmas. It all ends on September 16 if we lose. But we won't. And when we win, we're all heading to Dino's to celebrate and I'm buying them all a slap-up Pie and Mash breakfast.”
BoxOff founder, Razi Hassan commented:
“We're just three weeks away from The BoxOff semi finals. Tom Skinner and his London “Guvnors" face Jaykae and his “Birmingham Tribe”. And on the same night we'll have the other semi final between the “Manchester revolution” led by Ricky Hatton and Leeds' "Formidable Armoury" led by Johnny Nelson. It's super exciting and it's going to be a great night.
“Johnny and Ricky have been on the same journey as these fighters and have offered to help these young prospects. They are at the point in their lives and post boxing careers where passing down that knowledge really appeals to them. It's obvious from the way Johnny and Ricky have engaged with the concept and their fighters that they're super excited about going there and winning. Also, we have a platform here that is not ticket based. All the fighters are getting a fixed purse for competing. We're encouraging them to invite friends and family along, but it's not on that condition. Too often boxing is based on ticket sales, which results in fighters owing the house money or not being able to compete.
“I thought it was a great idea and when they spoke about making sure every boxer got a purse, I said I'm in. I have my own fighters and I know how hard it is to produce that two and a half grand to pay the promoter, the opponent and the house. It's not easy. That means you've got to be selling tickets before you make any money. So as soon as they said it's a fixed purse and bonuses, I was really excited about the concept. Please come out and support an event because of what it represents. The Box Off are investing into these guys to make sure everyone gets a purse. Everytime you buy a ticket it helps. And we've got great ambassadors involved. Tom Skinner for London, Johnny Nelson for Leeds, Ricky Hatton for Manchester, Jaykae for Birmingham. It's an amazing concept and we want to continue to do these events and get and give these guys opportunities.”
To buy tickets to The Box Off, visit https://theboxoff.ticketco.events/uk/en/m
The Box Off has been backed by the British Boxing Board of Control, as it brings a new competition format to domestic boxing.
- Each team consists of five fighters, one from each weight class, plus a team captain
- Fighters will clash over four rounds in the semi-final, with the winners of each progressing to box off in the final to see who will be crowned Box Off champions
- Finalists will also earn four points for their team, with winners/champions in the final stage also gaining a further six points
- The team with the highest points total amassed over the two stages will be crowned Box Off team champions
- Semi-final bouts will consist of 4 x 3-minute rounds
- Final bouts will consist of 6 x 3-minute rounds
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