"All or nothing"- Heavyweight prospect Tom Simmons on his background, boxing career so far, future aspirations, sparring and more
Here's what the 27-year-old said in a recent interview
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Tom Simmons is a British heavyweight prospect with an undefeated record of 2-0. Managed by John Edwards, the Surrey-based boxer is coming off an impressive fourth-round points win against Jake Darnell at York Hall in Bethnal Green.
Like many boxing greats, Simmons first realised his love and talent for fighting outside of the ring.
“I began boxing at age 13 and had my first fight 8 months later. I’ve always had an interest in fighting or any combat but boxing was the one that took me. It was my brother that said he wanted to try it out and I thought I would go along with him to see what it was all about.
My grandad was a boxer so I always had an interest in it as it’s in the family blood. I actually played football before starting boxing from the age of 6 and played for a local club. When I was about 9 or 10 I had my first fight in a football game.
We were playing a team from a rough area and a lad bigger than I, started on me for something silly. He ran up to me, kicked and grabbed me up and I sparked him. I know it sounds pretty bad doing that at a young age but I was only defending myself and I never wanted to be someone who was going to allow people to pick on me. My dad always says ‘your boxing career started on the football pitch.’”
Formerly a roofer, Simmons is grateful to be a professional boxer and stated how he is happy doing something he is extremely passionate about on a daily basis.
“Boxing has changed my life massively. Mainly for the best. It has given me a purpose in life and I couldn’t see myself being without it. It keeps me mentally healthy and gives me a routine. I wake up every day doing something I love even though it’s not an easy sport. But that’s what I love about it. Not many people can say they love what they do, so I feel very lucky.”
However, Simmons is aware that boxing is not all sunshines and rainbows. The heavyweight prospect detailed the challenging elements of the sport and the mental toughness needed to be successful.
“However boxing does have its down sides. That being it’s very tough mentally. A lot of people that aren’t involved in boxing don’t know that it’s easy to get depressed when things don’t go to well.
Such as getting injuries, fights falling through, bad spars. It all sometimes gets too much and can make you feel very down about things. It’s definitely the toughest sport, not just physically but mentally also. Also having to prepare yourself to fight a large man in front of many people is a very hard thing to do. But the pro’s out weigh the cons.”
Apart from boxing, Simmons is a massive strongman fan. He believes if he wasn’t lacing up his gloves he would either go back to roofing or he would be lifting atlas stones on the strongman circuit.
“If I wasn’t a pro boxer I would most likely be doing a trade probably roofing as that was my favourite trade when I used to work a few years back. But I also have an interest in strongman, that’s my second favourite sport. So I would of probably of given that a go and would of seen how I would of done.”
Simmons does not have an extensive amateur background like some professionals. Nevertheless, by his own admission, he believes his boxing style is more suited to the pro game.
“I had 15 amateur fights, 10 junior and 5 senior. I won nearly all my junior fights. The couple I lost were very close. However, as a senior, I didn’t do so well and, again a lot of the ones I lost were close fights. I also felt like I was getting a few bad decisions and the judges weren’t being fair to me. It’s hard to stay motivated as amateur when you think you’re not getting a fair shot.
Where I am a small heavyweight, the judges didn’t seem to like my aggressive inside fighting and preferred the clean boxer using their jab and boxing skills and scored that over me. I was never willing to change my style to appease them so I had enough and turned pro at 24.
From my first amateur fight people always said to me ‘you fight like a pro’ so I always knew that for me to be successful it wasn’t going to be as an amateur. Boxing for England never bothered me even though it would of been nice to have on my CV. I feel like I was always destined to be a professional boxer.”
At 6’1 and around 220 lbs, Simmons is a small heavyweight by todays standards. However, the heavyweight prospect is encouraged by former heavyweight champions and legends, who were also considered small for the weight division.
“I would describe my style as aggressive and explosive. A fighter more so than a boxer, however I can box as well. If I was to use examples of past fighters to describe my own style, I would say I’m a mixture of Jack Dempsey, Joe Frazier and Mike Tyson. Now I’m not saying I’m anywhere near their level but they’re all small heavyweights with that head movement and aggressive style. I watch and study them very often.”
Still early in his career, Simmons does not have a nickname in the boxing fraternity. But the Englishman has been compared to Tommy Gunn from Rocky V, due to his first name and slight resemblance in appearance.
“I don’t have an official nickname I feel like a nickname should be given to you rather than thinking of one yourself. But many people call me ‘Tommy Gunn’ so maybe that is my nickname. But I’ve never used one or told anyone one this is what my nickname is going to be.”
Simmons continued by reflecting on his most recent performance against Jake Darnell and is pleased he got the victory in convincing fashion.
“I feel like I fought well and I’m happy with what I done. I dominated all four rounds and was aggressive throughout. I was relaxed and felt like that night I could of kept that pace for 8 rounds in total. He was tough and took many of my power shots. I was hoping to drop him with my body work but he was durable and didn’t go down.
I feel like if I had a 6 rounder I would of stopped him. Looking back on the fight I could of followed up more with second phase attacks and I was falling into him, smothering my work and allowing myself to get tied up. But these are just things I will work on for my third fight. Overall I’m happy with what I done.”
The Surrey native has also continued to build his experience by sparring established and long-time professionals like Nick Webb.
“So I started going to Guildford boxing club when I was 23 and I started off sparring Nick Webb who I felt like I held my own against as he is very well known for being a power puncher and he was 16 fights into his career before I even had a license.
I wouldn’t say I would win the sparring sessions back then but I wouldn’t take a beating and never went down. Some rounds I would win, some I would lose. But I learnt so much from sparring a seasoned pro who could bang also.”
Apart from the likes of Webb, Simmons has shared the ring with fellow heavyweight prospects such as Lucian Antana and David Adeleye.
“I also sparred Lucian Antana who is 6 ft 10.5 and he’s truly the biggest man I’ve shared the ring with. One time he lifted me on the end of a jab. We have great rounds and it’s brilliant to spar someone that size as he’s probably the biggest heavyweight around.
Also I’ve been in with David Adeleye. He was a great spar. I didn’t perform my best but I wouldnt say I lost the spar, it was mainly even. I was coming off an ear infection but I was still happy with how I done and we done some great rounds.”
Simmons mentioned stablemate and former professional Chez Nihell as one of his best sparring partners as well.
“One of the best sparring partners I had would be Chez Nihell, a cruiserweight who also serves as a soldier. He was a stablemate of mine and he definitely gave me the best work and I learnt so much off sparring him. Unfortunately, he retired due to other commitments outside the ring and stuff within boxing not going to plan.”
The 27-year-old has built a lot of confidence from high-level sparring and a couple of professional wins. Hence, he has his eyes set on a Southern Area Title in the not too distant future.
“So my first goal is to be at least 6-0 by this time next year and looking to go for a Southern Area Title maybe end of next year or the beginning of the year after. I’m not someone that does things half hearted. I want to go all the way. I feel like with this sport it’s got to be an all or nothing mind set.”
Simmons is set to return to the ring in late November or sometime in February when he will attempt to extend his unbeaten record to 3-0.
“So next I’m looking to go 3-0 .We are trying to put myself on a show at the end of November hopefully. But if that doesn’t happen, it will most likely be February time when I will be out again.
I’m limited as I can’t box in the beginning of November as I’m about to go on holiday for 2 weeks. So I want to give myself enough time to even just have a short camp as I’m currently fighting fit now and will just tick over on holiday, hoping I get a spot on a show end of November.”
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