Byles: ‘I’m a test for the best prospects’

Mikey Byles sports the bruises from yet another thriller

MIKEY Byles, the Warwick middle as tough as the town castle’s ramparts, admits his priorities have changed.

Before he wanted prizes. Now he wants paydays to provide for his family.

At 37, rugged Byles has given himself two years in our brutal business to do what he needs to do. After that, he’ll pursue a career as a football coach and is currently studying at university to gain the required qualifications.

The fighting best of Byles was lost during a seven year break from the sport – the man himself admits that.

“Life moves you on,” he said of the long break. “I had a couple of kids, I had to earn some money.”

He returned in March this year and has been thrown in at the deep end. Only one of Byles’ four opponents – Aaron Sutton - have lost a fight. And Sutton’s sole defeat in 18 contests was on a 10 round split decision to a man who, in his next contest, drew for the Commonwealth silver title.

All four were taken the distance by Mikey.

I watched, ringside at Cannock’s Excelsior Sporting Club in March, as Midlands super-middle champ Liam O’Hare bounced every punch in the book off Byles’ head. The Warwickshire warrior took them all and came back swinging. It was a wild, woolly and thoroughly entertaining affair.

Last Saturday, on the major title bill at Coventry Skydome, I witnessed O’Hare demolish a full-blown light-heavyweight with one right hook. Spark out!

That tells you a lot about Byles’ tungsten toughness. He’s a very hard hombre. There are glaring technical flaws, but Byles possesses a heart as big as a bucket and an iron jaw.

His style makes for savage encounters.

Byles has been matched tough – and wouldn’t want it any other way.

“I want to fight the best that are out there, domestically,” he said. “I’ll admit I’m almost over the hill, but I want to be the best I am. Since coming back, everyone I’ve fought has been a contender. I’ve given myself five fights to be back to my old self.

“I’ve always looked after myself. I’m not a drinker, I’m always running, always in the gym.”

Former top contender Chris Sanigar is currently training Byles and his priority is to seal the Warwickshire warrior’s leaky “take three to land one” defence. I wish him well, but I don’t think even magician David Blaine could turn Byles into a defensive maestro. He has too big an appetite for a tear-up.

Mikey, who has now won eight of 18, says the improvements were evident in his last outing – the June 15 eight round loss to Sutton.

It was a credible performance in the favourite’s home city of Bristol. Sutton was hurt in the seventh, but rode the storm to take the 79-73 decision.

“He was a quality lad,” Byles said. “He was fighting in an eliminator before facing me. He was the best of those I faced on the comeback so far – his jab was phenomenal - and I almost stopped him in the seventh, I was just coming into my own.

“I felt a lot better, 100 per cent I felt that was the best I boxed. I kept my hands up, I’m trying to find a new style, I’m working on a few things like slipping a bit more.”

Byles admitted: “I think after a lot of time off my desire has changed. I’m more relaxed. I want to fight lads who are going for titles, but I’m not going in there with that desire to destroy people – and that is important.

“Don’t get me wrong, if I can nick a win, I’ll nick a win.”

And when Byles fights, you know, sooner or later, his thirst for an old fashioned “straightener” will surface. The thought of “nicking” rounds go out the window.