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Craig MacIntyre: A Closer Look & His Thoughts on the AIBA

CMBy Donald “Braveheart” Stewart

The Olympic flame is now out. For another 4 years the waiting world shall sit and wonder what is on the horizon at Tokyo 2020. For British based athletes the wait is helped by the Commonwealth Games which is held in 2 years time. This is when the United Kingdom splits, in a sporting sense, into England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for the Games.

Originally called the British Empire Games these celebrate the fact that Great Britain colonized and enslaved the people of a variety of countries the world over including Canada, Australia, South Africa and India as well as a massive number of other, now rightly independent nations.

Now called the Commonwealth we now have a fantastic and undeserved bond with many of these former colonies though some countries like South Africa did not compete in the Games for a while there are others – Zimbabwe – which are still international pariahs and not invited.
In 2014 they were held in Glasgow, Scotland, and in 2018 they shall be held in Australia on the Gold Coast. A few short months ago I introduced Ringside Report readers to a few Scottish boxers that have made a bit of a splash here. One of the biggest noises came from a guy who was once on the cusp of getting into the Commonwealth Games in 2014 but didn’t manage due to injury.

Craig MacIntyre 2-0, 1 KO, turned professional instead and now has had 2 professional outings so far being mightily impressive in both. A lot is thought of Craig and an equal amount expected. I caught up with him recently to find out what was next on the horizon for him. He was in reflective mood as he explained that one of the problems of being a bit of a talent – even after only 2 fights – is that your reputation comes before you; he has therefore been finding it difficult to get fights organised. Craig explained, “It’s hard at this point in your career to get fights because I am high risk with not much reward. I have had only two fights so if they want to fight me and win it will be oh he’s an up and coming fighter but he’s a novice on the pro game whereas if they get beat then it’s like you’re getting beat of a boy who is 2 and 0 and you’re supposed to be up and coming as well so its high risk and low reward.”

Craig has certainly been quoted as a future titlist, even champion as his punching power is phenomenal. Next up in his career path might just be about getting the right guy in the opposite corner but goals are far longer term for Craig in his career – “In a year or so I should go for the likes of a WBC international or silver belt – I am happy to fight for it.” The dream – a world title and in the next 5 or 6 years that is where Craig is aiming. In the next couple of years he should be up for a Commonwealth belt if his winning streak keeps up which is slightly ironic as that was the Games he missed out on.

Of course it wouldn’t be me if I did not ask a former amateur star what he thought of the AIBA decision to allow professional boxers to fight in the Olympics. His response was typically robust – “I don’t think it should be happening. That’s the pinnacle of your amateur career because it is on such a big stage. Everybody wants to go and now there is nothing keeping amateur boxing amateur any more. If professionals come in and take over on the Olympic scene then especially with the head guards off now too, they are basically fighting a professional fight in 3 rounds. Why would you want to stay amateur when you can move to the professional ranks and get paid for what you are already doing?”

His assessment of the professionals coming in to steal the amateur crown may have turned out to be a little wide of the mark in Rio, but the fact is, 2020 could be very different. For 2018, as I understand it we have amateurs only in for the Commonwealth Games. Oh please AIBA, don’t let the Commonwealth show you how it should be done… Again…

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