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JAKE DEMMERY

Post author By f/s
Post date September 19, 2019

“I think my experience as an amateur does help with the mental aspect of boxing, its taught me how the sport works and the sacrifice that is needed to achieve.”

FIGHT SCENE CATCH UP WITH JAKE DEMMERY

It’s often said that boxing is a thinking man’s sport and not a tough man’s sport. Albeit the art of the practice is to incapacitate your opponent and deal as much physical damage as possible, the methods in which this goal is achieved can only be executed by the fighters who are able to think the smartest.

For Jake Demmery, the art of visualization is as crucial as punching itself.

“I really like to think and visualize fights in my head from the ring walk all the way to the end. This is such a big motivator for me as I have already seen myself do it and it’s an important part of preparing.”

The Bristol-based fighter began his boxing journey alongside his twin brother: Ben, when the two curious schoolboys stumbled across Downend ABC.

“My first boxing gym was in a small temporary building near my school. Me and Ben had tried many sports and always had an interest in boxing but I don’t think either of us thought that 12 years on we’d be turning professional together”

Under new manager and trainer Chris Sanigar’s expertise, the Demmery twins are ready to bring double trouble to the payed ranks after enjoying championship success as amateurs.

Now outfitted stablemates with the likes of Lee and Andrew Selby, Gavin Gwynne, Tamuka Mucha and Lee Haskins, the Demmery’s have all the fundamentals required to begin visualizing and pursuing prizefighting success.

“I prefer to do all of my talking in the ring. Too many fighters who turn pro say they want to win world titles right from the get-go and that goal is so far away it’s hard to really push for it. My aim at the moment is to fight for the British title, I believe I’m able to reach that level and then look to push into different avenues from there, maybe then for major titles.”

Jake Demmery’s journey to the famed Bristol Boxing Gym, which has produced nine champions over it’s 30-year history, stemmed from his eagerness as a vested amateur. Growing into the sport from the age of 11, Demmery had a strong belief that practicing as often as possible would make perfect and prided himself on being available whenever an opportunity to develop his skills would come to fruition.

“I had 64 contests as an amateur and it could’ve been closer to the 80 mark if I hadn’t had periods of injury. I’ve always boxed at a high level against top-quality opposition and I’ve had experience at major tournaments like the Celtic Box Cup in Ireland and the Haringay Box Cup. I think that’s where my experience and understanding of the sport comes from, I know the importance of being ready at all times and if I ever had a last-minute call, I’d always cancel plans and make sure I was able to fight.”

Jake enjoyed his first piece of silverware in the sport at the Haringay Box Cup where he won a silver medal in his fourth time entering, just coming short in the 69kg final against Germany’s number three. For Demmery, it was an indication of things to come and after a promising amateur career, the headguard was abandoned and the professional contract signed.

“There is nothing better than getting your hand raised after the hours of training and sacrifice before a fight. However, I feel that you learn a lot more from a loss than a win that’s why as an amateur I was never scared to fight anyone. You either win or you learn, losing is not getting in there and doing it in the first place.”

Demmery also believes that his high-level amateur experience will carry him in good stead transitioning into the professional game and making adjustments moving forward.

“I’ve been sparring 4-6 rounds to prepare for the transition from the amateurs to pros, but that’s nothing new, I’d usually do four rounds or more before I turned professional. You have to be adaptable as a boxer and I know how important it is to prepare accordingly.”

It’s also important that Demmery is able to adapt outside the ring, as the 23-year-old is still working full-time, despite signing with Sanigar Promotions. His vision as a professional is grounded in reality, and the thinking man knows how tough it can be to make a splash in such a gigantic pool.

“Many fighters who have just turned pro will know it’s a long road until you get picked up by the likes of Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren. I work till 4pm, train at Bristol Gym Monday and Wednesday, either do boxfit classes or road-work on Tuesday and Thursday and get sparring in whenever top pros are available.”

“It can be difficult if you’ve had a long, hard day at work and then you’ve got to head straight to the gym, but I truly love this sport and I understand that sacrifices have to be made.”

Now 12 years into the future from where the twins first laced up their gloves, they have the chance to preform on the big stage. Although neither shy away from an old-school dust up and enjoy giving the fans an exciting battle, one of their best weapons in the arsenal is the mind.

“I always prefer the slick boxer, there’s nothing better than watching someone that can’t be hit. I would describe myself as an awkward fighter who’s hard to pin down. I can box smart and I can stand and bang, I’ve never been afraid of a real fight and I’m always prepared to adapt.”

With every strength however usually comes a weakness. For Demmery, one of his greatest assets is also one of his most cultivating weaknesses.

“Sometimes I struggle mentally in the build-up to fights. I have no problem with putting in the work and dieting correctly, but I tend to get very anxious about how I’m going to preform and not boxing to the best of my ability on the night. That’s something I know I have to work on and will continue to do so as I move forward in my career. I think my experience as an amateur does help with the mental aspect of boxing, its taught me how the sport works and the sacrifice that is needed to achieve.”

Both Bristol brothers will make their walk to the ring as professionals with a current record or 2-0-0. They claim to have it all, the skill and the desire, but also know the challenge which is now cast in front of them. There’s no doubt the Demmery twins will be visualizing victory, and there’s no telling what will come thereafter.

“I’d like to just say that anyone thinking about buying tickets not to miss out on the crazy journey for the Demmery twins. There are some very exciting nights of Bristol Boxing ahead. Don’t miss it.”

PAWEL AUGUSTYNIK

Post author By f/s
Post date August 23, 2019

“At 13 years old I was getting into trouble at school and I ended up in a few fights, so my parents took me to Taunton ABC under head coach Dennis Cornall. Within 3 years I was English ABA JUNIOR champion and I went on to represent England in the GB championships winning the gold and the Boxing News Boxer of the tournament.”

FIGHT SCENE CATCH UP WITH PAWEL AUGUST

24-year-old Pawel Augustynik’s professional record currently stands at 11-0, making him undefeated in the light heavyweight division. The fighter from Somerset has demolished adversaries in remarkable fashion, showcasing his ability to become a real contender within the division.

As a fighter, Pawel is perhaps best described in his coach Dave Entwistle’s words:

“Pawel excites me, early in his career he relied on his raw strength and aggression to win fights, but now nine fights in, his boxing is starting to come together and he has been able to improve technically while maintaining that natural strength.”

“Now he’s an exciting fast puncher, compact with strength and a natural aggression, but still knows how to pick his punches”.

Like many boxers, August was introduced to boxing at an early age in order to keep him out of trouble during his school years.

After such an explosive start at a young age, Pawel progressed into the amateur boxing scene and from there things started to fall into place.

“Back then I beat a lot of experienced international lads who had far more experience than me, but I was tough and wanted it more. Pretty soon after I boxed on an amateur show which Chris Sanigar was attending. After the fight he invited myself and my coach David Entwistle to his gym and we got on well, so when the time came it was only natural to turn over with Chris who has a good history of producing professional champions.”

The current light heavyweight division boasts an enticing line-up as we head into the latter stages of the year and a lot of that promise comes from the UK with Anthony Yarde and 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Josh Buatsi stealing the headlines time and time again. These are two fighters that Pawel holds in high regard.

“I have a lot of respect for both Yarde and Buatsi, they are an important part of a division that is currently very strong and holds a lot of talent. I like Yarde’s agility and his ability to combine speed and power to become explosive and I think Buatsi has a great skillset and has a lot of experience from his time as an amateur which gives him a great pedigree.”

As well as these two current light heavyweight artists, Augustynik is heavily inspired by one of the pound for pound greatest fighters in boxing history.

“My idol growing up was Roy Jones junior. Everything about him was so exciting and natural. His evasive skills were out of this world. I would try and box like him, but it didn’t work as I got hit too much. Now I like GGG it’s the way he sets them up, he’s a real thinker and he wears his opponents down and then stops them. I like to think that I have some of those qualities in me.”

Ahead of his eleventh professional fight, Pawel is still at an early stage in his boxing career and recognises that there is a lot of legwork to put in to achieve his ambitions.

“Right now, I’m training twice a day Monday to Friday, with one session early Saturday morning, followed by a sports massage in the afternoon, allowing plenty of time for recovery over the weekend. I train in my hometown Taunton to work on my conditioning and then I’ll travel 50 miles to Bristol to practice the boxing side of things.”

August, like most fighters, dreams of becoming a champion, but he’s aware of how the professional boxing scene works and the ladder that he must climb in order to reach that status.

“I have massive ambitions and I want to go as far as I can in the sport, but it’s one step at a time. I’m still very young for a light heavyweight so I would say in 5 years I want to be British champion and I’d also be at the right age to be potentially moving onto even bigger things.”

“In the short term, I’m hoping to go for a Southern area title.”

As Pawel progresses through the ranks, his following starts to grow, and this is something that every boxer needs to survive in today’s fight scene. Augustynik recognises the support and is eager to put on a show for those that pay to watch, until the very last bell.

“I would want my fans to know that they mean the world to me and essentially they keep my career going. It’s difficult to work your way up as a pro on small hall shows. If you don’t sell the tickets, you don’t box.

“As an amateur I wasn’t a show off who had lots of people coming to watch me box, it was only my family, so I’m grateful for the growing support that I have, and I love each and every one of them. One day I will be a champion for them.”

AARON SUTTON

Post author By f/s
Post date June 26, 2019

When I took up boxing I found something I was really good at and enjoyed, so I gave my life to the sport and gave it everything I have.”

FIGHT SCENE CATCH UP WITH AARON SUTTON

Aaron Sutton, the Bristol born middleweight may not possess the absolute amateur experience in the sport, however has shown himself to be a naturally talented fighter with an unwavering will to win at all costs!

Despite not originally coming from a purely boxing background, Sutton has always been a fighting man with his early discipline being kickboxing. Sutton fought as a kickboxer in his youth, fighting in France and other venues all across the UK.

In an unprecedented turn of events, Sutton traded kickboxing for white collar boxing at the youthful age of 16 and was pitted against a far more experienced fighter in his first bout, only to dispatch him in the first round. Sutton continued to have an impressive spell in the white collar ranks winning 24 of 25 bouts over a three year period.

Since turning to boxing, Sutton has shown a desire to excel at the sport and has vowed to show it the utmost commitment.

“Winning means everything to me, it’s the only thing I am good at. I was never any good at school, never passed a test in my life. I always gave it my best I could never get to grips with it. When I took up boxing I found something I was really good at and enjoyed, so I gave my life to the sport and gave it everything I have.”

After impressing in the white collar ranks, Sutton caught the eye of Chris Sanigar. Under the guidance of Sanigar, Sutton bypassed the amateur scene and turned straight over to the pro ranks.

“I started training down at Empire sparring the pros, the manager Chris [Sanigar] asked if I would be interested in signing so I jumped at the chance”

The middleweight had his first pro bout at the age of 19, securing a points victory over now 9-2-1 Kieran Gething. Sutton has since gone on to secure a further eight victories, to extend his record to 9-0-0.

Thus far in his career Sutton has shown preference to a fan friendly front foot style that has a likening to one of his favourite boxers, Carl Froch.

“I like to watch people who always come forward and draw their opponents into a fight. This is how I try to fight when I’m in the ring. I used to love watching Carl Froch as he was never the best boxer, but he always came to fight and I loved his spirit.”

While most 21 year old prospects may struggle to deal with the occasion of a fight night, Sutton remains the calmest man in the building and says that he relishes the pressure of a fight night.

“I don’t really like getting pumped up as I am normally really relaxed before the fight. I love the pressure of fighting in front of my followers. I always pick old classic tunes to walk out too as these keep me relaxed. I walk out to ‘I Love You Baby’ by Frank Sinatra.”

At just 21 years old, Sutton remains in the early stages of his career but has made no bones about what his aims are in the sport.

“In 5 years time I want to be British, European and World Champion. I want it all, I want to make a name for myself. Keep following me and one day I will be on top”

Aaron Sutton has proved to be one of a rare naturally gifted fighters in the sport, and in his final words shares this message:

” Boxing has helped me by keeping me out of trouble and keeping me off the streets!. I have the utmost respect for anyone that has the courage to get in the ring and want to wish them all the best in every aspect of their life and career.”

“One day I believe I will be on top and the support means everything to me”