“Boxing has nothing to do with being a violent person”
“If you want it you’ll find a way, if not you’ll find an excuse” — that is the motto of George Stanley as he prepares for his boxing comeback in 2018.
At the keen age of 14 George was first attracted to the sport of boxing as a means to keep fit but never thought that one day he would have competed in as many boxing bouts as he has.
Over the past seven years George has taken part in 16 bouts. He has won 12, eight of those were knock-outs, drawn twice and lost twice.
He recalled a time in his career when he was earning good money to do what he loved but modestly never labelled himself a professional. He dubs himself as more of a semi-professional.
In 2014, he left his trainer and did not compete again until March 2016. He blames the decisions he made for this. He was put off by the business of boxing.
He said: “Boxing is a business first and sport after. It’s down to the paying public as to whose career takes off. You could be in the best town or country, but if no one buys the tickets to see you then there’s no money to be made. Learning that really put me off for about a year.”
In his spare time George trains children at Bally’s Boxing Gym in Portsmouth.
He said: “I love coaching the kids. Boxing teaches you discipline, hard work, respect and so much more.
“I tell them to stay fit and stay ready. Your moment can come at any time and if you’re not 100 per cent ready you’ll miss what could be your only big break.”
As a young boy growing up in Portsmouth, being in the ring kept him off the streets. However, that did not stop the kids he grew up with taunting him.
He remembers: “I had a school life growing up. I had a lot of friends but it’s hard when everyone knows that you box. There’s a lot of people who want to be able to say they beat you up. But boxing has nothing to do with being a violent person like many people may believe — it’s a sport.”
Boxing gave him the discipline and respect to stay away from most of those altercations.
Now at the tender age of 21 George is preparing to make his comeback into the world of semi-pro boxing. He wants to be active in boxing once again. To do that he is training hard and eating the right food to get back to a manageable weight and stay fit.
He said: “You never know when your time will come so I aim to always be ready.”
Surprisingly, George does not see a career as a professional boxer in his horizon.
“I respect every professional boxer in their own way but I don’t really aspire to be like any of them. I’m still young and hungry so just to be in the mix of it all will be enough for me, I honestly don’t care about it.”
“At the moment, my skills aren’t what they used to be — but they’re getting there.”
