An unlikely couple perhaps. But a combination which is continuing to flourish.
That is the coach and fighter partnership between Neil Fannan, 65 years young, and his 26-year-old light-welterweight Nathan Forrest, who are preparing for their tenth fight night. Nathan faces Sheffield’s Owen Durnan in Houghton on Saturday, April 19.
Fannan and Forrest should have been in Saudi Arabia this weekend for the first instalment of the WBC Grand Prix series after the 9-0 Bishop Auckland boxer won a place in the new global event.
Sadly, it never came off and it’s plan B for the two Fs with Forrest part of an attractive Jobes Boxing event at the Rainton Arena, which also features Josh Babb, Owen Rees, Hannah Robinson and Lee Rogers.
“It was important Nathan got a fight after the camp he’s had,” Fannan told punch-lines.
“He’s looking well. Everything has gone all right in Nathan’s career – each fight we have trained for he’s progressed.
“Some days the sparring has gone well and some days it’s been disappointing but that’s the same in any camp.
“We were more than happy with our last spar.”
The final spar came against former IBF world featherweight champion Josh Warrington, who is in action this Saturday in Sheffield.
“I’ve been friends with Josh for a long time since he sparred Martin Ward 16 years ago,” said Fannan.
“He paid a lot of compliments to Nathan. He didn’t have to say anything and I never asked him.
“I never say ‘what do you think?’ to people my fighters spar with because I am my own man and my own judge.
“But Josh’s nice words were genuine and confirmed my view about how Nathan’s looking.”
The Fannan-Forrest alliance looks as strong as it’s ever looked, despite it’s somewhat tenuous start.
In the twilight of an outstanding career which has brought major titles and fights for Michael Hunter, Kevin Bennett, Lewis Ritson, Martin and Tommy Ward, and Isaac ‘Argie’ Ward, Fannan had already declared that when Tommy Ward’s days were up that he would be done too.
Despite what was clearly a degree of uncertainty, Forrest stlll came along to the Hartlepool gym, and is now on nine straight wins, including three inside the distance, the highlight being crowned Northern Area lightweight champion inside three rounds against Kai Richmond a year ago.
While Tommy Ward is not exactly retired, he is not currently in the gym either, but there is no hint of Fannan calling time.
“All you can do as a coach is to try to get a boxer to their maximum potential,” he explained.
“At this stage of his career I don’t believe anyone would have got more out of him than I have up to now. I’m more than satisfied with him and me.
“I did once tell Nathan I wasn’t taking anyone on and that I would try to find him a coach.
“Now? I wouldn’t want to see him to go anywhere else and someone else spoil him before I see how good he really is.
“I think I’ve got him looking all right and I want to see what he can do.
“I’d have regrets if I stopped and then saw him box somewhere else and thought he’d gone backwards. That’s why I’m still here, but in fairness I’m enjoying training him.”
Durnan is certainly a known quantity given this will be his fifth visit to the region and some of you may recall ‘The Omen’ giving Josh Blenkiron a devil of a fight or putting Anth Ornsby on the canvas.
Saturday night’s Jobes Boxing promotion is quality above quantity with five contests going ahead, four over six rounds and one four-rounder.
Newbiggin’s Owen Rees tops the bill against Brazil’s Jonatas de Oliveira, while it’s Argentinian opposition for Josh Babb, with the Darlington star facing Juan Alberto Batista.
Darlington neighbour Hannah Robinson also faces an Argentinian in Erica Alvarez over six-twos in her first fight for her new backers, One Empire Management and her old coach, Pete Shepperson.
Lee Rogers has provided terrific entertainment in his three wins to date and punch-lines expects nothing different when the Gateshead 21-year-old meets Jake Pollard of Bradford.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Tom Collins
