In the Ring with Steve Bell Prizefighter and Actor

Steve Bell looks forward to Prizefighter tournament chance pic. www.stevebellactor.co.uk

Thespian and fighter Steve Bell will be making an appearance as a boxer on the comeback trail, in the latest Super-Featherweight Prizefighter tournament.
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But it wont be a method acting role that Bell will be embarking on, he will be playing the part of his alter ego, a pugilist, where the stage is canvas, the pain and punches will not be those of fiction, but real in the toughest game of all, when he ‘cracks the boards’ in a competitive line-up of Prizefighter contenders.

The Coronation Street actor known as ‘Quinny’ on the cobbled streets of Weatherfield will head south to the Eastender’s neck of the woods, and the iconic boxing stage of York Hall, Bethnal Green on Saturday November 20th.

The Manchester boxer who as not fought for over a year while he concentrated on his acting career is convinced that he has the talent to win the Prizefighter Trophy and hopes he can be the Protagonist in this competitive mix of boxing talent.

Steve Bell the actor

The Mancunian, will be up against a healthy cast of boxing talent, including the current British Super Featherweight Champion Gary Sykes, Scotsman Gary McArthur, who was a beaten semi-finalist in the Prizefighter Lightweights in March 2009.

Liverpool’s former WBU Featherweight champion Derry Matthews, has scores to settle with two other fighters from the line-up, in European and British title challenger Scott Lawton and Choi Tseveenpurev who took his title off him in 2008 via a fifth round knockout.

Matthews has had two fights on his recent comeback, since retiring in 2009 after losing to Lawton, and in 2008 via a fifth round knockout defeat to 33 fight veteran Tseveenpurev.

Lawton and Choi were among the first four fighters to be named for the night, with 24 year-old Gary Buckland and Northern Irishman Kevin O’Hara making up the final eight.

www.theprizefighterseries.com

“I don’t care who I fight, I’ll have to fight three good boxers to lift that trophy but that’s what I want to do,” said the 35 year-old. “I love getting the trophies, the last was as an amateur and it’s a great feeling – yes, there’s a good chunk of money too but the trophy and the title of Prizefighter champion is what appeals to me.” said Bell.

“I need to win it first and concentrate on training to get there but there’s no doubt that Prizefighter is a great platform and that’s why I am here – I always said I’d return to do this.” he added.

Bell was ringside at York Hall for the last Prizefighter event, witnessing Michael Sprott claim the Heavyweights IV title in front of a sold-out crowd in east London, a night where the 18-2-2 fighter said he picked up some good tips to come out on top in the 15th edition of Barry Hearn’s eight-man, one night tournament.

“It’s quick and you have to be on the ball from round one,” said Bell. “It’s so different from your standard professional fight – you are used to training for a 12 round war so with Prizefighter you are going from marathon training to sprint.

The heavyweights aren’t really a good example as they are big lads so it’s hard for them to get up to a sprint but it was good to be at the last one and I certainly picked up a few things about conditioning on the night.”

Bell captained the English boxing team in the 2002 Commonwealth Games and fought over 150 times as an amateur – so the three-three’s format appears to be perfect for him.
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“I’m probably better known for my amateur career and that is definitely my style of fighting. A lot of amateurs find it tough to go to professional and change their game, but I found that I was more successful with the amateur style so it’s a case for me of reverting back to that in training.”

Since losing to John Simpson for the Commonwealth title last December, Bell was offered the Coronation Street and if it wasn’t for the offer of Prizefighter, Bell would not have been in the ring, the competition being the carrot needed to tempt him to put the gloves back on and put his body through the riggers of a fighter again.

Bell began his acting career in 1998 alongside The Who legend Roger Daltrey in the feature film Like It Is. He then hit the small screen with appearances in Shameless, Hollyoaks, Emmerdale and Jimmy McGovern’s The Street, and he will appear in McGovern’s BBC1 daytime show Moving On in November.

But while the talented Bell insists he is fully focused on Prizefighter success, he boxes for the love of the game, his acting work is his bread and butter and that is where he sees his future lying

“I’m not doing this to push my acting career, I don’t think that this would help that in any way, Boxing is something that I love and it’s been part of my life for the last 20 years – and of course I think I can win it,” said Bell.

Steve Bell the boxer

“I believe I will forge an acting career whether I win this or not and I’ve been lucky that when I’ve not been acting I’ve had the boxing and vice-versa, at the minute I’ve got a bit of a break in the acting so bring on Prizefighter.”

British Boxers ‘In the Ring with Steve Bell Q&A

Steve, you won the Central Area super-featherweight title and your only 2 defeats came in title fights against good boxers Femi Fehintola and John Simpson, you have beaten some decent lads along the way, but you haven’t been in the ring for over a year, what happened?

I boxed John Simpson in December last year and 2 days later started work on Coronation Street so after the fight I had to focus on the acting and I took a well deserved break from boxing to recharge the batteries. 9 months later and fully refreshed I have again found the desire to fight.

Did the Prizefighter opportunity come out of the blue, and how long did it take you to accept the offer, was there much thinking to do?

No I have always said the one thing that would bring me back to boxing would be the Prizefighter series. I made it clear to Matchroom a long time ago that if they did have a Super feather Prizefighter then I would be really interested. Months later when I found out they were to go ahead with it I was the first to call.

It is a very competitive Prizefighter this one, who would you say is the favorite, and can you win it over the 3×3’s? being the amateur you were, shouldn’t we be having a few bob on Stevey Bell to win it over 3 round fights?

This one is a very hard one to call, every fighter involved is decent and capable of pulling off an upset over 3 rounds. That is the beauty of the Prizefighter, the best one down on paper isn’t necessarily the one that goes on to win! I have had more success over 3×3’s as an amateur so I am happy to revert back to the old style!

If you won the Prizefighter, it would change your ring career and help your boxing profile, possibly giving you the chance of another title shot, what do you think?

Yes most definitely but my aim is to win the Prizefighter, improving my profile as a fighter isn’t that important to me and if I did win it, it would take a big, big fight to get me back in the ring.

Most avid boxing fans will remember you as a top class Amateur who captained England. But the everyday person will have seen you on the telly, Coronation St .etc. Do you get more attention from soap fans or boxing fans?

Its really weird because generally people who recognise me from being on TV especially Corrie will just stare and I think are afraid to approach me whereas the boxing fans will come straight over, jab you on the arm and have a chat no problem which I much prefer. Being both an actor and boxer I have seen the difference in both sets of fans. Its crazy!

How do you combine the two?

I have been very lucky, most actors go mad in between jobs and wonder when their next one will come whereas I have always boxed as well as acted and they have never interfered with each other. Both jobs certainly take up 100% of your time and to be good at both you certainly need to be a bit selfish and dedicated.

Oscar

Would you rather win a world title or an Oscar?

At this point in my life, without a shadow of a doubt…An Oscar. Winning a world title I think now would take me at least a year to get back to that stage and I haven’t the time to wait for that!

How is training going and as the year layoff done you any good or as it been hard to shake off the rust?

The first 2 weeks back was ridiculously hard but now I’m in the right shape and I’m loving reverting back to my amateur style and enjoying my boxing again.
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Will Steve ‘Bellios’ Bell win the Prizefighter?

Why not? I have just as good a chance as any of the others!

When and how did you get into boxing?

I was 13 and went as support with my good pal Tony ‘The Tiger’ Feno and just enjoyed going to shows and getting free dinners!

Who was your first trainer?

Ted Peate. He was an absolute rock for all of the lads and he was like a father to us all. Ted taught me a lot about boxing and allowed us to enjoy ourselves whilst working hard which I think is the main thing.

Where do you train: At ‘Arnies’ Anthony Farnell’s gym in Failsworth, Manchester. www.arniesgym.co.uk

How would you describe your fight style?

Most definitely a stand up long range boxer. My style had to change a little when I turned pro but I have recently found my old style again for the Prizefighter.

TOUGH! Haider Ali

Who influenced you as a young boxer?

My coach Ted Peate, I also have lots of respect for my England team mates John Pearce & Chris Bessey who I looked up to and learnt a lot about the sport.

Toughest/Best opponent you have faced?

Haider Ali. He made me throw up afterwards…..! He was unbeaten at the time and was a fantastic prospect from the Commonwealth Games.

Toughest Part of being a boxer?

There are none! And whoever says there are are lying! You get loads of respect, you can act dead hard cause people think you are, and the chicks love a fighter……Yeah really tough!

Who do you wish you had fought or want to fight?

Well I’m not gonna say Manny Pacquiao or Naseem Hamed because they would be the hardest fights ever so I really wished I’d have fought someone like Peter Buckley for the world title!

Best fight you have seen?

The best fight I have ever seen live was Michael Gomez v Alex Arthur. That fight meant so much for the pair of them and the atmosphere that night was unbelievable. Tyson v Buster Douglas was a great fight also and was a massive shock at the time.

Michael Gomez v Alex Arthur

Mike Tyson vs James ” Buster” Douglas

Dream Fight? Who v Who?

Klitschko v Tyson (at their best)

Childhood Hero?

Me with Frankie

Hero? cant say I had one….Loved myself a bit too much I think!

Favorite all time boxer, World and British?

Tommy Hearns, Ricky Hatton

Favourite British fighter at the moment?

A bit biased but Frankie Gavin (right) in my opinion is Britain’s equivalent to Pernell Whitaker. He is probably the most skilled boxer Britain has at the minute. (Steve trains with Gavin at Arnies gym in Manchester)

What do you do when you are not Boxing?

Trying to be a good Dad, Xbox 360, reading scripts, Watching movies.

What would you do if you wasn’t a boxer?

Watch out for Carl Frampton

I’d probably still be working as a pool attendant at my local pool which I did til I was 25!

Which British Boxers should we look out for?

I think Carl Framptons a great talent and will cause some problems in the super bantamweight division

Your Motivation?

Money…!

What would you change in Boxing?

The future of boxing is from the amateurs and watching the Commonwealth Games this year in India I was quite disappointed with the scoring system, the computer scoring seems a little inaccurate and would love to see the old style 3 judges system again like in the professionals.

Steve Bell AKA De Niro Raging Bull

What music do you listen too?

R&B, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Michael Buble, Eminem

Last book you read?

Dan Brown – The Lost Symbol

Favorite films?

Raging Bull, (right) Pursuit of Happiness, The Prophet, Life Of Brian

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

I’d cast me to play me at this age and then probably use Robert De Niro (right) if he was lucky!

Favorite Meal?

Frankie & Bennys, Tapas, Nando’s.

Best Holiday destination?

Barcelona, Malaysia.

What other sports do you watch?

Love watching Man Utd beating Man City twice a year

Best friends in Boxing?

John Pearce, Nigel Wright, all my gym mates past & present.

Which 3 people would you be stranded on a Desert Island with?

On a desert Island with Bear Grills

Karl Pilkington – He’d keep me entertained with his Mancunian wit. That bloke from Bear Grills – goes without saying. And I’d pick one of them from Desperate Housewives – obviously to cook and clean

Tell us something we don’t know about you?

I have 6 toes on my right foot

Who is the greatest British Boxer of all time?

Joe Calzaghe

My Greatest British boxer

Quick Fire Questions:

Red or Blue? Red

Marvin Hagler or Sugar Ray Leonard? Sugar Ray

Benn or Eubank? Eubank

Haye or Lennox? Haye

Paquiao or Mayweather? Mayweather

Jab or Hook? Jab

Head or Body? Body

WBC or WBA? Ive told you….Oscar!

European or British Title? British

My Favorite Country. Malaysia

Country? Malaysia

City? New York

Drink? Any cocktail

Animal? Skunk

Websites? www.stevebellactor.co.uk

One thing you cant live without? My Lungs!

Favourite Quote? Enjoy every day like its your last….

What does the future hold for you? TV and Movie roles in UK and The States……?

Would you like to add anything?

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all my fans for supporting me over the years in both my boxing and acting.
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Tickets for Prizefighter Super Featherweights are available now at £35 (unreserved), £60 (ringside) and £100 (VIP) – call Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900.

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Thanks Steve and Good luck with The Prizefighter and your future career as a boxer and actor.
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By Chris Maylett for www.britishboxers.co.uk
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