Ringside Report Takes a Closer Look at Cruiserweight Boxer Jack Massey – Boxing News
By Donald “Braveheart” Stewart
It is almost close to a cliché that boxing has been enjoying something of a renaissance in the United Kingdom. The headline acts of the likes of Anthony Joshua, Josh Warrington, Amir Khan et al have given a platform to others who have done a lot more than tread on their coat tails and hoped to never fall off them.
In fact, there are quite a few who have charged their own path and are still doing so.
It is the depth and strength of boxing, or indeed of any sport, that when the headliners are out the game or out the ring, there is a decent support act or three. It is this depth that Matchroom, Queensberry, Boxxer, MTK Global, Mick Hennessy et al are exploiting in ways that cartels before them struggled to maintain. It affords some choice for the boxers though a mis-step in their career is always possible and for some, Mr. Joshua, a reality.
And so, with Jack Massey who was with Frank Warren’s Queensberry promotions and who made a return to the ring in May 2021 with his second fight under COVID and second win, he is clearly looking for the next phase of his career. Fully confident in the belief that his new management team are the people to deliver the opportunities he is certain he has the skill to exploit them.
It’s a brave man who changes things round, but it is often a successful man who refuses to simply accept this is the way we have always done things…
Massey’s professional debut came in 2103 when he stopped Jody Meikle, a tough, tough journeyman in the 3rd round in Bolton. From there he was going along swimmingly as an unbeaten prospect, but Massey is also one of the growing band of fighters who believe that an unbeaten record, whilst nice on a poster, can be a bit of a burden in your head.
He has lost a fight and lived to tell the tail. I often wonder if this makes people take more risks principally because there is less risk involved in losing any unbeaten tag.
Having already been out in COVID times in November 2020 when he got a respectable 79-74 eight round win against Mohammad Ali Bayat, in Westminster, London he was back out in July this year when he won the IBF European title against Engin Karakaplan knocking him out in the 4th round to earn the IBF European title.
His only loss was to Richard Riakporhe, a fellow contender much touted as a real prospect. Massey has moved on from this night in the best way possible – getting wins under his belt. He wants to get his hands on the British title which was on the line that night in 2019 at York Hall. He would have been in against Lawrence Okolie for that very crown had an arm injury not stopped him and given where Okolie has got to who knows what might have happened next for him.
You get the feeling he would probably have taken on most people with only one hand but fortunately sense prevails when fighters are injured. If it had happened during the fight, of course there would have been a different tale to tell.
In an interview with Boxing Social, Massey spoke of that loss to Riakporhe and how he felt he won. “It was a bit of an awkward fight,” he said. “[Riakporhe] was holding a lot. The ref didn’t stop him from holding. We were coming together in the early rounds but in the later rounds he was holding on for dear life and I thought I’ve definitely got him here. [I thought to myself] finish the 12th round strong and I thought I was going to get my hand lifted but it didn’t happen. Obviously gutted. British title, I’ve dreamt about that title since I started boxing but it’s built me into who I am today and just made me more hungry.”
Having been released by Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, Massey signed a promotional deal with Fightzone – a new kid on the block in British boxing – who have made a tremendous impact by fighting shows being held in a car park in the unfashionable Sheffield but with a line-up of the up and coming and all the drama and blood sweat and tears of the professional ranks in place it has lit up the attention of the live boxing fan. They are incredible shows to watch, and Massey’s manager Kev Magee was transfixed by them. In a recent interview he was fulsome in his praise as he said, “I’ve been blown away by the quality of the shows in the Fightzone Arena. It’s up there with the best I’ve seen. They are modern, fun, current, and I think the future of where boxing shows are headed.”
As for reflecting upon his past, again in Boxing Social interview, Massey was to comment, “It’s been a tough road. We’ve had setbacks with injuries, setbacks with controversial decisions and stuff like that but I’m glad it’s been hard because I’m ready for it now. It’s made me who I am today. Twenty-eight next month. I’m at that age now, got that man strength. I’m ready for these big fights now. I’ve matured into the fighter I am today.”
Next up could be a domestic clash against a fighter ranked by all the bodies – Chris Billiam-Smith. The cruiserweight division is not the strongest in the UK at the moment and whilst we have a world champion in the UK in the form of Lawrence Okolie, there are plenty who could make the claim they are next best and grab a title opportunity along the way. It really looks like Massey could be that that guy!
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